Today, I felt like I was back to the times when I was in Primary School. In order to wake up in time for my early appointment (7 a.m.) with one of my clients today, I practised the discipline to sleep early last night.
Anyway, I was already feeling tired by 10 p.m. last night from doing the music theory exercises, the rehearsals and the crowds at Orchard Rd (I was there for dinner last night).
Strange dream that I had last night. I dreamt that I was late for the appointment and could not reach there in time. What a dream. It woke me up at 5.20 a.m. this morning with my heart beating fast.
**
Ever since I have graduated from junior college, it has not really been usual for me to wake up that early in the morning. Thank goodness that I am quite a morning person and sleeping early last night has helped.
Anyway, somehow waking up so early and being on the MRT train ride with quite a number of students who are travelling to their schools reminded me of the times when I was in secondary school. I had to wake up quite early to be in time for school. It usually took about 40 minutes to travel from home to school in the morning. So in those days, I would have to wake up when the skies were still dark and travel to school under the dark skies. Yet, there was delight in the peaceful dark skies at times. The air would feel refreshing in the early morning.
**
Anyway, I have managed to see my client this morning. Hopefully my client would reap a lot of benefits from this meeting. That alone will be enough to make up for the very slight inconvenience on my end.
From another perspective, there were blessings arising from this slight inconvenience. I could enjoy a refreshing morning air and a peaceful early morning skies.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Sunday, January 15, 2006
An enriching tour
Yesterday, I took a risk to go for one of the Original Singapore Walks' tours: By the Belly of the Carp - A Singapore River Walk. The sky was looking dark just before 6 p.m. last evening, and it actually drizzled for a very short while after 6 p.m.
Thank goodness that the weather decided to show mercy. Except for that slight drizzle, it did not rain last evening.
It is an enriching tour, lending one insights to the history behind the Singapore River. The guide also showed us photos of how Boat Quay had looked like in the 1980s. The current-day Boat Quay may not be performing the same function as it had in the distant past, but it certainly looks more inviting than it had used to be.
Pardon me, I did not know that there is an underground mosque (Moulana Mohamed Ali Mosque) at the basement UOB Plaza1 until yesterday. There is actually a story behind why it was built there. If you want to know, I suggest that you go for this particular Original Singapore Walks and find out for yourself.
If this would interest you, some of the places covered in this tour are: The Asian Civilisation Museum (Empress Place), Raffles Landing Site, Cavenagh Bridge, Boat Quay, the mosque and The Esplanade - Theatres by the Bay.
The tour also lended me insights on how life was for the coolies and other immigrants in the past. Life seemed very difficult in those times, and many were addicted to vices such as opium-smoking. The irony was while opium-smoking might alleviate the smokers of some of their pains and aches, it actually shortened their life-span significantly. I wonder what people of our times would do to alleviate our pains and aches? Hopefully, whatever are used will not be detrimental to our well-being.
I will look at the shophouses along Boat Quay with a different eye after attending the tour. I have walked along Boat Quay for many times over the past years of my life but I was never quite aware of some of the elaborate architectural design of some of the shophouses. Neither have I been quite aware that there was actually a sculpture of The Goddess of Mercy found along Boat Quay.
There is also a bumboat ride to complete the tour. The bumboat passed under the Elgin Bridge and below the Read Bridge. I had the pleasure to Clarke Quay at night from bumboat. The bumboat also took me and the rest of the tour group somewhere close to the Merlion Park so that we could catch a frontal view of the Merlion.
There is so much more to share about this tour. Yet, to enjoy this tour, one just have to be on it, than to read about it.
If you wish to experience this tour, please check out this site for the schedules and the details: The Original Singapore Walks.
I don't get a single fee for promoting it, but hopefully, more people would be aware of the existence of such good tours. Good things are meant to be shared, aren't they?
***
Updates on 29 Dec 2007: Please take note that this tour is now a personalised tour.
