Dear Randomness

Hail to Your Randomness!

There have been too many "perhaps" happening in me that i realise it is time to "Realise"

Perhaps will never cross the line to intrude unless Realised.

Realise will never meet anything unknown unless Perhaps speculates.

Rain drops

(as i was staring blankly into the randomness of this uninvited drizzl

No, this is not a typo error. Is there a reason why everything must start and

No, i do not believe so. If everything has the quality to resolves itself to an END, eternity would not

Yes, i have just discovered a secret principle that will revolutionize

Yes, you better learn this now or you might only realise it too late when revolution has happened

No cult here, perhaps it is science, perhaps it is philosophy,

Nothing end.. nothing last.. (at least not on earth) and when there is really only one thing that can end.. it will be time.

if time ends.. and it reverses.. ..sesrever ti dna ..sdne emit fi

.emit eb lliw ti ..dne nac taht gniht eno ylno yllaer si ereht nehw dna (htrae no ton tsael ta) ..tsal gnihton ..dne gnihtoN ( sentences reverse )

Perhaps nothing coherrent will be perceived in the process of time reversal.

What goes UP comes DOWN(with gravity).. what had happened happens.. and it continues to happen..

Just imagine.. if there is a time magnet.. And it pulls time back towards it.. The more time runs away from it.. the stronger it is attracted back to it. Just like when a ball thrown into the air stops, time will stop one day, and i would call it an end. And after which we would be undoing the things that have been done. We would turn younger, walk backwards, spit the water we drunk, cells we grow disseminate into elements, soon enough we become a foetus and we would be a sperm and we were too mere carbon atoms. This is wrong for sure, God can't exist the way i know Him. The dead will rise again.. but they soon will vanish and become mere carbon atoms.

What if this time magnet is situated at the end of the universe where even the first sun ray that existed from the first nuclear explosion have not reached it yet. It is sensible, We cannot grab what is flying towards it... tats all for now.

Let time run. Space will come into play.

Reading buddy

Hey. It is good to find you back reading mate.
I thought i lost you for good since the age of 10 or 12 i cannot remember.
(actually i am talking to the deprived reader inside me)

It was not long before i quit saying i hate reading, there have been a strange urge that prompted me to start reading again.
I started with reading fiction books the past 2 days.. completed 2 rather thick fiction books meant for childen.. they are fascinating! Full of emotions and even lead me to recall many events of my distant past.(perhaps misty recollections of a nerdy childhood life.)

Primary school:

Class 6H
I must say i could have been the strangest guy to have evolved out of this worst off primary class where A is the top class and i am way in A,B,C... H! The second worst class other then I. :) I am very happy in there. One of my teacher's favourite pet.
My teacher Mrs Samuel loves me alot. However I can remember how i was scolded for not cleaning up the toilet when it was my duty.. Honestly i have no idea of what is the meaning of responsibility at that tender age of 11.

Loner
A quiet boy i am, often a loner in school.. but i am happy being alone. Perhaps sometimes i would look for my friend Junwei to play.. whatever.. marbles, catching, inclined pull ups.. and also peiqiang.. however i often heard they went to smoke and once tried smoking in my home toilet when we were suppose to use the cigarette for a science experiment. Of course i didn't want to. I know it is bad for my lungs.

Science geek

I excelled in my science. It must be the countless times i read through my science text book. I like the pictures and always think of toilet when i look at the picture of rafflesia flower and an animated cartoon holding their nose. I can't forget the time when 2 strangers from class 6A come running after me and asked me: "Are you Jiaxing?" I was puzzelled.. cuz i know no one in 6A. Later then did i find out that the whole elite class of 6A were shocked when a lower being in class 6H got 92 for science SA when their best score was only 85. Results were always on parent's lips.. but i never want to compare.

Secondary school:

New friends:

Of course i went to the best class 1E1. By now i have completely evolved into a geek. Loner most of the time. However i am very grateful that there are a few friends who don't find me weird. And like their company too. Well this is when i understood the meaning of true friendship. Wee Siang and Kun Jian are 2 geeks i like to be around with.. LOL! Wee Siang is less of a geek.. perhaps a street smart rich kid down the block who lives in a condo! I always thought people who lives in Condo are rich ppl. We often drop by his condo to play Pool(or billard)!

CCA:

It was CCA day and there were performances after performances held in the hall. Lion dance troops, chinese dance, ELDDS, Choir and finally Band. The band was Big!( at least to me) They played a 3 songs and often my ears would fall to this rain sizzling sound which would buzz my ears. I was alive for a moment. And final song was an errie piece and this buzzing sound ended marked the finale of the song. I could hear my malay friend behind whispering.. "WOW that drum roll sounds like rain sound sia.." .. I was as usual.. calm and steady thinking to myself... " I am going to be like that guy who will play the rain sound."

Choir audition:

There were rumours that entering choir would mean you are a gay... However i wanted to enter because i always wanted to sing well. My music teacher was auditioning and testing our ears and voice. One after the other, kids got selected and some got kicked out for playing a fool. I was very serious.. When it is my turn.. i was dead nervous.. I see my teacher plays up the scale, hit a chord and then press a note.. "sing" she said.. i was stunned.. and i "ahh.." and i know i was producing the same sound i hear.. After a few tries.. i was rejected.. My friends were clapping.. "WOW you acted so well, you sang totally out of tune! How did you do that!".. Man i must say thats the saddest day of my life.

Band audition:

Still having high hope for being the guy to play the rain sound. I went for Band audition with a rowdy friend called Frankie. We are total contrast.. however he is very nice to be around with and he didn't mind me being too quiet.. Or i thought he didn't mind. I am very grateful. To cut the story short.. i really couldn't play any wind instrument or brass instrument and thats why i was given a pair of sticks.. I could feel a sense of awe as i hold the stick.. "WOW!"

I can't remember any audition.. i just knew i am in. I am among the drum sticks people!

Slowly i met the guy who made the rain sound which i learnt is the snare drum roll. And i watched Kwan Hwee, Zhi wei, Alvin mess around with the drumset, Fiona seldom appear. I learnt how to hit using my wrist. I played the snare drum for the whole year. And i picked up a jazz drumset piece "Rock around the clock" terribly hard and i wanted to quit band.. only to know that Mr Tan do not allow it to happen. "You stay for a while longer first.."

