(no subject)
Ok so ends my 10+ years of journey in the Classical music realm. Ok I wouldn't really say "end", seeing as I still hope to pick up interesting and nice classical pieces in the future (Bach's 2 and 3 part inventions rank high on the list now. Some are quite simple and are really fun to play). But formal lessons in this area have ended so it might not be far off the mark to say that my development in this area will more or less stagnate.
A pity that I couldn't end it on a sweeter note though. I really did try to motivate myself to practice harder, to give that extra bit of effort for my Grade 8 examinations, but I'm somewhat sad to say that the examination was indubitably the worst piano examination I have had. The main culprit, of course, was the severe lack of practice, and of course I'd have no excuses to offer in this area, except that I'm generally a lazy/procrastinating layabout and that I had very very little intrinsic motivation for that examination. (This exemplifies my procrastination perfectly. I stopped writing at this point and just came back to it a week later ><")
At least now, after considerable rest and relaxation, I can concentrate once again on the things that I do want to accomplish. Seeing as I did not have a New Year Resolution post (another victim of my imba laziness), I shall take the opportunity to write down some goals.
Frisbee. Personally, getting skied and burnt at Open Circuit was not fun at all, and shall gym hard and do lots of physical conditioning! Concrete goals for now would be to be able to consistently match up to isidoree at skying and well, it's hard to set a goal for speed seeing as we don't train at a track and all. Of course, continue working on throws. As a team, I hope we can really improve on our 8th placing at Open Circuit and be able to beat all JC teams and some Poly teams at Summer. We might not be able to beat SP or NYP, but we should be able to beat the rest of the Polys (I think).
Music. Bass! Got to practice hard and learn whatever I can from the internet. Meanwhile, I think I will try looking for a good bass teacher as I really feel that will help my learning and let me attain strong fundamentals. At the same time work on some keyboarding skills (this part is where I am quite stuck though. I don't really know what a keyboardist does aside from block chords accompaniment and some arpeggios here and there). Also, work on singing/harmonising. I think this is the really hard part as my hearing sucks and naturally I dont' sing very well. But my brother is in the choir so I was thinking of practicing some of his choir songs with him. Haha. To learn how to sing the melody while not getting swayed by the harmony and vice versa.
And also, set up jamming sessions with Linus, as well as the Eat Disc peeps (Dayong and Daniel). While I quite enjoyed the impromptu jamming sessions at Linus' house, I think he was kinda irritated/disappointed at my lousy keyboarding skills (read abovementioned block chording). So while I thought it was rather fun and all, I guess he has higher standards so RAWWWR must work hard to reach those standards! And it was fun doing a brief session (2 mins) of vocal training with Linus and Para later on hahaha.
Investing. I've always wanted to do investing and still believe that it's the way to really earn lots of money. While I still question my desire to earn lots and lots of money (I mean, my materialistic side will of course crave those luxuries and stuffs, but one can't help but think if a simple life can be just as happy and fulfilling. Okay, actually most people will say "of course! simple life can be happy as well", but as of now I still want to live in a big, nice house, drive a nice Audi or something, and yea some decadent luxuries) Okay so I will read up on investing sites and gain knowledge on both TA and FA, then maybe some time I will start some paper trading and see how it goes.
Future/University/Career. All right, this is the part which society views as being much more important than all those points above and well... Okay anyway, started on scholarship apps, then probably going for interviews. Hope I do well (keep my fingers crossed). Then now start on NUS app (Materials Engineering + USP) and register for SATS Subject Test (for the June one). Study/revise well for my SATS. Then start researching more on US unis starting July/Aug, like really read up (hope to get good materials from limitedcake ). Then start applying. Omg there's really SO MUCH to do and so much hard work to put in but of course it's all worth it for a good education and exciting experience overseas and all that.
And to end off, like the toast that I proposed at Linus' house, Here's to Burning Passions and Future Dreams! :D
A pity that I couldn't end it on a sweeter note though. I really did try to motivate myself to practice harder, to give that extra bit of effort for my Grade 8 examinations, but I'm somewhat sad to say that the examination was indubitably the worst piano examination I have had. The main culprit, of course, was the severe lack of practice, and of course I'd have no excuses to offer in this area, except that I'm generally a lazy/procrastinating layabout and that I had very very little intrinsic motivation for that examination. (This exemplifies my procrastination perfectly. I stopped writing at this point and just came back to it a week later ><")
At least now, after considerable rest and relaxation, I can concentrate once again on the things that I do want to accomplish. Seeing as I did not have a New Year Resolution post (another victim of my imba laziness), I shall take the opportunity to write down some goals.
Frisbee. Personally, getting skied and burnt at Open Circuit was not fun at all, and shall gym hard and do lots of physical conditioning! Concrete goals for now would be to be able to consistently match up to isidoree at skying and well, it's hard to set a goal for speed seeing as we don't train at a track and all. Of course, continue working on throws. As a team, I hope we can really improve on our 8th placing at Open Circuit and be able to beat all JC teams and some Poly teams at Summer. We might not be able to beat SP or NYP, but we should be able to beat the rest of the Polys (I think).
Music. Bass! Got to practice hard and learn whatever I can from the internet. Meanwhile, I think I will try looking for a good bass teacher as I really feel that will help my learning and let me attain strong fundamentals. At the same time work on some keyboarding skills (this part is where I am quite stuck though. I don't really know what a keyboardist does aside from block chords accompaniment and some arpeggios here and there). Also, work on singing/harmonising. I think this is the really hard part as my hearing sucks and naturally I dont' sing very well. But my brother is in the choir so I was thinking of practicing some of his choir songs with him. Haha. To learn how to sing the melody while not getting swayed by the harmony and vice versa.
And also, set up jamming sessions with Linus, as well as the Eat Disc peeps (Dayong and Daniel). While I quite enjoyed the impromptu jamming sessions at Linus' house, I think he was kinda irritated/disappointed at my lousy keyboarding skills (read abovementioned block chording). So while I thought it was rather fun and all, I guess he has higher standards so RAWWWR must work hard to reach those standards! And it was fun doing a brief session (2 mins) of vocal training with Linus and Para later on hahaha.
Investing. I've always wanted to do investing and still believe that it's the way to really earn lots of money. While I still question my desire to earn lots and lots of money (I mean, my materialistic side will of course crave those luxuries and stuffs, but one can't help but think if a simple life can be just as happy and fulfilling. Okay, actually most people will say "of course! simple life can be happy as well", but as of now I still want to live in a big, nice house, drive a nice Audi or something, and yea some decadent luxuries) Okay so I will read up on investing sites and gain knowledge on both TA and FA, then maybe some time I will start some paper trading and see how it goes.
Future/University/Career. All right, this is the part which society views as being much more important than all those points above and well... Okay anyway, started on scholarship apps, then probably going for interviews. Hope I do well (keep my fingers crossed). Then now start on NUS app (Materials Engineering + USP) and register for SATS Subject Test (for the June one). Study/revise well for my SATS. Then start researching more on US unis starting July/Aug, like really read up (hope to get good materials from limitedcake ). Then start applying. Omg there's really SO MUCH to do and so much hard work to put in but of course it's all worth it for a good education and exciting experience overseas and all that.
And to end off, like the toast that I proposed at Linus' house, Here's to Burning Passions and Future Dreams! :D