Thank goodness that the weather decided to show mercy. Except for that slight drizzle, it did not rain last evening.
It is an enriching tour, lending one insights to the history behind the Singapore River. The guide also showed us photos of how Boat Quay had looked like in the 1980s. The current-day Boat Quay may not be performing the same function as it had in the distant past, but it certainly looks more inviting than it had used to be.
Pardon me, I did not know that there is an underground mosque (Moulana Mohamed Ali Mosque) at the basement UOB Plaza1 until yesterday. There is actually a story behind why it was built there. If you want to know, I suggest that you go for this particular Original Singapore Walks and find out for yourself.
If this would interest you, some of the places covered in this tour are: The Asian Civilisation Museum (Empress Place), Raffles Landing Site, Cavenagh Bridge, Boat Quay, the mosque and The Esplanade - Theatres by the Bay.
The tour also lended me insights on how life was for the coolies and other immigrants in the past. Life seemed very difficult in those times, and many were addicted to vices such as opium-smoking. The irony was while opium-smoking might alleviate the smokers of some of their pains and aches, it actually shortened their life-span significantly. I wonder what people of our times would do to alleviate our pains and aches? Hopefully, whatever are used will not be detrimental to our well-being.
I will look at the shophouses along Boat Quay with a different eye after attending the tour. I have walked along Boat Quay for many times over the past years of my life but I was never quite aware of some of the elaborate architectural design of some of the shophouses. Neither have I been quite aware that there was actually a sculpture of The Goddess of Mercy found along Boat Quay.
There is also a bumboat ride to complete the tour. The bumboat passed under the Elgin Bridge and below the Read Bridge. I had the pleasure to Clarke Quay at night from bumboat. The bumboat also took me and the rest of the tour group somewhere close to the Merlion Park so that we could catch a frontal view of the Merlion.
There is so much more to share about this tour. Yet, to enjoy this tour, one just have to be on it, than to read about it.
If you wish to experience this tour, please check out this site for the schedules and the details: The Original Singapore Walks.
I don't get a single fee for promoting it, but hopefully, more people would be aware of the existence of such good tours. Good things are meant to be shared, aren't they?
***
Updates on 29 Dec 2007: Please take note that this tour is now a personalised tour.
Saturday, January 14, 2006
The eraser
I was doing the harmonising exercises about a few minutes ago, and found myself using the eraser very often. There is a tendency to brush those "eraser-dust" (what do you actually call them?) onto the floor, so the floor somehow feels more "flaky" than usual.
Somehow, the use of the eraser reminds me of the days when I was studying in lower Primary level when the teachers would recommend the pupils to use pencil to write out their answers to the various exercises. Maybe the teachers expect the students to make a lot of mistakes at that age, and it would be easier to correct their mistakes by erasing those mistakes with an eraser. Furthermore, at our times, correction fluids are often considered not safe for young children to use.
Similarly, I find it more convenient to use a pencil when doing music theory exercises. It is easier to use an eraser to erase off the mistakes on the manuscript paper, than to use a correction fluid to hide the mistakes away.
I am not sure if I am not in the moods for doing music theory exercises. The pace has been slow for the entire morning. There was this set of three bars that took me close to half-an-hour to harmonise. I am only half-way through for the harmonising exercises. The exercises are definitely getting more and more challenging.
I shall move on to read on the topic of transposing instruments after completing this week's set of harmonising exercises. That shall be the topic for next week's music theory lesson, and I was asked to read it in advance.
Hopefully, learning music theory will help me appreciate music better? This is one of my main reasons for taking up music theory classes.
Somehow, the use of the eraser reminds me of the days when I was studying in lower Primary level when the teachers would recommend the pupils to use pencil to write out their answers to the various exercises. Maybe the teachers expect the students to make a lot of mistakes at that age, and it would be easier to correct their mistakes by erasing those mistakes with an eraser. Furthermore, at our times, correction fluids are often considered not safe for young children to use.
