CONCERT BAND, 2019 - 2022
This experience helped me step out of my comfort zone and assured me that there was no such thing as stage fright as long as you enjoy what you do. This experience showed me the great emphasis on teamwork and the importance of overcoming my fear. Having no formal music background, it was hard for me to pick up the skills from scratch. With the support of my seniors and friends, I was able to ease up and reduce my stress. They also gave me constructive feedback on how I could make my part sound better during practice. Moreover, during the performance, I learnt that every single instrument plays a part in the musical piece. It taught me that even an instrument as small as a cowbell and a kielbasa plays a crucial role in setting the atmosphere and bringing a musical piece to life. I was able to apply that observation to real life and learnt that everyone’s contribution and support matters in bringing up a work of great quality.
In 2019, I was given the opportunity to play the bass drum for the National Day observance Ceremony in my school and at Harmony Square 2
Playing the bass drum, I had a vital role in setting the tempo not only for the band performances, but also for the marching band performing at the observance ceremony and uniform groups at both events.
Practice usually occurred for hours and was mostly on weekends, and my arms often ached. Practice for the National Day Observance Ceremony mimicked the real event under the scorching hot sun. However, giving up was not an option as the passion I had for music and the commitment I made, pushed me to strive through those challenges. I played with much confidence and pride. From that experience, I learnt the importance of endurance, discipline, and confidence.
From these performances and competitions, I was able to deepen my understanding of resilience and passion. Percussion is the heartbeat of the band. Holding such a huge responsibility in various song pieces seemed daunting and was not an easy job. It can be stressful at times, especially during performance periods. However, with my utmost passion for playing the timpani and bass drum, having to play the same piece repeatedly for several hours did not even seem like a chore. It was indeed something that I thoroughly enjoyed and played with pride.
SYF had also taught me that the experience is more valuable than winning. I realised that it was not only a unique experience for me to treasure, but also one that tested my patience and resilience. In the end, I had earned something much more valuable than a certificate of distinction: an experience that taught me various values. In conclusion, being a member of Concert Band made me understand the true meaning of patience and endurance. Moreover, it also showed me that with diligence in practice and proper discipline, even an unfamiliar song can turn into one that feels like second nature.
In my 2 years in the Literacy and Debates Society (LDS), I learnt the importance of teamwork and attention to detail.
One of the most rewarding aspects of LDS was collaborating with peers to write articles for the J2 Magazine and J1 Orientation Magazine.
In the J2 Magazine, my peers and I collaborated to create an article which aimed to highlight the different achievements of our schoolmates in the National School Games (NSG) and Singapore Youth festival (SYF).
In the J1 Orientation Magazine, my peers and I worked together to create an article, gathering all the information about the different CCAs in our school. We also incorporated a fun quiz in the magazine to help the J1 students discover if their interest lies in Sports, Performing Arts, Clubs and Societies or Student Leadership. Working on these magazines deepened my appreciation for collaboration, as each contribution played a crucial role in the final product.
Furthermore, in the debating team, I strengthened my confidence in public speaking and honed my ability to think quickly under pressure. Mimicking real debating competitions, we were often given a notion to oppose or support. Those moments reiterated that attention to detail is crucial in analysing the opposing team’s argument to be able to find a loophole or flawed argument to prepare an appropriate counter-argument. Additionally, this segment also taught me that confidence is key in delivering persuasive arguments and responding effectively to the opposing team.