Well, i stayed a while and it was 4 years before i realise how much i learnt. I was still playing the snare drum mainly. Perhaps a few triangles, suspended cymbal and crash cymbal. To me, Kwan Hwee and Zhi wei were the Masters of drums.. I always see their flying sticks and paradiddles and uncountable speed. Alvin would play the drumset and i would sit behind to watch and imagine myself doing it. Well, i never got to do it until late sec 3. And i often blame the seniors for not teaching when i couldn't play a drumset piece... the fact is.. i didn't learn well. I was taking over many snare parts and crashes and toms and drumset when seniors graduate. Never did i touch the mallet, but only when keeping instruments.. i "touched" them. LOL! I remember i was replaced by a Thailand instructor for a drumset part... i was sad, yet relief.. Ms Tan, the conductor must be thinking i hate her for that.. but no i don't.. i know i am not competent enough for that piece of music and i am glad she found an instructor to teach me and replace me.

I found out later that the piece with the snare roll (rain sound) was Chant Rituals and indeed i became the guy to make the rain sound! LOL!

Working

Working does not need to be toilsome whatever tat word is.
But when work is really fun, It is pure.. Joy!!! to work.

I did one week of classes teaching drums. It is really exciting, but it does include very boring stuff, like arranging make up classes for students who can't come and collecting the fees.. headache for me. I really can't do admin stuff.
But look on the bright side! I get to see many many people young and old, tall and short.. all interested in playing drums. And i get to share teaching experiences and the funny tales with other full time staff.

I am now thinking back to the times when i got this admin job in office.. When i get loads of things that are not challenging... boring actually and had to face rejection from fellow workers who felt i was slacking too much... Gossip behind my back.. long working hours.. Shivers.. oh man.. i don't want to think about it. (deleting...)

I love to go to church. Because i just feel excited, maybe it is the friends in church, maybe it is God. But, there are so many troubles that seem to muddle this excitement and i leave church worried for the rest of my days.

God, i don't want to be in Sunday "Religious" meetings anymore. Bind this religious spirit and cast it far outside of church. Many many people say pastor lau is not a good pastor. I pray for Pastor lau and is still praying, God put her here for a reason.
Perhaps i have been warned.. not to speak bad things about Church and Pastor.. We are all humans. we have flaws.
I know why God you don't want to talk now. You want me to understand many many things and many heaven principles before you can give me an answer to my question.
If you talk now, i might not understand why and i will ask more Whys.
Just like a child begging to know about the concept of sexual reproduction.

This world made many many people into practical humans. Me too. It is the sciences that set the rules. I pray for Faith to erase all these rules. Then again, Faith and Science Coexist.. I won't see Faith if science makes all things possible.

Troubled kid down here God. Give me some lessons that i can practice.
God, if hardened claypots cannot be moulded into a pilaster, mould the clay and cement that are still fresh... the claypot can be a great decoration indoors.

Legs feel like jelly

Another song i watched a million times.
You tube hits 115,255 views to date, i might have contributed 5%. LOL

Its Vinnie Colaiuta again!!! XD



WOW!!! Man!!!
I want to do it like he does.

I remember when i was still teen at sec 3, i wanted to play like that one day.
That was when i copied my traditional grip just like vinnie. Not steve Gadd or Dave Weckl's but vinnie's.. difference is at the angle.
You know monkey see monkey do.

First thing i rewind this section at 3:00 to watch how that traditional grip.
And copied it. Index finger operated:

Ok.. Rewind.. at 2:44.. a nice fill i like. Swis triplet + swiss triplet add 2 stroke + Swiss triplet add 5 strokes in 16ths.

Let me continue to stare at this thing for a while more and learn many many things books cannot see.

...Sday would be fine

Short of money.

So i pray that i will get whatever i can get.

So I need to run more to get the 400 dollars from IPPT Gold award.
Seriously, if i run fast enough, i can help to deliver Mac by foot.
Still continue to train my stroks fast enough to get 100 from christmas bonus.

Sounds exciting, but it is gruesome, yet i like it ?!

Sting is my Favourite band.

Seven days from the album Ten Summoner's tale.

Splashing away is my favourite drummer, Vinnie Colaiuta,

No he is not a fish.

Simple song to learn the days of the week LOL!

Small happenings

Dear Monday,

How are you? Have you cleared your wardrobe of all those blue dress? Anyway, i had a great time teaching drums at MDS. I wished you had stayed longer.

Mr Polyrhythm visited me while i was in the practice room. I welcomed him and served him a cup of metronome at 70bpm. The kids can't stop running around the mat, well they were all over the place.

My Polyrhythm told me to use 5 chocolate sweets to make them settle down. But i seem to have the sweets all over the place too. So i picked up 2 to eat and they eat the rest.

I asked if i could try 7 more. But i can't seem to stuff them into the cup of metronome. So i break them up to 3 to eat and then i got it in after a few tries.

I wasn't content so i asked if i could have 9. I am clever this time, i straight away got 4 to eat and they eat the rest.

Well, that was really a secret revealed by Mr polyrhythm. The neighbours were hearing rumours that the odds could not be controlled by the Evens. Well the trick is, get the Evens to eat and they eat the rest.

I plea to know the other secret about riding on the track of a Mr Polyrhythm. But i think He can't seem to handle it himself, he suggested that i go look for the Uncle Metricmodulation. I said ok.

And then mp3 boy let me hear this song by Greg Mathieson, there Vinnie showed me how Uncle Metricmodulation looks like. I figured from assumption that i have to call out the Evens when the Odds are running steadily.

I hope to hear from you soon.

Yours In-Sane-cerely,
Harry. XD

A good Dreamer translates crazy ideas from imagination into action

Not so recently, the idea of individuality has been tormenting me from head to soles.

Sometimes ideas can be disjointed, yet if analysed, ideas are part of a process called maturation and its product, wisdom.

The most recent idea i encountered is "simplicity"

"Simple is beautiful" from my fren's msn nick,
"Get a simple idea and explore it" from Dave weckl's natural revolution,

The word "simple" used to be despised by me as mediocre, and relates to some brainless activities like reciting "abc".

but

Now i have a totally different perspective towards it. Beautiful is just the word.

It is no coincidence that when you have a concept, you will find the whole world agreeing to it as if it is a new found fact.
Even if they don't agree openly, they are actually agreeing in other subtle ways which are totally oblivious to the ignorant public yet too mandane for the informed few.