Similarly, I find it more convenient to use a pencil when doing music theory exercises. It is easier to use an eraser to erase off the mistakes on the manuscript paper, than to use a correction fluid to hide the mistakes away.
I am not sure if I am not in the moods for doing music theory exercises. The pace has been slow for the entire morning. There was this set of three bars that took me close to half-an-hour to harmonise. I am only half-way through for the harmonising exercises. The exercises are definitely getting more and more challenging.
I shall move on to read on the topic of transposing instruments after completing this week's set of harmonising exercises. That shall be the topic for next week's music theory lesson, and I was asked to read it in advance.
Hopefully, learning music theory will help me appreciate music better? This is one of my main reasons for taking up music theory classes.
Get acquainted with the Chinese culture
Chinese New Year is coming, but I have not much inclination to wish to join in the fun and merry of the festive season. Yet, I won't mind reading about the Chinese culture to understand the significance behind this important festival.
At the same time, there is more to the Chinese culture than the Chinese festivals: the Chinese literature, the Chinese language, Chinese food, the various Chinese performance arts and etc. There is so much more to know about and yet I feel I only know very little of my own culture.
I have studied Western art history in my secondary school years but have not been familiar with Chinese art history. I used to play in a Chinese orchestra but now am playing Western classical music most of the time.
***
Side-track a little, I have a feeling that Simple American and a few other bloggers who visit this blog may be interested to read more about Cantonese opera. This is a subject that yours truly will not be well-versed in.
However, the good news is that I chanced upon a blog that may lend some insights to the world of Cantonese opera. Check it out: http://frannxis.blogspot.com
For as the name of this post suggests, I shall make attempts to get acquainted with the Chinese culture.
At the same time, there is more to the Chinese culture than the Chinese festivals: the Chinese literature, the Chinese language, Chinese food, the various Chinese performance arts and etc. There is so much more to know about and yet I feel I only know very little of my own culture.
I have studied Western art history in my secondary school years but have not been familiar with Chinese art history. I used to play in a Chinese orchestra but now am playing Western classical music most of the time.
***
Side-track a little, I have a feeling that Simple American and a few other bloggers who visit this blog may be interested to read more about Cantonese opera. This is a subject that yours truly will not be well-versed in.
However, the good news is that I chanced upon a blog that may lend some insights to the world of Cantonese opera. Check it out: http://frannxis.blogspot.com
For as the name of this post suggests, I shall make attempts to get acquainted with the Chinese culture.
Friday, January 13, 2006
At last!
At last! The weather has turned better today. It did not rain for most of day. If it did rain, it was merely a drizzle. It is nice to feel the warmth of the sunshine.
If the weather could remain good tomorrow, I shall go for the Original Singapore Walks tour: By the Belly of the Carp - A Singapore River Walk.
I have went on two of The Original Singapore Walks, and I think this is one of those very enriching tours that ought to be highly recommended. Maybe I am hungry to know more about the history of Singapore through these walks? Whatever it is, I have always found this series of tours to be well-backed up by lots of good research. I always felt more enriched after going for The Original Singapore Walks and I think that walk (By the Belly of the Carp - A Singapore River Walk) that I intend to go for will be equally insightful and interesting.
**
At last after close to 12 hours in the office, I am back home. Had stayed in office much longer than I had initially planned to. I guess the quiet environment to get some work done has been a pull factor. Still more back-logs awaiting to be cleared, cheer me on please.
**
It is nice to return home provided that no one turns on the television set, and that there is no more trade fair (locally known as "pasar malam" or night-market) operating near my block. I love an environment which does not bring noise to my ears.
I must have been lucky. I could come home and avoid doing most of the household chores. Pardon me, I think I am hopeless when it comes to domestic matters. Thank goodness that my husband, the double bass, does not have clothes to be washed or food to be cooked for him. The chores that I won't mind doing is simply to wash and dry the dishes, and keep my room neat (to my standards).
