~ PerCusSo ~

Haha, I did a great performance yesterday. There were no hiccups during the performance at all… What a big relief!! Many of the people congratulated me.. And, we took some photos together.

After the performance, I went to SADeaf for my appointment with the ISS. You must be wondering what I am doing with the ISS. Actually, I approached them for the help in my NAFA Music Access course. With their assistance, my teachers are more accomodating than before. They now understand better about my deafness and they are willing to help me in Aural and Chorus where I really have my problems with. And, I have come to know that these 2 subjects are very important to every musician.

As what I have heard from the social worker, she is really happy that I’m very focused without being shaken by any obstacles. She told me that I’m a mature person and ready to take any challengings anytime. Besides this, my teachers told her that I am a very hardworking person with a positive attitude. And they are very pleased to teach a such deaf person like me.

By the way, I have decided long ago to continue my private percussion lessons with Mr. Jon Fox once a week from July onwards. Meanwhile, I hope to be able to apply for the diploma next year. And, I will be able to be ready for any auditions whenever I wanna apply for bursaries/scholarships and Diploma.. I only know that I have to work harder towards my goal.. Step it up, Lily Goh!!

Last night, we all practised on 2 songs as usual. Poor me again, I got 2 big bruises on my knees again. I think I’m too hardworking to perfect that knees-twist.

Hmmm, just finished my project powerpoint presentation. It’s nearly 6am.. Oh dear, I didn’t get to sleep enough. But I do not mind losing much sleep..

It’s just that I have so many things to do.. This is so overwhelming! And at the same time, I hope to clear these things on this Sat which is a public holiday.

Hmmm, I have my percussion performance today. The song which I will be playing later is Pizzicato Polka (by Johann & Josef Strauss). I have finished my part but I haven’t done the combination with my partner yet. Actually, it’s a mallet duet. I’ll be playing melody while he’ll be playing accompaniment. Our performance will be assessed by the Head of Music Department and other teacher.

Hope we will be doing fine after the finalized rehearsal later. Wish me good luck, guys!!

This seemed to be my streak of bad luck.. My whole body is aching all over.. Could hardly move easily..

Even worse, I got problems with my lower left wisdom tooth. My left cheek looked alittle swollen.. I couldn’t open my mouth widely. I couldn’t eat properly, so I only could have bowls of soup for all my meals.

Once this pain has been lessened, I’d better have a X-ray on my mouth this week. Hopefully, I can do it this week.. Meanwhile, I hope to have that tooth removed.

Some days ago, I bought these percussion instruments for myself. I was so happy.. Even, I dreamt of having a marimba at home. But it was a fat hope.. It’s quite expensive! More than $3K-4K!! :p Hmmm, I like that congo the most.. I often play with it.

Haha, I’ll have a studio with wall-mirrors at home one day! It will be full of many instruments: marimba, viraphone, piano, guitar, drum-set, saxophone, recorder and other small percussion instruments (from all the world).. But this is only a dream.

Last Tuesday, I went to the library to borrow some books. I did it in a nostalgic sense; I came to know that I haven’t been reading for a very, very long time. It’s just that I am too busy to have my personal space.

Over there, I found some information to be enlightening to me. So, I took some photos of them with my handphone. I am just sharing with you all:

“Good leaders have useful leadership skills. Anyone can become a leader. You can practise leadership skills on the job. Start by being a good worker. Know how to do your job well and safely. Be dependable and fair. Try to do your best work each day.

You can also work on other leadership skills. Help other workers do their best. Know your employer’s goals and help reach those goals. Listen to other workers. Look for ways to solve problems.

Ask your supervisor to help you think of ways to improve your leadership skills. Ask about classes you could take. Many schools and companies offer classes on leadership.

Being a good leader will help you succeed at work. It might help you get a raise. A raise is an increase in pay. Being a good leader might also help you earn a promotion. A promotion is a better, higher-paying job. Leadership also helps you feel good about yourself and your skills.”

“My deaf friends and I prefer to use sign language to communicate with each other. It’s easier to express your feelings and more relaxing than using speech.”

Last night, Cheryl (a dance choegrapher) taught us some dance steps for the song, “Where Is Your The Love” (by Black Eyed Peas). These steps are really fanastic.. Very hippy-hop!! MTV-style dancing!!! Alot of boxing and twisting steps…

I guess I enjoyed dancing these steps although they look quite “hard”..

This morning when I woke up, I felt that my whole body is aching all over.. So painful…! In the end, I didn’t go to school today.. Very painful to move alot!!