Now if no one is following me i apologise.. i apologise to my cynical attitude towards a few architectural essays which i do not understand and i thought it is crap... now that is certainly not always true. Certainly if many ideas are written solely for accelerating the process of mental maturation, then the world would certainly open its eyes and come to an agreement.
This also reminds me to keep my words few here, so i won't waste my time looking at crapy selfish pointless essays that i spill so as to remind myself of the ugliness which is not a fact.

Consider this, if ugliness exist, it is where beauty thrive. If the whole world of ideas are good, which then is better? Bad ideas accentuates our receptivity to good ones. Sadly the handicaps(mentally blinded) need some aid, and it is through the use of concise ideas that will cut their corneas like lasik. And most importantly, cut their exposure to the bright luring rays of ignorant and critical company.

Only if News company is taken over by "Facts" company.
Is it true the wise never act and the brave never think?

Stop thinking so much, you are destroying your sight reading skills. Lol!

Thinking about God, thinking of God, thinking for God.

I have realise the real Passion in me.

Learning.

There is nothing as exciting as being a noob. I love it.. and when i am no longer a noob, i find other situations other skills where i can be a noob again. And it repeats itself.

My left hand for example.. it was a chore controlling it.. now it is not hard to do whatever my right hand can do.. i am no longer interested in it anymore... and maybe play some pranks that i am a left hander. Lol! Handedness is no longer an issue. Maybe the issue is.. where should i hold my traditional grip?

I even tried to make myself left master eye.. almost there Lol! and sight reading, improvising, ear trainings, I have to admit i am very noob at these and i love it.

This can't go on if i were to be so fast changing in the things i do.

So did God put a desire in me for all these or did i create my own desires? You will not desire the things i desire, and definitely this has got a lot to do with your surroundings, and eventually the things you desire will determine what you do.

Why a philosopher don't do carpenter work, why Da vinci don't work as a main chef in a well known restaurant? We can actually do anything we want to do.. but we don't do it because it is not what we desire.

God created this desire in us or is this desire a part of our choice?

I would say God created this desire.
When we don't like something.. it is rather absolute.. but when we like something.. we sometimes doubt our extent of liking. If the things we do not like can be so definite( at least for me) then it is these things that are "not" that defines what i like.. and it is absolute. Eventually, i am born with it, circumstances might change it, and God creates circumstances.

But if it is this simple that "the things i like to do defines what i will be doing" then... y is there still uncertainty in what we will be doing most of our time(life)? Is it money? Competition? Or there is no such thing as taking a hobby as a job. No one says that.. but actually almost everyone thinks this way. I am naive, i would seem.. but i am not. I am proposing a change. There are trends that occur because people long for the success of the rich. Simple - money defines what we do now. In ideal situations with equal distribution of wealth and appreciation for effort.. our desires will define what we do.. Slackers will slack happily and labourers will labour happily.

So what are you trying to say.

I hate the idea of money. Especially the idea that i cannot live without money. Hate it to the deepest CORE!

Misunderstanding: Then give me your money Jiaxing..

I cannot live without money.. it is a truth. I am so trapped.. I hate it so much and i cannot let it go. Ultimate irritating disgusting revolting! Now imagine.. you are in a world where everything you can eat is glue.. you hate to eat glue.. but thats the only thing you can eat, people will be fighting over glue.. and you don't want to eat gule but you have to eat... glue.

Confirm there will be glue lovers storing glue in their store room in this situation.. and you are like.. ?! What the heck? You eat a ton of glue a day is it? Y do you want more than what you need?
Throw away the glue! Lets start having chef and farmers.

Life in a faulty tap.

Ever on your tap to realize that no matter how many rounds you turn, water don't appear. Well it is time to call the plumber.

What if you happened to be the water held back by the faulty tap, ever ready to gush out yet restricted?

Well, where is the strength you had when you broke solid walls of the Dam? I hear you could drill a hole through a rock by just drips. Lost for words? Where are your guts that made you splash from great heights?

I know what is wrong. The tap is not good.

Do you hate this faulty tap? Ever wished that you could continue your unfinished marathon through the miles of piping?

Well it is time to call the plumber.

Oi! Jiaxing don't you think i don't get what you mean.. trying to provoke the anger out of me by metaphorical means?

Jiaxing: Did i mention your name?

Don't pretend. You think i am a faulty tap that hinders you from displaying your "glamorous" gift. What are you? Picaso la.. hahaha! Get famous when you die. but no i am sure you can't, see what proportion you depict, steady hands and good brains you have, but no skill.

Jiaxing: I mean i need a plumber. Do i need any more critics to turn a few more rounds of this faluty tap and say.. "Look.. i told you the tap don't work!"

Now i am so stupid to see that i am the problem and not able to find solution to this problem! Don't forget you are dealing with a critical brain, and i doubt you have one. Ok, what if i am not the problem, i am actually a Dam holding you up just in case you sweep through my life and drown the most basic of "common sense" in me?
Will any artistic skill give you money? Music? You are not any bright kid who learn piano at 5 and compose music at 9. What makes you any better to be "Wanted" in the society. Disgrace. Stay stucked there in my Dam!

Jiaxing: If you do believe that. Well done, i think you are a step closer to accepting me. Well it is common sense that water gives life. Remember that time when you almost break down when you were handed that admin office job? You were so good a Dam that not even a single moss grow in your desert.. die in your thirst and see that you are missing a big portion of...

Whatever.

Speak

There are days when the person within me talk from the little breath left.
Wa, emo but it is me man.

So tell me jiaxing, who do you think you are?

jiaxing: i am a wasted piece of dump hurled around by this fickle minded boy who can't decide what he wants.

Me: Hey man, it is not my fault that i can't decide! i am hard pressed almost like truck crushing my head. Money. You really think you can go anywhere without money? Nowhere.

jiaxing: Don't need to care! you can't see my life. you know you always wanted it, you wanted to be that kind of drummer. How hard is it? Just play drums well.. very well.

Me: Hey, you don't attack me like that, playing drums can be my life.. if i literally chew my drum sticks to fill my hunger. Everything we do now, why we go uni? You think it is to learn? To improve knowledge? Maybe! But it is all about money.. will this degree get me money.. will this degree promise a job? Yes it will.

jiaxing: yes you can get money from a certain value you provide to the society. But look at me! This is not you! When did this idea of doing things for money "only" get into your head? When you do something well... you, jiaxing can starve to death and you don't care as long as you have did what you are made for.

