10 Band-related Activities for May Holidays

10 Band-related Activities for May Holidays

With just a few months into the year, 2020 has already distinguished itself as a historic anomaly. The Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) has affected many lives globally, and Singapore initiated the Circuit Breaker in April 2020 to tackle the spread of the disease....
The Instrument Selection Process

The Instrument Selection Process

Every band member will have to go through the process of being sorted into different sections at the very beginning of their ensemble music-making journey. Most students will have an instrument in mind before they even know name of the instrument or the sounds they...

Score Analysis of Festival on Earth

Preface I previously wrote an article ‘Score Analysis of Sunny Island’ a few months before 2017 Singapore Youth Festival Arts Presentation (Secondary School Level), and I heard that it was welcomed by some band directors. This year, I’d like to share my ideas about...
The Problem with Music

The Problem with Music

Difficulty of musical performance “That’s enough. One by one”, I barked. It was an atmosphere too familiar. My students brought up their instruments and started playing the first 5 notes printed on their music for me. As my finger went down the row rapidly, I barked...

Developing Singapore’s Wind Instrument Prodigy

“There is no prodigy in our profession. If you see all the great singers of the past, none of them are.” – Luciano Pavarotti Often than not, we would come across Youtube videos or TV shows featuring young instrumentalists whom displayed amazing talent. One such...
Buying New or Used Instruments

Buying New or Used Instruments

[blockquote author=”Velominati, the principle of bike ownership”]The correct number of instruments to own is n+1. While the minimum number of instruments one should own is three, the correct number is n+1, where n is the number of instruments currently...
Seven Myths about Leadership

Seven Myths about Leadership

[blockquote author=”R. Buckminster Fuller”]The things to do are: the things that need doing, that you see need to be done, and no one else seems to see need to be done.[/blockquote] There are countless myths many young people have about the mysterious...
Character Traits of Student Leaders

Character Traits of Student Leaders

[blockquote author=”Lao-Tzu” ]A leader is best when people barely know he exists, Not so good when people obey and acclaim him, Worse when they despise him. Fail to honor people, they will fail to honor you; Of a good leader, who talks little: When his...
Rehearsal Planning and Tips

Rehearsal Planning and Tips

Daniel Yiau is a Masters graduate in wind and brass band conducting from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. In this article, he speaks to The Band Post about the importance of rehearsal planning, and what do students and conductors have to prepare prior to the...
Personal Values of Student Leaders

Personal Values of Student Leaders

[blockquote author=”Charles Dudley Warner” ]It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself. [/blockquote] When asked who would like to serve in a leadership role in the classroom...