St.Margaret's Symphonic Band

Description
Formed in 1972, the St Margaret’s Secondary School Symphonic Band started as an outdoor band. It has contributed at many national events, including the Singapore National Day Parade, Singapore Youth Festival and the Singapore Arts Festival.

The Band’s current music director, Mr Leonard Tan, took over the baton in 1999. He is assisted by Mr Lim Lip Hua and Mdm Wee Liang Ping. He has led the Band in achieving 3 silver awards and 1 gold award in the SYF Central Judging in 2001, 2003, 2005, and 2007. The Band now has a strength of about 150 enthusiastic members.

The Band contributes to the aesthetically vibrant culture of the school by performing at various school functions. The Band is also regularly invited to perform in public, such as at the Singapore Istana, the Musical Fountain at Sentosa, the Ulu Pandan Community Club , MacRitchie Reservoir, Suntec City Convention Hall and Orchard Road .

The Band has also participated in various exchange programmes including that with local secondary school bands and in 2003, members attended master classes conducted by Professional International Musicians with the Prague Wind Quintet.

We had our very own first public concert at Victoria Concert Hall in 2002 entitled POLKA! A sequel was held in 2004. POLKA! not only refers to a dance which originated from Bohemia in around 1830 but it is also a name given in reference to our polka dotted school uniform. POLKA! has since been the name of our public concert.

Processes
The whole band is divided into the Recruit Band and the Main Band. After 1 year, the Recruit Band members will move up to the Main Band. This year, we are starting a recruit band performance after 9 months' practice. The recruit's parents will get to hear each of their daughters perform a simple piece on stage. This is to motivate the recruit band members to practice consistently. We are also starting a Passing out Parade so that the leaders feel a sense of pride and responsibility in carrying out their duties.

Achievements:

- Took part in the 15th Australian International Music Festival Competition in 2004 and was awarded a Silver

- Took part in the SYF Central Judging
2001 – Silver
2003 – Sliver
2005 – Gold
2007 – Sliver
2009 – Gold

- POLKA! Concerts
2002 – POLKA! I
2004 – POLKA! II
2006 – POLKA! III
2007 - St.Margaret's + CHIJ (TP) Concert with Dr. John Lynch
2008 - POLKA! IV

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Hey! :)
4 More days to Sound check!
Everyone should take things seriously!
SYF is coming soon!
& Remember to memorise your scores
SLs please test your section on the next sectionals!
It is never too late!
Start now or You'll regret later.
I really don't want the band to regret later.

It's good to be consistent in your practice.
Remember to bring home your instrument or practice at least once a week
We will not be checking whether everyone has done that cos we BELIEVE and TRUST that you all can do it YOURSELF.
Please encourage each other to practice more!
practice on long tones!

Turn your weaknesses into STRENGTHS!

Five S to efficient and effective self practice/sectionals
1.Set A Target
-Set a time limit
eg. Complete Jericho A to B within 60 minutes (Everything must be perfect after practicing)

2.Structure your practices or sectionals
-Majority of your individual practice times should be in small details
-Play through without stopping to have the 'feel' of the music
-After that work on small details, isolate problem spots and turn weaknesses into strengths.
-Play through the end agn so that you can put what you've practice into perspective.

3.Sequence your learning
-Practice small details in the following order:
1. Rhythm
2. Notes
3. Articulation
4. Dynamics
5. Phrasing
-Insert breath marks

4.Sing!
-Practice away from your instrument. Put down your instrument and try to sing a difficult passage. (To Relax your lips)
-Singing allows you to put a musical message into your brain so the body will follow. Try it! Once you can sing it, you can play it!

5.SLOW and steady wins the race!!!
-Slow down running notes till you can play EVERY NOTE ACCURATELY.
-Always practice with a metronome
-When it's perfect, repeat so that you remember it.
-Each time you repeat what's RIGHT, you form good patters in your brain.
- Thus, don't practice MISTAKES

Other useful techniques for section practice:
- Verbalising the rhythm(1n, 2n, 3, 4)
-Breathing exercises
-Fingering the notes without playing(kinesthetic memory)
-Buzz a passage(for brass players)
-Mouthpiece workouts(Siren)
-Head joint practice(for flautist)
-Practising rudiments(for percussionists)
-Practising with mutes (for brass players) to develop tone
-Dotted rhythm for running passages

How to have a GREAAT SOUNDING BAAANND?
1.Good individual sound (centred, resonant, full, round and rich)[ Most important]
2. Good Section sound and blend (sound of the best player amplified)
3. Good family blend ( achieve good woodwind and brass sound)
4. Full Band: Balance, Blend, Intonation (together with uniform articulation)
1+2+3+4= Great sounding band! full, resonant, rich and round

1. Individual
- Before the band can sound good, the individual Must sound good
-Go back to fundamentals: PEAR (Posture, Embouchure, Air, Reed)
-Good concept of Sound

2. Section
-Timbre* matching exercise: choose the sound of the best player, and match the section sound to the best player. Th Section must sound like one. The best player amplified
* means tone colour
3. Family
- Blend section sounds tgt Achieve new colour. Flute + Oboe = Fluboe!