Me: I am hungry.

jiaxing: ok i surrender. I will wait.. ...when will you realise me. Dont be a slop like you are now. i am not this flop you are portraying, i am the only gene you can find in the universe that defines a special purpose, just like everyone else is special... but unlike anyone else.. i know i am not a sloppy bum like you now jiaxing! Let me out!

Me: Emo...

jiaxing: ...

Experiment - in vitro

Lol! In vitro simply means that the rat is kept in a room and everything happens just in that room.

I am the talking rat. LOL!
So today was very very spontaneous.. not really in-vitro any more.. I am released from my own bondage.
I played Basket ball with my friend Jin Chong.. Shooting here and there.
Then the activities afterwards were very indoors. Jin Chong hold the guitar and i hold my bass (Or i should say, my friend's brother's bass) And then we played.

I was always wondering how to create bass lines.. then! After a video i watched on U tube today, I was Enlightened! I know, i didn't know it is really like that. So the basics is just Power Chords. LOL! TATS aLL! Then groove along.. And Lmao!

I go to you tube and there i hear bass everywhere so, hillsongs i tried with pretranscribed tabs by kind souls in the net.

I am turning a little crazy too. So i ate alot. LTTM.
I try open handed playing by imitating a groove i created in FL studio. Feels weird, but i like this feeling.

And then i sleep alot too while jin chong plays the piano.

Day 2

There don't seem to be much of an improvement. But i the weird feelings in the left hand were lesser.

Gotten a right calf ache from shooting basket balls left handed. That's first time i am playing basket ball again after i last touched at 19 years of age.

The poems were Damn funny today! I want to laugh when writing but cannot shake. Lmao.

Day 1

So i copied off a few nice poems with my under utilized left hand.
I am a lab rat holding a pen.

Left brain says : This rat needs a control set up, do not let too many environmemtal factors affect the results. Do make sure human error is minimized in the timing.

Right brain says : Whatever. LOL! these love poems are really old school and mushy but entertaining. HAHAHA!

Ambidextrous Revolution

I am Bai Jiaxing.
A right handed left brained person who is very logical and practical.
But situations since JC have gotten me very right brainded, especially after a year of architecture course in NUS. I started to lose my mind.

To cut it short, i would like to start a small experiment to test the limit of ambidexterity on a 22yrs old right handed male human.

I have no idea what the results will be or even the side effects.. i have heard that ppl who tried this turned very emo for a while. There are also some unlucky ones who grew a third hand at the corner of their neck. *LOL* (tats not true) Aey tats not funny actually.. i donno i just thought it was funny, then suddenly as i think agian, it is rather lame. Hahaha! Tats funny!

My main purpose is just to switch my drumming to a open-handed playing. Tats all. But, i am someone who must take things to the extreme!

LOL. Embrace the Ambidexterity Revolution with open arms.

We will *disgust about this more as i post more. I have a feeling there is a tinge of *alzhemia or Scihzophrenia surfacing from just a hypothesis phase of this experiment.

No worries, i have Elim and Charmaine to consult if anything happens, they will be able to use their Psychology, or is it? Degree into practical use. Honours? i don't know. I just know the night gown was blue with pink. I want mine with Bright Orange with a polka dots of purple. And maybe a top hi-hat for the head. LOL Tats funny.

Thats her

and then the diamond sparkle (it is the SOUND, not the looks that sparkles)

Diary diary

I had it remodified, looking for a mellow but deep head.

What i thought was unique in her,

A sweet refreshing voice
Speaks of wonderful fantasies never too hard to believe
Heart thumping and exciting momentum
Have great sense of humour in special ways.
Shimmering sparkles and jewels and diamonds with a necklace of dark pearls

I think i don't have enough money to buy her new sparkles and twinkles.
But i know these jewellery are meant for her.
She deserves them all,
Yet humbly, she is delighted to be in her old rags and still doing the work joyfully with a nice tinge of Cinderella in her.
I know she is not Cinderella, she is much more than that.
Maybe a little more toward Ariel, who holds a dream, knowing the change is coming, sings her way to a better tomorrow.

Diary diary,

Mutton goes Yay?! HAHAHA! Really laugh my tears out! HAHAHA!

I love to imagine illogical stuff and then it will seem so funny!
Maybe thats what hits my Funny bone best.
Thankfully the world is logical.. if not, i will be having asthma to catch my breadth laughing.

Chocolate. Peppermint. After 8. No i cannot find. Nevermind, wait till after 8 comes up with something new.

Today's lesson:
Stick trick: Butthead hihat! I GOT it! Left hand butthead: L rr L snare.
Moller technique: left hand semiquaver in groups of 3.. and crash at every group with right hand. Great feeling! I feel like a lefty!
Samba bass: Melodic tom playing... i got that melody finally after these months of wondering what did James and William play.. i didn't dare to ask them play again, but thank God it came stumbling upon me.
THEN Stone's stick control... RRLL rllr LLRR lrrl...
applied it with replacing R with bass kick and hihat going 1/4 notes then 8th notes.
And funk drum groove at 80bpm.. i like this feeling slow!

Today i polished my zildjian again. I hope i am not over polishing.. I am sick in the head. HAHAHA! Actually not polish la.. just putting protective layer over it.
I love her. And this refers to my crash no one else in particular.

I am going to have a relaxed week ahead. I hope to rest well before school starts.

It has been my dream to join jazz band. At least let me play with real life jazz players, enough of playing to Art Blakey records.

Finally i get a chance by James to do a trio drum solo in clark quay, 26 and 27 july.
I don't know but i have a feeling it will be really fun.
James, Jenny and I.
When i first hear of it, my mind wondered to the video of Vinnie, Dave Weckl and Steve Gad trio drum solo... and the dennis, and donno who who drum solo.. but what genre is it going to be, I heard it is "funk".

To Dennis Chambers i listen. To Steve Gad i watch. To Buddy Rich i imitate. To Vinnie Colauita i study. To Dave Weckl i challenge. To the drumsticks i shave wood. To the shoes i sand the soles.

To myself i discipline, reduce my practice hours and go out with friends.

Diary diary,

Today i did recordings of the 4 songs.
I had alot of fun and i thought this is what i did enjoy as a decent work.

Lesson learnt:

There is this important thing about time
1) Bulls eyes
2) Dragging
3) Rushing

One of these 2 styles must be there! I had a song with no.2 "Dragging" style!
I was knocked off! I prayed, God please help me predict the inconsistent amount of drag of the drummer! And God did gave me a good amount of prophecy gift to do most of the Dragging hits bulls eye. Thank you God, i am nothing without you.

I went for band practice and there was this song.. Fantallusion... it is a combination of Disney songs. Sadly the songs all cut half way.. very anti climax... i like it cuz i get the happy feeling when i hear it.
"Part of your world" Is in it too.. but it was only 2 bars!!! Man! Kill the composer!
Nonono.. cannot kill.

I played funk with this bassist, and he did Slap bass and was slapping and popping in 32nds.. i was OO! Big eyes! Never ever saw that in real life b4. Now i see it.. it is really awesome feeling to hear it! I was like.. do it again!

And so it was a friutful day!

Tomorrow i hope to start my practice routine again. I have 1 month left to catch my rhythm scales and to do some hihat esercises.

Diary diary,

Today i learnt 4 songs, i have to record them in studio tomorrow at 12pm.
80% done for each song.
Polished my Zildjian A custom fast crash. I love her pretty much.

Diary, i need a friend who can be there with me. I am feeling lonely.
I don't want to seek in vain to realise there are so many who wants to be cared for as much as i do.

Lessons learnt from the few hours:
Stick twirl to switch to butt on the left hand... It just happens, don't think too much.
Stick twirl right hand.. ( back - down - up ) *needs more practice
Need to improve on reading of score with swing. * tend miss seeing the off beats, look way a few measures in advance.
find some land marks in the score, when reading. * Together LK, RK, R L
Great improvement to inner clock, continue to train with metronome.
Fill- ins.. start on the 2. And end on the 3. * feels funky ( maybe imperfect cadence ) LOL Try not to start on a strong 1. STOP IT!

*Try next time to start on a 2 with a preceeding 1 & not on cymbals.

I am losing many dear friends. I am turning down gatherings. I am a loner.
Only can stare at her from a distance. No i cannot get to her.

I am going for band rehearsal tomorrow at 7pm, i really miss the times with them when i had so much joy. I miss them.
I miss so much of my days i cannot hear the difference btw chord changes and inversions? I want to know them, yet something is sneering at my age. I am 21 going 22. 3 more years b4 something happens to me. What will it be, 25.

I was asleep in my camp, and someone leaned forward and whispered into my ears.. i could feel my strength depleting and i see pitch black and then i feel a tingling sensation in my limbs as i regain back much more strength in those limbs. I remember i am in that drum studio that i have always been. And i was handed a pair of drumsticks... ?! What the heck is happening to this life?

I had a strange growth on my neck. It was really errie.

Sorry diary, i guess i am talking too much about " I " and me.. that i don't have time to hear you say. Please say something.

Anw the pineapple fried rice at hg point was alot, i can't finish it. But still i poured green tea in it and finished it. Yesterday i had ban mian. Hahaha! How random. Maybe i can find a dinner buddy.

Diary diary,

I love to talk to you. But you don't seem to be alive. Well, in fact i realise i am talking to myself.

Army training was tough. And i transcribed a song "Voice of truth".. However i think it is too tough for Crystal Wang, i will look aroung for something easy. "Take it all" as Elim says.. is meaningless. I agree.

I am loosing much feel for "rock".. sometimes it don't speak nothing at all about what the music is speaking. It just nail its way down on 2 and 4 as much as a metronome keeps time.

I am very very drained of rock.

:)

You look really cute when you smile.
no other song pleases my more than just to hear your voice.. .. ...
Rose said to me.
" Treasure me boy, very soon i will leave for good "
" If you happen to miss me... don't. "
Days pass and she turns pale. The last petal dropped.
Seeing roses shivering in the fridge,
Don't miss her who smiled at me.

I live in dreams.
I am living a dream even if i am awake. My mind is not logical, and i know there is no need to be. But here i am sitting in front of my laptop realizing that a conscious man is talking to an empty page, if i were conscious, why do i have to sit on a chair when i can wake up to an unconscious world. Every day i unwillingly continue this "daymare" of a world bound by laws. And find my self waking up at night to a place where things can be what i want them to be.

Oh no.. i am conscious for too long and it is eating into my reality of dreams.

Time to wake up, as i will go on to bed to wake myself up.

and i think i will sleep at 10am.. so here i am.. setting my alarm clock in this dream.

And there is an errie thing about my life, why is this daymare i am experiencing, a delayed alteration of what i have went through in my reality of dreams. People tell me in my dreams that it is Dejavu, but i think not, never trust anyone who talks in a dream, they are not awake.

Elim just said bye to me.. I think she is awake now on bed. Poor thing, she has to go back to sleep by 10am for some MOE thing.

Bye bye. I am going to bed. Daymare is soon over for the day.

Diary diary, i need to focus.

Tomorrow is my reservice day.

Today was a great service, i felt really high in worship.
Even though Elim often warns us it is not the feeling that counts... but,
I just can't help it.. i felt so high. Glory to God!

I practiced my CAGED system taught by jamie on lead guitar,
I focused first on bends
next on hammer-ons
next on pull-offs
next time i must try the rhythmic variations that i have never heard it done on guitar b4. hahaha. Exciting. 9,9,6. with pauses to breathe.

Ok for my drums,
I did a 24ths withs hand only out of the blue without counting..
i think all the exposure to Dennis chambers is sinking into my head.
and now i think of nothing but funky stuff.
hahaha. Dennis chambers, another turn in my drumming life.
Vinnie colaiuta's wonderfully deep vocabulary of rhythms and tempos aside.. back to catch the feel.

So in army i guess i will be training on pillows.. hope my hands will catch up speed.
and ackward myself when i come back to drums.. i heard the feeling will be like this.
You will feel your hands are moving way too ahead of your limbs.

+Transcribe 2 hillsongs praise to teach Crystal Wang.

Hope she like me as a teacher. Hope i am not too strict on her talent which i think is a waste she didn't start earlier. But soon i am sure she is going to surpass her teacher musically with much practice. Hahaha. Of course this teacher is not easy to surpass in terms of speed and coordination. Till the day when drums is like a part of your voice, you will realise, what is moulding you are God given ears to hear great drum voices by the rhythms that comes from within. And these rhythms comes from an input as well as a processed output and the more input and output, the more vocab you will be able to apply.

