Here to post again(:

Okay hope that whatever i told uall today got into your head. please really start practising hard okay, i dun want uall to be the lousiest section in band, we must be the best! Must be more more more confident when u play, dun be afraid to play wrongly, it's better to play something than dun play at all cos at least u learn from ur mistakes.

For now the section's weak in basically everything, i reli dun want to say it but it's the truth. I admit that it's my fault too, i didnt do my best so now hope that i can "atone" for my mistakes.

For a start, i think uall shld start on fundamentals. Fundamentals i've to agree is the most boring thing to train but without fundamentals, u cant play anything. Some tips:

1. Bring home your mouthpieces and buzz for at least 10mins everyday to strengthen your mouth muscles. In this way ur lips wont go tired and out of control easily when u play for a long period of time like for example concerts, where u'll have to continuously play many pieces. it'll be better if u practise buzzing without mouthpiece, just ur lips.

2. Long tones. Damn damn damn important because it helps you refine your tone and train ur stamina. while holding notes try to listen and get the tone you like and prac on it. uall can start from 12secs per note, start from low G and go up the scale chromatically until the highest note you can reach. use a stopwatch, more accurate than mental counting. Many people say that practising long low tones can help you pitch higher, i duno why i works but it really works. so get ur low notes solid before you proceed to holding high notes.

3. Tonguing. Without tonguing you can never play a song. When practising tonguing use a metronome. Can train ur tempo as well. try to learn to tongue as fast as possible so that u wont get tongue tied easily. but dont rush things, start with slow tempo then slowly increase speed.

4. Scales. By now everyone should be able to memorise all the scales, how many sharps and flats in whatever scale, start on wat note. If u havent please strat learning now. Can learn from I Recommend. There's a pattern in memorising them quite difficult to explain here sec3s if you know please teach the juniors. Or can ask me xD

5. I know some of you have got difficulties in sightreading. this requires time to learn so during your free time, take out some scores which notes are within your range and play them. Or u can take scores and write all the notes down on top of each note. As time goes by, ur sightreading should improve.

6. Slurs! In my opinion slurs are easier than tonguing. Use total training to help you. or you can do this, play tuning note, middle G, tuning note again, high E, high G, down to high E and then back to tuning note. Then go down chromatically using different fingerings. This is something louis taught me, can widen ur note range too.

7. Tuning. okay since almost everyone has a tuner, everytime u prac on fundamentals or songs, use the tuner at the same time. And seriously must use it kay, dont just clip it to your bell and leave it on without looking at it. occasionally, look at it to make sure u are not too out of tune, as time goes by, ur tuning will improve. using a tuner when holding long tones can improve ur tuning, while u hold, get it in tune and remember the speed of air, the feeling and the sound of the note.

8. I almost forgot, embouchure! once ur embouchure is wrong u cant play properly, not say cannot play but in the long run, u'll realise you cant go further and improve anymore. so check ur embouchure from time to time to get it right. get vanchua to help uall check. sec1s and 2s it's still not too late to change so if u know that ur embouchure is wrong, please work really hard to change. Chin must be flatten at all times and dont dont dont puff ur cheeks. I know cartoon the people playing trumpet always puff cheeks but that is wrong kay.

9. Tone and blending. If this two components of yours is good, even if you play wrongly, it will sound correct. because it will still be pleasant to the ear. It's the truth kay, though you should try not to play wrongly. Tone you can listen to recordings of trumpeters whose tone you like and try to imitate. will work if u keep listen and work hard towards the tone everyday. i suggest everyone agree on the same tone if not huh, one go train classical tone another one go train jazz tone, then it'll be really funny. Right now the whole section's tone is ugh. all different. those who took part in syf do uall rmber what william told us to do to unite our tone? so please do that. stand in a circle, get the person with the nicest tone in the section to start playing something and everyone imitate. Standing in a circle allows you to hear clearer to one another. Blending into the section uall can do chords, blend into one another's note. if u can hear urself damn clearly, u are sticking out so adjust ur tuning, volume or tone. Blending into the band is quite difficult but achievable. i suggest practising with a clarinetist and blend into him or her. this prevents your tone from going to ear piercing and therefore stck out.

10. stamina. Can go running to build it up so that u can hold longer. and train ur stomach muscles and make use of them. dont go doing 100 sit ups everyday but when u play the trumpet u dont use it to play. when playing, use ur stomach muscle to support the note. u can do an experiment. when u feel like shtting go play the trumpet, u'll realise it's dificult to play properly because once you push ur sotmach muscle, ur shit will come out. then go shit everything out and go play again, u'll realise it's damn easy cos when u shit, u push ur muscle and train it, so when u play, u'll naturally use the muscle too. can train by playing staccatos too, make sure every single staccato note u play, ur body will jerk cos u are pushing. quite retarded but it's fun(:

okay i say 10 1st uall must digest everything. everything comes from my brain so some may be wrong, if got wrong correct me or tell the section. And i want everyone to set a target, what u want to achieve by the end of every week and vanchua please make sure they do it and test them b4 u start sectionals officially okay. ur target can be for example memorising all the notes in a song, getting the right embouchure, getting rhythm correct, able to hold a note for a minute or more, pitching higher notes which you cant now, tuning of particular notes perfect or whatever you think you are weak at. Since it's june holiday uall shld have more time to prac so please make good use of ur time kay. this is what i want everyone to do:

write down your weak and good points and set a target of what you want to achieve this june hol. Must do kay, either u write on a piece of paper and pass to vanchua or u can post on this blog, to keep it alive xD plan by week, like week one what i want to accomplish, week 2, week3 and so on. if u duno what u are weak or good at ask vanchua. everyone must get this done by nxt band prac okay, i'll ask vanchua whether uall did it or not.

Sorry i know i very nosey, i've alrdy stepped down and i should be studying but hor fang4 bu4 xia4 youall. Please please work hard kay, for the sake of the band and urself, im sure uall dun want mr chua to scold uall every prac right, so prove it to him. he said today that he wants us to be the best section in band, so prove it to everyone that uall can do it. I hope that nxt time i go back i'll hear people sing praises about uall okay okay. Can de la, just put ur heart and mind into it. Work towards BEST SECTION IN BAND OKAY!!! Though i not very good but I'll try to come back and help if uall dont mind(:

vanchia(: