Rehearsing For A Performance

Rehearsing for a performance is practicing with a very special goal. As in any other practice, it is useless to go over and over your music, especially the troublesome bits, with no attempt to address problems. Especially if a part is giving someone a problem, nothing will be accomplished by repetition except to drive in more deeply the troubles that already exist.

An individual's rehearsal work and a group's work are similar in many ways except that the group's time is more closely bound. An individual can rehearse at will, but a group must work round every one's schedule and may be hard-pressed to find time beyond the normal rehearsals. A group usually depends not on adding extra practice time but on starting early enough to get the work done. Each group will discover the right number of rehearsals needed for a concert or performance. Too few means a sloppy, insecure, demoralizing performance, but too many makes for boredom, resentment, and a loss of enthusiasm.

To keep up morale and use time efficiently, ensembles may need to schedule sectionals so that small groups of players or vocalists can go over their work. It's common for orchestra to split up into strings, woodwinds, and brass for at least one rehearsal. A sectional can be led by an experienced player so that several sectionals can go on simultaneously without requiring the conductor or leader to be present. A lot can be accomplished in a good sectional in a very short time. It's valuable enough to deserve the first twenty minutes or so at the very beginning of a rehearsal. It's not usually a good idea to hold a sectional at the end of a rehearsal when attention is beginning to wane.

An unconducted ensemble or an individual working alone might consider using a coach at some point during performance rehearsals. A coach is ideally a very good teacher with a clear knowledge of the kind of music you're getting ready. It is not someone who instructs in basic technique but rather someone who will help you build dimension into your playing, to bring it off the stage and into the audience.

One good time to bring in a coach is fairly early in your preparation, after you've learned your parts and are ready to break the music down for detailed work. You can get some ideas about developing and doing your best work, getting over the hurdles with room to spare, and using your instrumental skills to best advantage. The other good time for a coach is when you are ready to put the pieces back together. The least productive time for coaching is at the very end, just days or hours before the show. At that point it can feel a bit too late to everyone, especially if the coach has very many basic suggestions to make.

You will naturally think about the acoustics of the performance space, but if you have a choice, think about the acoustics of your rehearsal space as well. Consider challenging yourself and rehearsing in a "dry" environment, one that lacks resonance, that is what musicians call "dead". A resonant space gives richness to your overall sound, but it also conceals your mistakes and makes you sound much better than you actually are. It can be downright dangerous to rehearse in a live hall and perform in a dead one.

October 2008 Birthday Gals & Boys!!!

KSWS wishes the following members a Happy Birthday on their special day!!

08th October (WED) - Ian Lam Yee Yenn (Clarinet Section)
16th October (THU) - Lok Jie Jun (Euphonium Section)
20th October (MON) - Tan Yong An (Euphonium Section)
30th October (THU) - Tan Yue Yuan (Clarinet Section)

Hope they have a wonderful time on their upcoming Birthday!! Have a lot of fun & all best wishes to you.





Lok Jie Jun's Birthday Celebration

Bid Farewell to Mr. Noormazreen Maswan (Saxophone Section) & Ms. Lee Xian Li (Saxophone Section)

Hi KSWSians,

Let's say thanks to Mr. Noormazreen Maswan (Member Since 1997) & Ms. Lee Xian Li (Member since 2004) as they have decided to withdraw their membership from KSWS due to their busy personal commitment & career. They will still be supporting the band & they like to wish the band all the best in her music making for many good years to come.

KSWS will also like to thanks them for their contribution & effort in their years of service. The band also like to wish them all well for their career & life. Thank you very much & friends forever.

With Best Regards,
Lawrence Chong
President of KSWS

September 2008 Birthday Gals & Boys!!! A Happy 16th Birthday to KSWS!!!

KSWS wishes the following members a Happy Birthday on their special day!!

05th September (FRI) - Wendy Liew Leh Ting (Piccolo/Flute Section
05th September (FRI) - Yim Xiumei (Bassoon Section)
16th September (TUE) - Karen Leong Kai Ling (Trumpet Section)



Hope they have a wonderful time on their upcoming Birthday!! Have a lot of fun & all best wishes to you.

A Happy 16th Birthday to Kim Seng Wind Symphony on 27th September (SAT)!!!