4. Band
- Formula= Balance+ Blend + Intonation
- Intonation: always listen. Form tuning trios. If something is out of tune, assume it's your fault. Adjust!
- Play tgt with good rhythm and articulation! Otherwise, all sound concepts will not work!

5. A great sounding band!
- this is only the beginning! It is not the destination.
- the destination is a MUSICAL PERFORMANCE. A transcendental experience. A beautiful world! But, you can never achieve a musical performance without the BASICS, which is a great sounding band. So, work on the basics right now!

3 Ts
In Tone (good sound)
In Time (play tgt with uniform articulation)
In Tune (no 'Beats"!)

These are all the TECHNICAL ASPECTS of performance. With these excellent basics, let's work on Artistic, the finer aspects of music-playing In Touch

Good Phrasing + Nuances + Musical Intensity (Emotional involvement)

3 Secrets!
1.There's NO Substitution for HARD WORK
2.Practice makes perfect
3.Knowing when to neglect the unimportant

-Notes taken from Leonard Tan, 2008
(NCO)

Band is a wonderful cca.
Treasure your time in the band!
Work together and get what we deserve!
Be thankful for the band, for music, your instructor and for all the great memories band has brought for you.

Do your best!:)
And do not regret!
(the colour combination is abit off heheh)
-alicia

11:37 PM

Teachers-in-charge: Miss Wee Seng Kiat, Miss Zee XY, Mr Bobby Chew

Main Band Conductor: ~~Mr. Leonard Tan~~ Miss Samantha Chong

Junior Band Conductor: Mr. Lim Lip Hua

Year 2009
Committee Members
Band Major: Foo Jing Ying
Drum Major: Eunice Au
Student Conductor: Lee Yi Li
SG: Tan En
Sec 1 I/Cs: Ivie Tay, Rachel Wong
QMs: Foo Jing Wen, Priscilia Chua, Miki/Felicia
OMs: Charmaine Ang, Ambre
Treasurers: Aminah, Xue En Ge
Librarians: Eunice Tang, Tania, Hana
P.R.O: Yvonne Wong

Section Leaders
Flute SL: Sherry Kwan
Clarinet SLs: Cheng Yee Ki, Jean Liang
Saxophone SL: Foo Jing Wen
Double Reeds SL: Cassandra See, Foo Jing Ying
Double Bass SL: Yeo Jin-Ni
Cornet SL: Quek Su Chin
Horn SL: Cheng Li Xuan
Euphonium SL: Lee Yi Li
Trombone SL: Lynn Teo
Tuba SL: Eunice Au
Percussion SLs: Bernice Bay, Xiao Yin

Year 2008
Committee Members
Band Major: Alicia Ng
Drum Major: Sze Yue
Student Conductor: Lee Ru Ri
SG: Charmaine Ang
Sec 1 I/Cs: Eunice Tang, Janice Lim
QMs: Delphine Tang, Sahidah Zulkaflee, Foo Jing Wen
OMs: Madihah Amin, Foo Jing Ying
Treasurers: Lee Ru Ri, Aminah
Librarians: Xu Yu Fang, Nichola Koh, Yvonne Wong
P.R.O: Solano Katherine Solano Grace Tan

Section Leaders
Flute SL: Samantha Tan
Clarinet SLs: Letisha Fong, Melissa Soh
Saxophone SL: Nurul Asyqin
Oboe SL: Claire Lim
Bassoon SL: Yeo Shumian
Double Bass SL: Lam Yi En
Cornet SL: Quek Su Chin
Horn SL: Cheng Li Xuan
Euphonium SL: Joanne Tey
Trombone SL: Lynn Teo
Tuba SL: Eunice Au
Percussion SLs: Vanessa Cheng, Bernice Bay

Year 2007
Committee Members
Band Major: Ashley Marie Yeap
Assitant Band Major: Leong Yiwen
Drum Major: Gladys Sin
SG: Solano Katherine Solano Grace Tan
Sec 1 I/Cs: Alicia Ng, Delphine Tang
QMs: Gabrielle Tan, Carissa Abidin, Sze Yue
OMs: Chen Zhi, Nurul Asyiqin
Treasurers: Nadirah Bte Hamid, Lee Ru Ri
Librarians: Yvonne Toh, Ella Choi, Joanne Tey
P.R.O: Joanne Lim

Section Leaders
Flute SL: Elizabeth Koh
Clarinet SLs: Tan Zhen Min, Madihah
Saxophone SL: Amanda Imes Chew
Oboe SL: Tay Wan Sing
Bassoon SL: Denise Choong
Double Bass SL: Jessica Yu
Cornet SL: Lynn Teo
Horn SL: Atalia Howe
Euphonium SL: Aditi Das
Trombone SL: Marion Lee
Tuba SL: Jasmine Lau
Percussion SLs: Gloria Ong, Kayla Wong