Today being a fine day with minimal rain and it happened to be my mother's day off from work, I believe she must have spent effort and time washing the clothes and putting them out to the sun to dry. She deserves a word of appreciation, doesn't she?
On the side note, I think I could have been one of the most difficult children to have if parents were to expect their children to help out with the domestic chores. I would rather spend my time elsewhere. But I won't mind making myself useful by playing the folks at home some music on the double bass or give them a short and basic art appreciation course on Impressionism. These are some things not everyone can do, aren't they? But I suspect if I were to share this suggestion with them, I may get a round of nagging.
**
Meantime, I shall enjoy the peace and quietness that the night has to offer. Cheers to the fact that no-one at home is watching the television today. I find there is a tendency for my family members to turn the volume of the television too loud for my ears.
If the weather could remain good tomorrow, I shall go for the Original Singapore Walks tour: By the Belly of the Carp - A Singapore River Walk.
I have went on two of The Original Singapore Walks, and I think this is one of those very enriching tours that ought to be highly recommended. Maybe I am hungry to know more about the history of Singapore through these walks? Whatever it is, I have always found this series of tours to be well-backed up by lots of good research. I always felt more enriched after going for The Original Singapore Walks and I think that walk (By the Belly of the Carp - A Singapore River Walk) that I intend to go for will be equally insightful and interesting.
**
At last after close to 12 hours in the office, I am back home. Had stayed in office much longer than I had initially planned to. I guess the quiet environment to get some work done has been a pull factor. Still more back-logs awaiting to be cleared, cheer me on please.
**
It is nice to return home provided that no one turns on the television set, and that there is no more trade fair (locally known as "pasar malam" or night-market) operating near my block. I love an environment which does not bring noise to my ears.
I must have been lucky. I could come home and avoid doing most of the household chores. Pardon me, I think I am hopeless when it comes to domestic matters. Thank goodness that my husband, the double bass, does not have clothes to be washed or food to be cooked for him. The chores that I won't mind doing is simply to wash and dry the dishes, and keep my room neat (to my standards).
Today being a fine day with minimal rain and it happened to be my mother's day off from work, I believe she must have spent effort and time washing the clothes and putting them out to the sun to dry. She deserves a word of appreciation, doesn't she?
On the side note, I think I could have been one of the most difficult children to have if parents were to expect their children to help out with the domestic chores. I would rather spend my time elsewhere. But I won't mind making myself useful by playing the folks at home some music on the double bass or give them a short and basic art appreciation course on Impressionism. These are some things not everyone can do, aren't they? But I suspect if I were to share this suggestion with them, I may get a round of nagging.
**
Meantime, I shall enjoy the peace and quietness that the night has to offer. Cheers to the fact that no-one at home is watching the television today. I find there is a tendency for my family members to turn the volume of the television too loud for my ears.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Thoughts On Death
Meme from Simple American.
You suffer a tragic accident. You have one minute before you will die? Mentally you are lucid and composed. You have your cell (mobile) phone convenient despite the accident. Who do you call?
I will call my maternal grandmother. She was the one who took care of me and my siblings when we were children and when our parents were out for work. I hope calling her will help her make some sense to my death, and bring her at least some closure and comfort for my unexpected death.
You are in a plane. The pilot informs you that the plane’s engines have failed and it will crash shortly. The plane is email capable and you have time enough to send five short emails. This is not your pc so your email address book is not available. The pc also only allows one email addy per email sent and you have no cut and paste feature available. Who do you write?
I will write to my younger brother since I know his email address by heart (and my parents don't have email address) and ask him to inform the immediate family members of the plane crashing soon, and to thank them for bearing with me these years.
I will write to Mystic to thank her for her friendship.
I will also write to J., to thank her for being there for lending me the company and much treasured friendship during those times I was down.
I think I will just stop at three, there are still many people to write to, but I think I would have difficulties mustering enough strength to go beyond three in that kind of situation.
