Term 2 Week 6 Videos

• This video is I'm practicing the original pack of ABACA Composition once again two days before the performance day. I've already got checked by Mr.John, where he helped me in revising the chords that matches with my melody instead of changing the melody itself, so there were no change in the melody from my original Composition. I haven't got checked by Mr.Sadrakh because I didn't have more time for music, so I will bring my melody again to Mr.Sadrakh the next day. 

• This video is showing me practicing the final revised ABACA Composition before the performance day. I've brought my melody to Mr.Sadrakh so that he can check it for the final time. While Mr.John only revised the chords used in my composition, Mr.Sadrakh have also checked not only the chords but also the whole melody. He and I have revised by playing with piano, where Mr.Sadrakh suggested a better chords that are in major, so that the song itself doesn't sound so gloomy when supported by the background music, and also have changed some part of the melody to let the song to become little bit faster and not to slow. Now I'm very satisfied with my final work of composition, and so I just need to practice a lot to memorize all the melodies and perform it well tomorrow. 

Term 2 Week 5 Videos

• In this video I'm practicing the movement of bow technique ones again, because last week when I first practiced the technique skill, I wasn't able to play it well, which means my technique in moving the bow with speed is low. That's why I've practiced once more with the speed developed in order to push me up to increase my level in moving the bow skill. 

• In this video I've practiced the new song again. However I've played it with only 1st position again, because even after Mr.Sadrakh helped with the 2nd and 3rd position, since the finger position that are moved in different place in the song are various, even though the song itself is very slow, I had to take a long time to find the finger position with the right pitch, so I just decided to practice once again with the 1st position. 

Term 2 Week 4 Videos

• In this video I'm practicing the first 'A' and 'B' part of my own ABACA Composition because I've thought that I have to start practicing my Composition in order to be ready for my performance which will be held next next week. This is my original version of my melody, but I'm not yet sure if there will be any change or not. 

• In this video I'm practicing the first 'A', 'B', second 'A', first 'C' and third 'A', which means it's the whole pack of the composition. It is the original composition I've made from the draft I had written in my notebook. I am quite satisfied with the melody, because it was the first time I've ever composed a song. But I think the melody is too gloomy and sad, so I might have a change after Mr.John and Mr.Sadrakh revise my final work. 

Term 2 Week 3 Videos

• In this video I'm practicing an exercise for my technique and moving the bows as fast as I can among the all 4 strings. I played the technique in staccato because it lets my technique develop in moving the bow faster than when I play without putting staccato.

• In this video I'm practicing a new song from the Suzuki book #5. It is called "Largo" which means it's a very slow song. Actually I'm supposed to practice the 1st, 2nd and 3rd position from fingering the violin, but I haven't learned it yet, so for the first time, I've just practiced with 1st position for all notes. 

Term 2 Week 2 Videos

• This video is showing me practicing the G major scale 3 octaves again as I've also practiced last week, because I didn't play really well in the 1st week of term 2 when I reviewed the scale. Therefore, I've repeated once more. 

• This video is showing me practicing the First song of the Suzuki book #5 again, since I like the song very much, and I wanted to play it again much better with increased techniques, because similar to the scales I've played, the song I've played last week was not as good as the time when I played the song in term 1.

Term 2 Week 1 Videos

• This video is showing the time when I practiced the G major scale 3 octaves for reviewing of what I've learnt last term. 

• This video is showing when I practiced the first song of the Suzuki book #5. I've already played it during term 1, so I've reviewed once more just in case I forgot some techniques used in this song. 

Term 2 Week 6: Dec 3rd - Dec 7th 2012

Topic: Preparation for the Performance and the real Assessment!

• Theory Class:

1. Dec 4th - Since Thursday is our performance day of our ABACA composition in front of our parents and teachers, my melody was revised by Mr.John during the theory class today. While revising my work, Mr.John found some chords that are not matching with the notes I've put in the composition, so mostly he and I spent our time in correcting the chords by playing the song with guitar, and correcting lots of chords in minor instead of major chords. Therefore I had to work on my finale again from the software, and had to print another hard copy of my project that will be submitted to Mr.John. 