4 hours of practice a day keeps limbs entanglements away.

6 hours of practice a day keeps dinner away.

8 hours of practice a day keeps all your friends away.

6.6.6

Am i practicing Satanism?

Ahhhh!!!

firstly i did a 9,9,6 that makes 24ths.
Today i tried 6,6,6,6,8 that makes 32nds.

And i am thinking of 6,4,6,4,6,6 in 32nds

To make it easy, i tried 66 bpm till 6pm

6.6.6 is haunting me.

*ear piercing shriek*

Drums practice records

James' sharing:
Practice session. Focus one element at a time. Ok. 16ths, doubles, crashes, open hi hats.
1. groove, start with something simple. Then add on new ideas. Expand and expand, when you find something nice, practice it.
2. Get a pattern 'A' then move to pattern 'B'.
3. Summarize and write down.

4/6/09
Practice session:
1) Focused on
- 16th notes
- crashes
- bass doubles
- 6,6,6,6,8 in 32nds
- RH, kick (32nds at 100bpm)

Learning pt:
1) 16th notes.. syncopation + different rhythms. applied to snare and bass.
2) off beat crashes
3) add double before 1, 2 , 3 or 4.. or any combination to prepare to go into
32nds fills.
4) snare floor tom.. 1 & 2 & (3)rlrlkk rlk rL(4) Crash
5) hand foot 100bpm 32nds (use the right extreme side of the sole to do off beats.. and use french grip on the on beat hand.. the nerves seems more agile at this way of holding)
6) jazz rhythm.. 3,3,2 counting the hi hat.. and bass on the 2 of every 1 & 2 &

summarized...

I will be using the last few breaths of my youth to push the limit. I know when i reach 30.. it will never be the same again.

God thank you for growing my nerves at this speed which i see is incredible for a 22 years old. Thank you so much!

Maria.

The most beautiful sound i have ever heard...

I stayed out these 2 days.

I am all alone. With no one, but God.

The air is still. I can't seem to get enough oxygen.

Prayer has been different.

I was afraid in the pitch dark.. but i was bold and slept through the darkness.

I guess these 2 days made me different inside.

Dreams are better near or far?

I feel my dream has came to a halt here. I am sunken deep, deprived of air.
I feel there is a hope yet to be seen.

Don't think too much.

I have experienced deadness from the clutter of knowledge i thought i could use.

And in the end it was all too ugly.

!!! JX! Remember this mistake you made and don't commit it again!!!

Summarized: When you play, think of God only.

He formed you even b4 you are conceived. :)

shattering.. slowly.

the dream once clear is misting off...

Year 1 holiday

I am having my holidays.

At first i tried to plan my week. And i planned my time table for a week.

Then i tried to followed it.

I did.

Now i am on my 5th day. Rather smooth.

Yawn...

Random things

Ever since i got so lost. I think i have really lost my interest in architecture.

Thank God that i got a place in NAFA, but i won't be going there.
I have decided again, to first get my degree.
Then pursue my music.
Anyway, by then i will be on my next train to Berklee instead of NAFA.
$$$ is the problem.

I finally got the book i have always wanted to see.
"Unreel Drum book" by Marc Atkinson
As i rush to flip open to see.. i see the scroll!
The secret to split your brains. If you happen to have any. Hahaha!

First splitting it to control each limb.
Then split again to interprete 2 rhythms simultaneously - polyrhythms
Then split again to interprete polyrhythms in 2 separate time signature simultaneously.

This has been the kind of vocab i long to understand and be able to understand when i hear them! There they are! Right b4 my eyes!!!! Behold! My eyes are rolling. And i am seeing stars!

HAHAHA! I really wanna sit down nice nice... then start to practice these things.
Not that i can apply them in church situations. But just for the love of it. But then again actually i can! Provided i am creative enough to do it without Elim realising something strange is poping out of nowhere.. tat will be my failure in applying if she realise. But then again.. not over playing for church songs too, which i must admit i always do.

I play too much when unnecessary and don't play at all when it is absolutly necessary. Y!

Then again.. Thank God for what he has provided me with. I must not fail to mention this before i die. God gave me nice hands that are really skillful in craft work, or even carpenter work. I was like drilling and sawing and sanding away so happily and... Be hold! God is there to protect my fingers!

There is once when i was changing blade for the saw... I reached for the blade! ANd then! The other hand.. instead of reaching for the Un screw lock... i reached for the Power ON switch! And "ON"!

*RATTLES VIOLENTLY*

I got stuned! But my hands still ok. I know is God's protection. Cuz by the time i know what is happening, i realise my hands are still on the blade! ?!?!??

Thank God for protecting me always.
And also! I am a drum educator in a registered drum school!
With.. around 12 students for me!
No sweat!
Ever since i wrote down this dream in 2007 countdown service.. it has been evolving.. and progressing stately.

I am so happy you can see. God knows. And i always tell ppl this.. i will be a happy man if this is my area of service till i die. drummin profession.

And also the next dream.. of being a Studio drummer. It did happened in a small scale. But i am working really hard to make it to the real profession.


I am so waiting for this Sem to end!!! I want to start my special sem of drum studies under Vinnie and Marc ATkinson and Thomas Lang.. Then of course my physically existing drum instructor, James.

Modules DR1211 - Rhythm scales
DP2111 - Creative control
JA1111 - Jazz techniques by Jim Chapin
JS1541 - Jazz application in chamber situation
DS3121 - Church application

DR1211 - Rhythm scales.
2 hours of studio. Preclusion: If you happen to be a walking Octopus
Students are trained to be an octopus.
recommemded reading: Unreel drumbook - Marc Atkinson

DP2111 - Creative control
1 hour of studio. Preclusion: If you still happen to be a walking Octopus
Students are trained to be an octopus.
Compulsory reading: Creative control - Thomas Lang

JA1111 - Jazz techniques by Jim Chapin
1 hour studio. Preclusion: Needless to say.. walking Octopus
Students are trained to be an octopus tat plays drums.
(If you happen to watch little mermaid - such things exist)
This explains my concern for undesirable candidates.
Compulsory reading: Advance techniques for modern drummers - Jim chapin

JS1541 - Jazz application in chamber situation
5 hours of chamber band situation.
Given 4 people, play jazz atandards. And must show tinsy winsy bit or more of understanding of jazz structure + creative ideas carried forward from JA1111.