You go to a regular check up and the doctor determines you have exactly 365 days to live. Fortunately, you have a disease that will not infirm you until the last few days of your life. Nothing in science will curtail this illness. Luckily, you purchased a great insurance policy for one million and it will payout once a doctor confirms your status. Bonus is this money cannot be taxed so you get the entire amount. What do you do for the last year of your life?
I'll put aside $400 000 to set up a trust fund to fund my parents' and maternal grandparents living expenses after my death. That could also be used to fund my brothers' education if they choose to go for higher education.
Another $400 000 goes to another trust fund to use for charitable causes. I shall get my two brothers to manage this trust fund, I am sure that they will manage it wisely.
The remaining shall go to fund me to travel about the world, alone. I think I would be feeling so confused about the news of an impending death that I would not make a good travel companion. Anyway, travelling alone often urges me to stay independent. Being alone can lend me the space that I might need to face the impending death, though I might feel lonely to be all alone facing it by myself. But I think I would not like showing that most vulnerable side of myself in front of another human being. If companionship is needed, I would consider sponsoring a friend or two to join me at certain points of my journey.
I hope to travel on foot about the Europe continent. But of course, I shall buy a two-way plane ticket to get me to a starting point somewhere in Europe first. I can't imagine myself walking all the way to Europe from Singapore.
Along the way, I could try to find double bass masters to give me a number of double bass classes. Then I could try to immerse in the culture. I wish to take some nice photos to share, and hopefully take short photography courses and other courses-of-interest while I am on the journey. If possible, I hope to visit China too and travel about on foot, just in hope to learn more about my own culture and heritage. Then before I pass away, I shall return to Singapore, and travel about Singapore on foot.
You can only say two things of importance to your children before you die. What do you say?
I don't have any children, and I don't think I would like to answer this. I think I am still too unwise to share wise lessons to the next generation.
You suffer a tragic accident. You have one minute before you will die? Mentally you are lucid and composed. You have your cell (mobile) phone convenient despite the accident. Who do you call?
I will call my maternal grandmother. She was the one who took care of me and my siblings when we were children and when our parents were out for work. I hope calling her will help her make some sense to my death, and bring her at least some closure and comfort for my unexpected death.
You are in a plane. The pilot informs you that the plane’s engines have failed and it will crash shortly. The plane is email capable and you have time enough to send five short emails. This is not your pc so your email address book is not available. The pc also only allows one email addy per email sent and you have no cut and paste feature available. Who do you write?
I will write to my younger brother since I know his email address by heart (and my parents don't have email address) and ask him to inform the immediate family members of the plane crashing soon, and to thank them for bearing with me these years.
I will write to Mystic to thank her for her friendship.
I will also write to J., to thank her for being there for lending me the company and much treasured friendship during those times I was down.
I think I will just stop at three, there are still many people to write to, but I think I would have difficulties mustering enough strength to go beyond three in that kind of situation.
You go to a regular check up and the doctor determines you have exactly 365 days to live. Fortunately, you have a disease that will not infirm you until the last few days of your life. Nothing in science will curtail this illness. Luckily, you purchased a great insurance policy for one million and it will payout once a doctor confirms your status. Bonus is this money cannot be taxed so you get the entire amount. What do you do for the last year of your life?
I'll put aside $400 000 to set up a trust fund to fund my parents' and maternal grandparents living expenses after my death. That could also be used to fund my brothers' education if they choose to go for higher education.
Another $400 000 goes to another trust fund to use for charitable causes. I shall get my two brothers to manage this trust fund, I am sure that they will manage it wisely.
The remaining shall go to fund me to travel about the world, alone. I think I would be feeling so confused about the news of an impending death that I would not make a good travel companion. Anyway, travelling alone often urges me to stay independent. Being alone can lend me the space that I might need to face the impending death, though I might feel lonely to be all alone facing it by myself. But I think I would not like showing that most vulnerable side of myself in front of another human being. If companionship is needed, I would consider sponsoring a friend or two to join me at certain points of my journey.