2. Dec 5th - Today in theory class, we mostly practiced our song individually because tomorrow is the performance day. I have printed the new version of my composition, and practiced with that sheet in order to memorize the melody as fast as I can.

3. Dec 6th - Today was the Performance Day. My mum came to school as my guardian watching my performance on playing the ABACA Composition. I was quite nervous because I was the 4th one to perform from the violin students, and the violin students were the first one to go. However I think I did a great job in my performance, because I was able to memorize the whole melody without any mistakes, and was also able to play the song without any squeaky sounds or out of tunes. Therefore I was satisfied with my performance today, and thought it was a great challenge for me to do the composition of music by myself, and being able to perform it in front of my mum.

• Instrument Class:

1. Dec 4th - Since I took lots of time with Mr.John today for revising on my melody and chords, I didn't have instrument class today. Instead, during the instrument class session, I stayed in the theory room with my friends and Mr.John, and corrected the chords that I've mistakenly put above the notes.

2 Dec 5th - For the Final time, Mr.Sadrakh revised my melody, where in he gave me a lot of help in changing the melody into catchy ones and also changing the chords again into major chords to make the entire song a harmonic song. However it was a challenge for me to memorize the modified melody again, because the performance is tomorrow. Therefore I have to practice a lot at home today.

2. Dec 6th - It was the performance day today, so I didn't have any Instrument class today. While during the time, other students continued performing their melodies, and some students have also played additional songs in order to entertain the parents and the friends inside the classroom. Over all, I think the whole performance was a great success and a great challenge all of us had to face. 

Term 2 Week 5: Nov 26th - Nov 30th 2012

Topic: Music Analysis Test and continuation of MDW booklet!

• Theory Class:

1. Nov 27th - Since our music analysis test was postponed last week, we had to do the assessment today. In my opinion, the test was quite easy, because the musical notation and symbols were the ones that I've already learned during the practice quiz last week. However for some questions it was quite confusing, because for example, one of the question was asking about 'Sforzando' with a given symbol, but the symbol was different from the one I've learned last week. Other than that, I thought the quiz was quite easy and not really challenging.

2. Nov 28th - Today Mr. John asked us to play our Rondo composition from him to just see our progression on preparing for our performance next week. However I didn't perform yet because I thought compared to other student's melody, my melody is not catchy and nice, and I wasn't prepared yet, so I've decided to practice well during the week ends in order to make better sound of my melody.

3. Nov 29th - Mr.John showed us our test results, where in I've got 3 mistakes. Two of them was a silly mistake because I miss read the note and didn't read the music sheet carefully, so I was not happy to myself with the careless mistakes I have done. For the last one wrong answer I had, it's actually the correct answer, and Mr.John corrected wrong for the question, so I could say that I have 2 mistakes that I could have not done it if I was more careful.

• Instrument Class:

1. Nov 27th - I didn't play my violin much during the instrument class today, because after having the music analysis written test during the theory class, I was tired, and I wanted to relax myself with good songs, so I played piano and also heard others playing the violin and guitar.

2. Nov 28th - Today I played my Rondo composition in the instrument class, because from the theory class, I have realized that I have to practice much more until I can play it with good techniques and skills. Also, I began memorizing the song since the performance day was not far behind.

3. Nov 29th - After Mr.John showed us our test scores, he asked us to do the MDW booklet where in I also have to write reflections on what I've done for each music session. Therefore, we didn't have instrument class today, and instead we've continued on writing our reflections in MDW in the theory class. 

Term 2 Week 4: Nov 19th - Nov 23rd 2012

Topic: Practice quiz for the Music Analysis Written Test!