I found out that I got a large bruise on my left knee. Another small bruise on my right knee… I realized that I practised that dance step (which needs to move or turn-twist on the knees) so hard.. Poor me…

And, I really hate to tell XTOMIC that we have to come down to practices twice a week: every Wednesday and Friday. We have yet to complete the percussion item and the drama-song, “Dreaming Of You” (by Selena)

We have many up-coming performances this time:

1) 5 June 2004: Beyond the Silence event (so-called “Deaf Volunteers’ Recruitment Exercise) at SADeaf

2) 13 June 2004: NTU Camp Outreach 2004 at NTU Hall

3) 14 June 2004: Jackie Chan’s “Around the World in 80 Days” Charity Premiere at Great World City.

4) 3/4 July 2004: NTU Project Ignite 2004 at Toa Payoh HDB Hub

Wow, so many.. I’m afraid that many XTOMIC-ers will be exhausted by these performances. And at the same time, I worry about them.. I have been giving in to their requests which they really need time to get away from these practices, meetings or even SADeaf.. I only know that they only need their personal space and I hope that they are happy this way.

Blackbird by Paul McCartney

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broken wings and learn to fly.

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these sunken eyes and learn to see.

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly

Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly

Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night

Take these broekn wings and learn to fly.

All your life

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blow the Stars Home by Eleanor Farjeon

Blow the Stars home, Wing, blow the Stars home

Ere Morning drowns them in golden foam.

O Sailor, Come Ashore by Christina Rossetti

O Sailor, come ashore,

What have you brought for me?

Red coral, white coral,

Coral from the sea.

I did not dig it from the ground,

Nor pluck it from a tree;

Feeble insects made it

Into the stormy sea.

Taken from that website url sent by Jessica: http://web.tickle.com/

My IQ score is 129.

Your Intellectual Type is Visual Mathematician. This means you are gifted at spotting patterns — both in pictures and in numbers. These talents combined with your overall high intelligence make you good at understanding the big picture, which is why people trust your instincts and turn to you for direction — especially in the workplace.

Just now, I watched the movie, Passion of the Christ alone at Cineleisure Orchard.. Hmmm, it’s not so touching as most of the people have said so.. I do not know why I didn’t cry at all.. To me, it’s really a bloody, stupid movie. As its consumers said earlier, it have shown graphic violence. I guess it’s only for entertainment.. It’s only a movie.

Although I am not Christian, I believe in GOD. Well, I understand how much Jesus went through these sufferings.. He has a strong faith in GOD and he does not think that he’s a king. He’s just a child of GOD.. Even, we’re HIS children and we have CHRIST in ourselves. But most of us do not see that we have it.

[ Too bad, I do not know how to explain further on types of Christians.. I read somewhere about this, I forgot where I put.. ]

I clearly remember that I went to Italy on band cum educational excursion for 18 days in July 1994. That’s my favourite holiday that I had ever in my life. Until now, I really hope to go to Italy again.

Italy is really beautiful.. Hmmm, I still remember that most of my bandmates and I were much exposed to the lives of Jesus and his other disciples how they lived their lives. Besides this, we heard alot of things about Italy and its past wars. We really cried at whatever we heard from the tourist guide or sisters (the nuns). Even, we really began to believe in GOD because of inexplicable miracles made and other people like Jesus, Peter, Paul, so on… For now, they are of their own legends which we all made them out. But still, I believe that those really happened very long, long, long ago.

Alright, may GOD protect us… *praying*

Hmmm… I guess I’ll be getting more and more busy this time.. Sighz, I have been making alot of sacrifices for SADeaf and XTOMIC..

Just now, Andre sms me to be the Vice-Chairman of YouthBeat.. To me, it’s neither a surprise nor a shock.. Andre needs me as I’m her good friend. We often work closely and we sometimes confide in each other. Besides this, it’s just that I’m very tired at this moment..

I have many things on hand for now:

1) NAFA music studies (will end in June 2004)

2) CSH music teacher (part-time)

3) XTOMIC leader

4) Sign language instructor

5) PR Officer of Sign Language Camp Retreat 2004 (will end in May 2004)

6) Programme Officer of 50th Anniversary IDD (will end in Sept 2005)

I now agreed that I will be assisting Andre as the Vice-Chairman of YouthBeat. But this is not yet to be officially announced. She’s still looking for one more hearing Vice-Chairman. We have thought of a few hearing volunteers whom we are comfortable to work the best with.

And, I told her that I can’t take over her place of the Chairman after her one-year’s period (from May 2004 to May 2005) as she has requested earlier. Also, I can’t leave XTOMIC like that. This group needs me the mostly and they’re not ready to take over my place. I do not mind having 2 heavy responsibilities in leading YouthBeat and XTOMIC..

In the meantime, YouthBeat is under revamping. There’re alot of internal problems: sleeping volunteers, project management and email correspondences. We hope to solve these problems together soon…