I hope to travel on foot about the Europe continent. But of course, I shall buy a two-way plane ticket to get me to a starting point somewhere in Europe first. I can't imagine myself walking all the way to Europe from Singapore.
Along the way, I could try to find double bass masters to give me a number of double bass classes. Then I could try to immerse in the culture. I wish to take some nice photos to share, and hopefully take short photography courses and other courses-of-interest while I am on the journey. If possible, I hope to visit China too and travel about on foot, just in hope to learn more about my own culture and heritage. Then before I pass away, I shall return to Singapore, and travel about Singapore on foot.
You can only say two things of importance to your children before you die. What do you say?
I don't have any children, and I don't think I would like to answer this. I think I am still too unwise to share wise lessons to the next generation.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
The rain can kill
I am waiting for a day of good weather and it has yet to come.
***
Today, I claimed time-off in lieu and left office by mid afternoon. There was orchestra rehearsal in the evening, so I headed for the university.
Met Emily for dinner at one of the restaurants located within the university compounds. It is called Munchie Monkey.
For a price of no more than $10, I could get myself a serving of pumpkin soup and a plate of crayfish with pasta. While I had wished there could be more servings of crayfish, Emily told me that the servings at Munchie Monkey is considered generous for its price. Anyway, I quite like the hot tomato sauce in which the linguine was served with. It tasted good.
If the undergraduates are looking for a venue to enjoy affordable dining, this is one place to consider for its value-for-money. At least, eating at Munchie Monkey is likely to be much cheaper than eating in restaurants in the town area, and the quality of the food is quite comparable.
***
I had double bass sectional. It has been pleasant to have double bass lessons.
For orchestra rehearsal, I could not believe it that we had actually played the complete Brahms' Symphony No. 2 from the first movement to the fourth movement. I felt we were playing in a rather rushed fashion at certain points in time though. Maybe I have a secret fantasy for the world to slow down to my desired pace?
During the orchestra rehearsal 15-min break, Emily helped to give me some cadences identification exercises on the piano. But it looks like I would need much more help?
***
What is a killer is the weather. It was pouring heavily tonight. The heavy rain has made it dfficult for one to travel home. There were puddles of water everywhere, and I do not like wet grounds.
Pardon me, I am imagining the rain drops to be like heavy weights of liquid falling from the skies and when it hits one, it could kill. This is metaphorical perhaps? I think if the weather were to remain so wet and rainy for the next few days, my moods may really go down very soon. That feeling alone may be enough to kill?
So I decided to distract myself by listening to the rhythms of the falling raindrops. Nature do have a way to help one see things from a brighter perspective even though it may at the same time bring one to experience gloominess.
Keep warm meantime. The weather seems to be getting colder. Maybe the world is too?
***
Today, I claimed time-off in lieu and left office by mid afternoon. There was orchestra rehearsal in the evening, so I headed for the university.
Met Emily for dinner at one of the restaurants located within the university compounds. It is called Munchie Monkey.
For a price of no more than $10, I could get myself a serving of pumpkin soup and a plate of crayfish with pasta. While I had wished there could be more servings of crayfish, Emily told me that the servings at Munchie Monkey is considered generous for its price. Anyway, I quite like the hot tomato sauce in which the linguine was served with. It tasted good.
If the undergraduates are looking for a venue to enjoy affordable dining, this is one place to consider for its value-for-money. At least, eating at Munchie Monkey is likely to be much cheaper than eating in restaurants in the town area, and the quality of the food is quite comparable.
***
I had double bass sectional. It has been pleasant to have double bass lessons.
For orchestra rehearsal, I could not believe it that we had actually played the complete Brahms' Symphony No. 2 from the first movement to the fourth movement. I felt we were playing in a rather rushed fashion at certain points in time though. Maybe I have a secret fantasy for the world to slow down to my desired pace?