• Theory Class:

1. Nov 20th - We were informed by Mr.John that we will be having a music analysis written test by Thursday, so we had a practice quiz by answering the questions about the symbols and notations written in a music sheet. It was quite hard because there were lots of many new musical notation that I've never seen before, such as the c clef symbol and its pitches, and the meaning of the symbol 'sfz,,,' which means sforzando. 

2. Nov 21st - Since tomorrow is the assessment day, we've had another practice quiz in oral, because we didn't have any music sheet to learn the notations and symbols. Yet, Mr. John still taught us some more notations, such as the long legato, crescendo, decrescendo, accents, slur, staccato and many other notations that either I've seen before, or the ones that I've never met before,

3. Nov 22nd - Actually today's supposed to be the assessment day for the written analysis test, but Mr.John kindly postponed the test into next week Tuesday. It was a good news for me, because this week I had many other assessments to do from other subjects. 

• Instrument Class:

1. Nov 20th - In instrument class today I had another free time, so I played piano playing Schubert's Impromptu, and also learning other chords in guitar again from my friends who're learning guitar. It was fun because I had never learned guitar, and found it as a very interesting instrument these days.

2. Nov 21st - Today I played one of the suzuki #5 songs during the instrument class, because last week when I played the song, I wasn't quite good with it since it was the first time playing the new song. Since I had to improve my skills in playing the song, I've practiced playing it slowly at first and trying to catch the melody.

3. Nov 22nd - I've played my Rondo Composition today because I knew that next next week is the performance day of my ABACA Composition. And since we have to memorize our melody during the assessment, I've started practicing from today so that I don't need to memorize the whole melody just before the assessment day. 

Term 2 Week 3: Nov 12th - Nov 16th 2012

Topic: Submission of the Rondo Composition!

• Theory Class:

1. Nov 13th - Since tomorrow is the Submission day of the Rondo composition, we've shown Mr.John our final draft for the ABACA Composition, and checked if he wants to modify some part or not. Also, I have realized that we're supposed to put the appropriate chords for the first note of each bar so that when one of the teacher supports our performance by playing the piano, they can play the chords as the background music while I play the melody with violin. 

2. Nov 14th - Today is the last day of music class for this week, since tomorrow is holiday. Therefore, I must had to finish my Rondo Composition by today, and had to submit the hard copy and the soft copy by today. Since I couldn't save my work from the laptop's final software, I've borrowed my friend Rilya's laptop in working on my finale and have printed my work during the snack time. Also for the soft copy, I have saved my work in USB and copied it in the computer placed in the Music Room, where all teachers can see our work whenever they mark our assessments. 

• Instrument Class:

1. Nov 13th - I wanted to practice my Composition during the instrument class, but I haven't printed the hard copy of my work, and I didn't bring my laptop too, so I just watched others practicing their composition, like Matthew S. practiced his song with Mr.John helping out for the background music. It sounded really cool because the way Mr.John played the background music was very catchy, and Matthew's melody was very professional too.

2. Nov 14th - We didn't have instrument class today because after submitting my rondo composition in instrument class, all of us just wanted to stay in theory class and continue practicing on our Composition. So I stayed with my friends in the theory class and practiced my melody with violin. 

Term 2 Week 2: Nov 5th - Nov 9th 2012

Topic: Practice and the Assessment of singing the Broadway Song

• Theory Class:

1. Nov 6th - Since this week (tomorrow and Thursday) is the assessment day of singing the Broadway music, we've started practicing in front of the class. Since there were other students who've performed today, me and my partner Pinka didn't get the chance to practice today. However, since we also didn't have enough time to practice, Mr.John allowed us to postpone our assessment day to Thursday, while others had to do it tomorrow.

2. Nov 7th - It was the first assessment day, where other students except for me, Pinka and Rilya performed for their real assessment. Rilya also postponed her assessment day to tomorrow since she had a serious sore throat and cough this week. Instead of having the assessment, the three of us gathered around together and practiced for singing the song by trying to memorize the whole lyrics by today.