DS3121 - Church application
1 hour of coaching from James. Level 3.
Creative application of drumming for church drummers.
This is added on by 9 hours of teaching with due income.
Exam date : Soon

When will this happen?
In a few weeks time!
YEAH!

LONG long.. how i long for this.


In this material world.. i can't help it.

I want.. a DW double bass drum pedal
and a set of Zildjian cymbals - 2 crashes, 1 splash, 1 ride and 1 hi hat.

Thats all.

And maybe a room to practice at 10pm in the night.

I must read my bible.. or else i am going to get fined...
50 dollars!!!
AH!!!!
Anyway! Finally i am going to Tithe with hard earn money... ...

Seriously, i have been pondering the question of tithing when you don't earn and don't receive allowances. With school fees on loan. And money in bank depleting. And if it is not the money that is necessary, well.. i am tithing my time.

Time is more precious to me than money.

Just pray hard i wont hear the question again..
Y are people not tithing?
How much does it speak of you if you don't even care to tithe.
Even Decons are not tithing.
How much does it speak of you.
Are you praying for your church everyday?
Are you capable of this.. that... this ... that...
*Echoes* *drones on*

I CAN'T. Can't live up to expectation. Does that mean i must keep struggling to be what i am not made to be? Of course i do not know what i am made to be.

a hamster?
a rabbit?
a human?

Such questions never struck me unless i am awake.

Dreams are more tolerable then the cruel reality tat torments me the moment i open my eyes.

How often can i talk of my dreams than to worry what's there, and what's not there?

Are worries faces not obvious or pissed off faces not obvious enough to realise the reality is so cruel that i will rather be me than be the ideal me that exist to please not God but the creation of religious rules that defines what God means to us.

Think.

Marriage ritual

Hey hey. Long time since i last posted.
Well basically for the past few weeks it can be easily summed up.
Aimless, Unmotivated, Lost.

Anyway, :) staying cheerful is important.
I am suddenly very aware of the worried faces on many adults which i thought was very sad. It makes me ponder what things have made them so worried. Maybe it is me.
When everyone you meet can't seem to smile even if you smile at them... it is very scary.

Ok about my Uni life. Charmaine says i think too much. I thought so too. Basically my uni life revolves more around my CCA, symphonic Band. It is really something uplifting after sitting around lectures and tutorials and studios that has endless thought-hynoptizing talks and then go back to something you love.

But i like one of my lecturer Erwin. Dr Erwin. A architecture critic... there is nothing more rewarding than listening to his thoughts and love for architecture.
There are alot of times when he said... "Love what you do and do what you love."
Immediately i think of... you know what... not architecture. And Mr Fong's talk last year about how he grew to love architecture... how aimless he was after JC and after completing NUS architecture he realised his love grew more and more. He will always question us whether architecture is what you love, does your life revolves around architecture, do you eat, sleep, wake up and travel everywhere thinking of architecture? Immediately i thought of my God. Then i thought of... you know what... not architecture. He questioned us to rethink our path if we are not putting in our best in what we do.
Wait.. this is y i am thinking so much. Am i here just to get my cert?

Is this something like dating? Or is it like a marriage?
Have i been dating architecture or am i married to architecture?
Is it not obvious one love stays undeterred?
Or is it more prominent that i am indecisive of who i really want to marry to?

This is a very interesting analogy that can explain myself to the fullest and i can think through it from the very root of this indecision and weak immatured mind that seems to rule over me. Anyway, in all things, God has a plan and He has prepared the best for me although i may think it is not what i want or what i am good at.

Ok, it all started after JC life. I have basically 2 love of mine, one is art(drawing and painting), the other is music.

Love:
So i went to NS, dreaming and praying for a place in SAF Band.(MUSIC) I went for audition and was highly recommended... i thought i sure get in.. well.. i didn't. I went into Armour. I didn't understand but i didn't hold any negative feelings agiainst God. So in armour camp, during those sleepy afternoons where most people sleep their army lives away, I self studied guitar with the help of many friends.(MUSIC) I made most of my time meaningful with classical pieces and then i went into worshiping God in my room whenever i am free at home. Then i started to pick up music theory from my piano teacher and started to use some of the money from NS for the lessons. Piano helped alot in understand music, as well as my sight reading of treble and bass so i continued to learn.

So now to choosing a Uni. Y do i have to go uni? Because it is basically the path for all JC students. However i know that after my uni i am sure going to pursue my music. Berklee in KL, Laselle and NAFA in Singapore was in my mind. So first i went to check what CCA is there to offer, then jazz band caught my attention(MUSIC). Comparing between NUS and NTU, i chose NUS jazz band cuz of better instructors and more seious interest into what they do. I had 2 places, NTU double degree TCM or NUS bioengineering. I chose NUS. I continued to search for the optimum course that i don't need to study much so i can be more involved in CCA. Well, wads more than FASS, but then i know i can't read fast, so the next best will be archi which is also in line with my passion for DRAWING.

I found a part time job, Jarryl's mom offered to me.. this was a great disaster for me... I was totally stressed out by the sheer repetition of tedious admin work i can't help but get serious headaches and keep getting MCs... but i couldn't quit... so i prayed for God to deliver me! I thought immediately to MUSIC. Using the net, i found an E book on Piano essentials which talked alot about music, but it covers mostly about practicing... and a small section on the tuning of piano with a little of science involved. I savoured every single page of that 259 pages. Rushing to finish my loads of work so i have time to read and also play some facebook. Well, i finally ended my job and went on to uni. I made a statement never to touch admin job again.

Now starting Uni, i didn't go for any orientation they organize just because i am not interested. However for the registration day, i immediately went up the hall to look for CCAs, so there was Jazz band and wind Band and String Band. I just went to question on JAzz band. And about the practice days... And guess wad. Well don't need to guess.. It is Saturday practice... and i have cell group. It was a heart break for me :( Totally. There was a Saturday when i skipped cell group and went for jazz band, i enjoyed alot, but i know this is the only day i am going to be with them. So i didn't go for jazz band even turning down their audition.