During the orchestra rehearsal 15-min break, Emily helped to give me some cadences identification exercises on the piano. But it looks like I would need much more help?
***
What is a killer is the weather. It was pouring heavily tonight. The heavy rain has made it dfficult for one to travel home. There were puddles of water everywhere, and I do not like wet grounds.
Pardon me, I am imagining the rain drops to be like heavy weights of liquid falling from the skies and when it hits one, it could kill. This is metaphorical perhaps? I think if the weather were to remain so wet and rainy for the next few days, my moods may really go down very soon. That feeling alone may be enough to kill?
So I decided to distract myself by listening to the rhythms of the falling raindrops. Nature do have a way to help one see things from a brighter perspective even though it may at the same time bring one to experience gloominess.
Keep warm meantime. The weather seems to be getting colder. Maybe the world is too?
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Questions on cadences
Despite the rain, I have a need to be out of the home to just do as much walking as my feet could possibly bear. So I set off to Marina Square Shopping Mall for an early dinner before walking about the places in that very district. A pity that the library@esplanade was not opened today, so I had to find alternative places to do some reading up.
I tried to read up on the topic of Cadences and Simple Harmonisation this evening while sitting down on one of the benches located within a shopping mall. Thank goodness that that part of the shopping mall is relatively spacious and not too noisy for me.
There are still quite a number of concepts that I don't understand and now, music theory seems to be getting more and more complex. I think I would have lots of questions to ask when I attend the music theory class this coming Thursday.
Somehow, reading about cadences forced me to think over whether I should be taking Grade 8 practical in Double Bass this year. There is an aural section of the practical that requires one to identify what kind of cadences are being played.
Please pardon me, it must have been a lack of training, I still can't figure out on my own how to do so with accuracy and confidence. But I guess that comes with lots of listening and practising?
Hopefully, knowing the theory behind cadences would help me listen and identify cadences better?
**
Now, I am just trying my very best not to let the rainy weather get me down.
I tried to read up on the topic of Cadences and Simple Harmonisation this evening while sitting down on one of the benches located within a shopping mall. Thank goodness that that part of the shopping mall is relatively spacious and not too noisy for me.
There are still quite a number of concepts that I don't understand and now, music theory seems to be getting more and more complex. I think I would have lots of questions to ask when I attend the music theory class this coming Thursday.
Somehow, reading about cadences forced me to think over whether I should be taking Grade 8 practical in Double Bass this year. There is an aural section of the practical that requires one to identify what kind of cadences are being played.
Please pardon me, it must have been a lack of training, I still can't figure out on my own how to do so with accuracy and confidence. But I guess that comes with lots of listening and practising?
Hopefully, knowing the theory behind cadences would help me listen and identify cadences better?
**
Now, I am just trying my very best not to let the rainy weather get me down.
At the departure hall
It is 10 Jan 2006, Emily has written a post on what has transpired this morning and she has done a very good job. I shall refer you to her blog to read it: http://www.pinkified.blogspot.com.
One of my section mates, CH, has left for Japan this morning. Wishing her all the best in her endeavours.
I will miss her and playing with her in the orchestra.
Chinese New Year in Chinatown
If the attempts to try to look for joyful things to indulge in may make one happier, one would do so.
Surprisingly, the older I grow, the less joy I could derive from the Chinese New Year. Maybe it is because I start to associate Chinese New Year with loud music playing along the streets, people crowding the streets buying their festive goodies and the strange feeling of meeting so many of one's relatives within the span of a couple of days. These can become overloads to me when my preference is for a peaceful context where I could spend time just interacting with not-too-many people.
It is then blogs like Bullockcartwater that allowed me to get a preview of the festive moods while sitting back to watch the world go by. Then this is when I realised that the Chinese New Year is drawing near. The first day of the Chinese New Year is on 29 Jan 2006.
Actually, I would rather visit Chinatown to see the various heritage sites than to visit it to do shopping for the festive season. If I were to be alone, I would have shy away instantaneously from any single clue of crowd that I see.