3. Nov 8th - Finally it was the assessment day for me, Pinka and Rilya. Me and Pinka went first, but for the first trial at the last part of the song, we've had a mistake in singing the wrong lyrics, so we've decided to consider that as a practice and sang one more time after Mr.John gave us another chance. This time, me and Pinka were able to sing it successfully without any mistakes in lyrics or misreading the pitch or the one of the song.

• Instrument Class:

1. Nov 7th - For the instrument class today, I've played piano from the instrument classroom, because mr.Sadrakh was busy teaching others playing their violin with the homework that was given from him (playing a number from suzuki book). Since I was bored, I played the piano with my friend Rilya, and I've played one of Schubert's Impromptus that I enjoy playing.

2. Nov 8th - Today I still didn't get the chance to get checked by mr.sadrakh, but I opened up my violin and played one of the suzuki #5 songs in order to be ready to get checked by my instrument teacher. 

3. Nov 9th - Since it was my assessment day for singing the Broadway song, I had free time in Instrument class, where in I've played piano again with my friends, and learned how to play chords in Guitar, such as G, A, C and E chords. 

Term 2 Week 1: Oct 29th - Nov 2nd 2012

Topic: Start of the Term with the Introduction of the Rondo Composition

• Theory Class:

1. Oct 30th - It was the first day of Music class after Term 2 started. Since Mr.John was out of country and haven't came back, Mr.Herry substituted our class today. Firstly, he explained us about the assessments and projects we will face during the term, and what kind of different music styles we are going to learn for term 2. He explained us about the Rondo Composition we will be starting to compose in an ABACA format. We have started composing our draft melody by starting with the first 'A' and 'B' part. It didn't took long time for me to compose the first 16 bars of the song, but I wasn't sure if it is a good melody since it was the first time I've ever made the professional composition. Also, Mr.Herry told us that we will be singing any Broadway song in either pair or alone next week. So I paired up with my friend Pinka and researched for the appropriate song we can sing for the assessment.      

2. Oct 31st - Mr.Herry still substituted us in theory class today. At fist we've talked about the history of the Broadway song, and some big examples such as the 'Sound of Music'. Since I was paired up with Pinka, we've discussed about the song we will be singing next week, where in we've decided to sing 'On my Own' from the Broadway titled 'Les Miserables'. We knew this song because it was played in a TV series 'Glee', and we thought the melody is very nice, so we've decided to sing this song. After we've decided our song, we've continued doing our Rondo Composition by completing the 'C' part, where in our draft is finished. 

3. Nov 1st - Mr.John was finally back by today and so we had to explain about what we've done with Mr.Herry past 2 days. We've told him that we're done with our Rondo Composition draft sheet, and that we've chosen the song that we will be singing during the Broadway song assessment next week. There Mr.John told us that we can use the Karaoke version of the song to sing or to play the instruments that we can play for our background melody. Me and PInka have decided to use the Karaoke version, because it is easier for us to concentrate if we use the background song that is already provided for us. 

• Instrument Class:

1. Oct 30th - Since Mr.John was absent, the guitar student didn't have any substitute teacher for their instrument class, so during the instrument class today, Mr.Herry asked Mr.Sadrakh to look after us during the Instrument class inside the Theory classroom. There, Mr.Sadrakh gave us free time to play any instruments so I played piano alone with the song I memorized and learned from my lesson for the whole session.

2. Oct 31st - Today Mr.Herry looked after us during the Instrument Class, where he gathered all of us around and asked us to bring our instruments. After gathering around with our instruments, Mr.Herry taught us about many different ways of making harmonic sounds with different instruments. He first demonstrated us an example by making a simple song and asking the violin students to play first, and the guitar students to follow, and the piano students to go afterward. It was fun of how we made different sounds with only on simple song, and I've realized that I can use that method in my Rondo Composition

3. Nov 1st - Mr.John was back today, so we had our own instrument classes today. However since it was the first time we've ever had our separated instrument class, we didn't play violin at all and just talked about what we've done during the holiday, and the vacations we've had during the one week holiday.