Hello choir, this is your VP Jojo :)
First of all, let me remind you that the next practice is on Friday, after school. Tomorrow's a holiday, so please do not report to the music room as no one would be there with you! :O Enjoy your National Day holiday ya?
This is officially my first time posting on the choir blog, and I know I'd better be posting something substantial. Pardon my english as I'm pretty beat and is lacking of vocabulary.
After reading alot of your blogs, getting verbal feedback and reading your body language in choir, I decided to talk to you guys, specifically the younger members about the importance of having a role as a choir member. Do not think of yourself as any other choir member just because you are a junior, or because you are not in the committee, but remember that every single one of you, I'm being really honest, plays a part in the choir. You are all important to the choir. To the committee, to me.
Why do you think Mr Toh, and the committee asks for the attendance everyday? Firstly, it is of course to upkeep the discipline of the choir, but Mr Toh have mentioned it before, he asks for the attendance to check the sound of the choir, what kind of a sound is missing if so and so is absent, so on..
Let me share something with you that you all should already know. I was a rebellious student. I cannot say that I'm not rebellious now, but I believe I have changed for the better. From sec 1 all the way to half my year in sec 2, I disliked choir. I even hated choir a few times. I was one of those people, which I believe some of you are, who go to choir practice one day, go home and start to doubt what you are doing.
Have you ever felt hesitant and reluctant everytime you start or end your day with choir practice, but when you attend the practice itself, it's actually not that bad? But as you leave the music room, and go home, and have time alone to yourself, do you sometimes think of choir as a lonely place, that you do not belong? And then to figure out that it's actually fine to attend choir practice? The cycle goes on and on..
Let me tell you, my dearest members, it's a feeling that everybody would have once before. I had this feeling till the day when my SLs gave me the opportunity to take Altos for sectionals during the holidays in 2008. I almost cried at the chance. How could it be possible, that they have faith in me when I was one of the people who did not even attend practices most of the time? It was definitely my own turning point and chance at redemption.
I know it is hard to maintain the passion if everyday you feel like you are not contributing to the choir, you are not involved, or if you feel like you have no friends in choir. Let me teach you how to deal with it.
REASONS WHY PEOPLE DO NOT COME FOR PRACTICES :
I HAVE NO TRUE FRIENDS IN CHOIR.If this sentence applies to you, take it easy. Bear with it. I always thought I could never click with the people in my batch, but look at us now! We all have to break free from the mentality that you only get best friends from your class, anywhere but choir. All I can tell you is, take it easy. Sec 2s, I'm glad that you guys are taking the initiate to try and bond as much as possible, but still, take it easy! It will always start out as awkward in the beginning. Believe me, the fruits of your labour will show at the end of secondary two. When you are approaching handover, it really is the time where you realise that you will be stuck with those people no matter what, so you better make the best of it :P It really is not hard, I'm practically in love with my committee members now!
I AM SCARED OF THE SENIORS.Okay. This is something you will get too. Do not worry! We are all very approachable! But I understand if we intimidate you sometimes, I know we're all very assertive, have high expectations and all. It's okay, as long as your conscience is clear :P I'm kidding. None of the seniors will make personal insinuations or individualise you from the choir. This is something every member will go through, just be yourself okay.
You guys have to understand that we have high expectations of you BECAUSE our mentors have high expectations of us, BECAUSE they know we can do much better than what we are doing. Remember what Mr Toh said? There are no boundaries, the choir is just going to break more frontiers with every step we take.
Maybe you're getting bored of what I'm writing, so I'll end this soon. I know that it is hard for you to maintain your passion in this choir unless you take up a role and feel like you have the responsibility to contribute to the choir. So to all the understudies, persevere! You guys are doing fine.
And to all the choir members, all of you are not seen as just juniors. You are all seen as potential understudies, potential comm members. It's a matter of showing it or not. One very good way to show it, was during the NDP rehearsal. We had a very small group that day, right? In times like this, nobody should hide and depend on other seniors. It's a chance to step up and take the lead, and show us that you are someone to depend on. Not someone who depends on.
One piece of advice from me to sum it all up :
DON'T GIVE UP.Don't give up on your first two years, it is tough, it is hard, but persevere.
Don't give up on the choir, and DEFINITELY don't let the seniors give up on you.
Don't give up on the music, even if you do want to do it for the choir yet, do it for yourself.
The first two years in choir had been an arduous journey for me too. I obviously gave up along the way, but my seniors picked me up and pulled me back. And now, I'm currently a pon-star-turned-vice-president. Can you imagine, if the seniors gave up on me too? I know we might seem intimidating to you, believe me, I was very afraid of my seniors. Now, I realise what they all really meant when they said "It's all for your own good."
Sec 1s, I have so much faith in you, I cannot describe it. I admire your perseverance, your patience, your stamina, and your faith in the choir too. You all pulled through so many performances in your first 7 months in choir! Your first concert was even held at the Esplanade. I would admit that the reason that I admire you, is because I know that the Jojo in 2007 would not, and could not have done the same. She lacked of everything a passionate and knowledge-hungry choir member should have. If you continue your drive and determination, I am very sure you guys will be a successful batch in future. All the best! :)
Sec 2s, I hope you guys will continue to do the same. Many people we have lost from your batch, some we're losing. Keep holding on, your efforts will be paid off very soon. Next year, you are taking over already. I advice for you guys to think of how you want to contribute to choir already, set a goal early so you guys will be prepared for Elections. Do me proud!
I'm a real life example of someone who pulled through my first two years in choir and in the end surviving, with the help of my seniors.
Don't give up on choir, and the choir will never give up on you! :)PS, I still owe the choir lollipops. Sorry it is saved as draft in my phone for the longest time, I just can't get around buying them for you. I haven't forgot, the Sopranos who took the corner and scary Dressing Room One in the Esplanade on concert day, gets an extra lollipop HAHA :)
Home is where the heart belongs.
Home is AHS CHOIR! :D
Hope you enjoy you stay here! :)
The AHS Choir in the last few years has witnessed unprecedented growth and accomplishment under the inspired baton of our resident conductor, Terrence Toh.
A few of these achievements include the coveted Gold with Honours at the 2007 and 2009 SYF Central Judging for Choir and a Gold at the International Festival of Songs in Olomouc, Czech Republic in 2008.
However, these accolades are not the choir’s only source of pride and joy, but rather the instilling of a passion for the choral art form and a deep desire to bring music to our community.
With this focus in mind, the choir has sung in a host of community based performances, including our annual concerts and as invited guests at various ceremonies held by government and community organizations.