Surprisingly, the older I grow, the less joy I could derive from the Chinese New Year. Maybe it is because I start to associate Chinese New Year with loud music playing along the streets, people crowding the streets buying their festive goodies and the strange feeling of meeting so many of one's relatives within the span of a couple of days. These can become overloads to me when my preference is for a peaceful context where I could spend time just interacting with not-too-many people.
It is then blogs like Bullockcartwater that allowed me to get a preview of the festive moods while sitting back to watch the world go by. Then this is when I realised that the Chinese New Year is drawing near. The first day of the Chinese New Year is on 29 Jan 2006.
Actually, I would rather visit Chinatown to see the various heritage sites than to visit it to do shopping for the festive season. If I were to be alone, I would have shy away instantaneously from any single clue of crowd that I see.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Leave me for good
Maybe the folks should leave me for good?
I am starting to realise how I have gradually become dependent on others for their support and company. At times, I find myself reading others' blog regularly just in hope to find a post that I could relate to and lend some supportive comments. At times, I find myself eager to share my world with the unknown out there. At other times, I find myself checking my blog just to see who has left me a comment.
I know in this world, we are interdependent. I can't run away from that. But pardon my idiosyncrasies, I am just concerned that once I start to accept another being as a friend, I may seek the friendship so much that I may unintentionally end up losing it. Next of all, I value my independence, but I know I could never really be sanely alone for the rest of my life-time.
Please bear with my ramblings of the night. It has been raining for almost the entire day, and I am feeling rather melancholic from the wet weather. May the blues leave me soon enough.
I am starting to realise how I have gradually become dependent on others for their support and company. At times, I find myself reading others' blog regularly just in hope to find a post that I could relate to and lend some supportive comments. At times, I find myself eager to share my world with the unknown out there. At other times, I find myself checking my blog just to see who has left me a comment.
I know in this world, we are interdependent. I can't run away from that. But pardon my idiosyncrasies, I am just concerned that once I start to accept another being as a friend, I may seek the friendship so much that I may unintentionally end up losing it. Next of all, I value my independence, but I know I could never really be sanely alone for the rest of my life-time.
Please bear with my ramblings of the night. It has been raining for almost the entire day, and I am feeling rather melancholic from the wet weather. May the blues leave me soon enough.
Let's try again
Several posts ago, I wrote about making lots of mistakes for the second part of the harmony exercises that I had chosen to do in advance of the schedule.
Shall try to pick myself up.
About an hour ago, I started re-doing the entire second part of the harmony exercises. This time, with the learnings from the past mistakes, I felt I struggled less with the exercises. In addition, there was a slight increase in confidence that I could do the harmony exercises.
Next on the list is to read about cadences. I had browsed through the first few pages, but am not sure if I could manage to understand the topic.
I find that starting is often the hardest, at least for me.
Shall try to pick myself up.
About an hour ago, I started re-doing the entire second part of the harmony exercises. This time, with the learnings from the past mistakes, I felt I struggled less with the exercises. In addition, there was a slight increase in confidence that I could do the harmony exercises.
Next on the list is to read about cadences. I had browsed through the first few pages, but am not sure if I could manage to understand the topic.
I find that starting is often the hardest, at least for me.
The world is turning dark
I see no beauty in colours
My world is turning dark
Get away from me
Let me justify that this world isn't meant for me
My world is turning dark
Get away from me
Let me justify that this world isn't meant for me
Bridges
I looked at my sketch book sometime ago, and I saw that I hardly have much entries for the year 2005. But those sketches that I like are the ones that I have done of the Singapore River. Sketching, somehow, gets me connected with the places through my hand and the drawing pen.
I don't know why, but I realised that I seem to have a special liking for walking nearby and along the Singapore River.
Please join me in one of my walks along the Singapore River. You may wish to refer to a post on my other blog, Places, to read about Bridges along the Singapore River.
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