Bid Farewell to Mr. Fernando Cura Dela Cruz (Trumpet Section)

Hi all KSWSians,

I am sad to announce that Mr. Fernando Cura Dela Cruz from the trumpet section has decided to leave the band for his heavy commitment in his church management & he will not be able to commit to the band practices in future. The band will like to thank him for his time & effort which he has contributed in the band since 15.03.2008. His resignation will take effect on 30.08.2008 onward. Let wish him all the best in his love with GOD & family. The band will always welcome him back as a friend/guest player in the future whenever his time allows.

With Best Regards,
Lawence Chong
President of KSWS

KSWS Website has been 90% updated today!!

Hi all KSWSians,

I have updated 90% of the KSWS website today. The rest I need to have a discussion with JingSi for some computer languages & some uploaded issues.

Please feel free to go into the website again. (http://ksws.org/main.htm) Please go in and check if everything is ok & feedback to me or JingSi for further action. Thanks!

Please kindly do not try to use any functions yet on the website because some of the links are missing. Thanks!

Regards,
Lawrence
President of KSWS

August 2008 Birthday Girls & Boys!!! KSWS also like to wish Singapore a Happy 43rd Birthday!!!

KSWS wishes the following members a Happy Birthday on their special day!!

08th August (FRI) - Ho Law Fatt (F.Horn Section)
21st August (THU) - Toh Jing Si (F.Horn Section)
27th August (WED) - Nor Ibrahim Bin Mohd Nor (Saxophone Section)
30th August (SAT) - Daniel Li Da Hao (Clarinet Section)


Hope they have a wonderful time on their upcoming Birthday!! Have a lot of fun & all best wishes to you.

KSWS also like to wish SINGAPORE a Happy 43rd Birthday on 9th August (SAT) !!!

July 2008 Birthday Girls!!

KSWS wishes the following members a Happy Birthday on their special day!!

20th July (SUN) - Yuki Udatsu (Trumpet Section)
20th July (SUN) - Elisse Lee Li Sze (Flute Section)
30th July (WED) - Amy Lee Meng Fong (Trombone Section)

Hope they have a wonderful time on their upcoming Birthday!! Have a lot of fun & all best wishes to you!!

Elisse's Birthday Celebration

Warmly Welcome Our New Family Member Onboard - 08 June 2008 Batch

Dear KSWSians,

Please warmly welcome the following member to our KSWS family.

Trumpet section Mr. Jerold Wong Jun Hoong
- Currently a Nanyang Polytechnic Student
- Born in 1989
- Found KSWS through Ms. Lok Jie Jun
- You can all add him to your mailing address at junhoong_wong@hotmail.com
- His official membership will take effect from 08 June 2008

We would like to extend our warmest welcome to Mr. Jerold Wong into our KSWS family.

Some interesting tips for Flute Playing

Here is some interesting tips for our flute section. Someone has posted this on the internet & sound very innovative. I think there is no harm to give it a try. Have fun!!


Improve of your Tone Production
Things you will need: An empty Coke bottle of 2 litre

Step 1: Use an empty Coke bottle & blow easily producing a steady sound while keeping the corners of your lips firm and the cheeks flat. (Use a small empty bottle if your breath support is weak for beginners.)

Step 2: Control the direction of a steady stream of air finding the correct angle that produces a sound. Do this exercise till you manage to have a good steady air stream & a correct angle that produces a sound. Then transfers this exercise to the flute.

Step 3: Take your flute mouthpiece section off the body of the flute.

Step 4: Place the mouthpipe opening on your closed lips so that the hole equally touches your top and bottom lips.

Step 5: Roll the mouthpiece down and away, keeping contact with your lower lip.

Step 6: Do the candle-blowing exercise so that a steady pitch is produced.

Step 7: Insert the mouthpiece section back into the instrument& bring the flute into "playing position."

Step 8: Depress and hold down the three top keys with the left hand plus the thumb key & blow producing a second line G on the treble clef.

Step 9: Use a deep breath & maintain this sound for three seconds.

Tips & Warnings
1) The side of your left index finger (at the knuckle joint) will touch the flute and provide support for the instrument where it touches your lower lip.

2) Avoid putting pressure on the instrument with your hands that might crush the natural shape of your lips.

3) Avoid blowing with high speed air.

4) If you get dizzy, stop blowing.

5) Always protect your instrument from others wishing to use or experiment with it.