So i went in search for more music related CCAs, many bands followed. One by one God didn't allow me, according to various clashes. So i thought i can go back to wind band.. so i did. I understand y now.. i felt so welcomed by the people in there i know i couldn't feel any warmer else where. Even now if i graduate i will wanna come back to NUS band. And i observed the most complex couducting in my life by Professor Ho. Hahaha.. seriously i couldn't follow till now cuz i am conditioned that every stroke of a conductor is a downstroke... but Prof Ho definitely defy rules and go into the complex of 16ths, 8ths and other divisions in his conducting... but his First beat of every bar is still very consistent. Impressed by his musicality in the pieces too.

Ok now back to reality and those questions posted to me. Is architecture your love?
I have been neglecting this elegant Miss architecture whether i am married or attached to her. I just did what is necessary to pass cuz i am totally convinced this is nothing about fine arts or painting... it is about spaces, thinking of buildings.

Uni life is a marriage ritual i have to undergo before i can be married to the one i truly love.

Because it is this certificate of marriage that i can get myself a stable home, an iron ricebowl.

But now in this ritual... Miss architecture keep asking me... do you love me? Or is there someone else? What can i say.

"I must complete this ritual if you don't mind.. because of the money and backing... when i have gotten enough from you, i will go on to loving the one i truly love. With what you have provided me with."

I have considered Miss TCM, Miss Nursing but i thought you resembles most of whom i love. Miss YST? She is beyond my reach, financially.

Hahahaha how drama.

But there are certainly many people who grow more in love with the course that they choose to undergo.

Maybe i am not giving enough chances. But what is wrong with the many professionals with a totally unrelated marriage cert? Maybe this uni life is Simulation marriage to train us for the real marriage to our real destined job.

If marriage is the best analogy for my situation and for my irresponsibility and fickle mindedness, it is also the only way i can be truly understood.

This may seem like a great attempt at covering the weakness of my fickle mind.
But what is more depressing is not having anyone to understand of the real reason and jump into conclusion with the things i do... And Y i do the things i do. I also can't truly explain myself when people say i am indecisive in this area of my life... i have to agree to a certain extent. Saddened.

There is this practical part i can understand totally, a need for a job, a stupid idea to end this rare chance for a good cert. An iron ricebowl after which i can continue to really go pursue the interest of mine and still having a cert. This is a mature thinking process i have thought through.

Then there is this part... well, i won't wanna explain anymore. Doing things the politically correct way is just not my type.

Counting sheep

Every since friday i have been trying to count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &.

I was decided to start because of a question asked by Dean my drum student.

How to count demisemi quaver?

It struck me cuz i never tried counting demisemiquaver and in order not to sound sloppy and go out of beat all drummers need to count.

My answer was to count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &... then treating each count as the first beat of your 4 demisemiquaver.



It works and he understood perfectly. I still looking out for better solutions if any...

And it works well too when i change from 4 to 3.
Then it becomes sextruplet... i think it is called this way..



Maybe it is true that drummers don't need too much theory, but it is also twice as true that drummers need to count and subdivide/ feel their beats in the countings.

So the next part instead of increasing beats in the 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
I have an urge NOT to say it lest it becomes too technical.. but it is an idea that i thought could not be missed.
I say for myself to understand, so next time i lose my mind to any fever or brain damage i can recall my ideas
Well it is just to keep counting and play your

TRIPLETS -- here you will have a polyrhythm of triplet over quaver
Crochet 3rds --- here a polyrhythm of semiquaver over triplets

Then something i realised while listening to Michael buble's Jazz.
We must change counting to 1&a 2&a 3&a 4&a Count in triplets. So if you wanna play quaver, the polyrhythm comes into play again.

So today in church i was late... i felt bad cuz i missed cell group and all the fun. :( Didn't wanna tok much too. Thank God no one tok much too :)
Had vocal training by Crystal.. Tats the second time in my life doing any vocal training hahaha i thought it was weird.. i am a drummer.. When would i sing aloud.. at most I will sing in my room for God. !?! Well hope i will sing better and better for God. But i think i can catch the notes better than when i first sang for joy.

The next thing that came with counting my 1 2 3 4 was all the notes come like ghost and sneak into the front of my head. That i can't really see but i know how it looks like when i want to see it.
So there was this part in God will make a way.. after the bridge.. when reuben wanted a slow down. But actually they found out he wanted a pause.

First i played my sextruplet, then a crochet at the 2.. then sextruplet all the way... wait.. i must write down what i see... lest i forget.



Then it seems to abrupt..
So ideas flooded in.. Van played triplets with a powerful feel. Hahaha! Tats is even more sudden to end hahahaha! See we have a common idea to build up after bridge. Hahaha! Cool van. We got Muo qi.

Anyway, reuben suggested to slow down... then come in with Ding ding ding ding.
I got what he means.. Actually right... Haiz... i say later...

Then bernard got the next idea that i use less intense fill in after the crash at "Today" And he said something in triplets on the 3 and 4 and i caught it... And so i played it on my snare only althugh his idea was for toms...

Well after that van suggested a cymbal crescendo on the 4. Since i only got 2 hands.. i can't play my triplets on 4 any more. So we decided on this... Although it still come out bad.. cuz i know y.. i am so technically involved in my head i got no more RAM to feel.

Anyway, though it is some amount of time spent, i thought such sharing was good. I mean, it is good when there is a problem and we work over it together.. Not necessary have to be drums.. maybe b'w guitar and keyboards or drums and keyboard or anything, singers.

I can recall the times when Elim will say she will follow the drums.. but seriously i am as lost as everyone where reuben wants to go. So if i am left to resolve the thing by myself, sometimes i will have a mental break down being pulled apart in 2 sides.

And This happened 2 times today, when i thought God will make a way was a verse.. but it seems to be able to do better as a chorus after the bridge... well... i was torn apart and we worked it out. And then crystal was saying.. "less intense" while i was in the second verse.. then i interprete it as... "go less intense later when in bridge".. so i did.. and Van and Crystal Build up and played more intense in bridge! Hahaha! I felt cheated at first. So i asked crystal again... to confirm she won't cheat me again.. Hahaha it was a total misunderstanding.. Haha. I thought it was funny. Anyway Crystal was having headache. So her intense was probably in the head... cuz i was really not intense when she felt i was... so if i went more intense in my standard of intense Crystal might collapse on the spot... Hahaha Joking.

And on Sunday, it will be totally for God. Tats tomorrow. I want to be there for prayer. No more music talk in my head *dump*. Jesus is the reason for all my hope and dreams.

Sound recording

I was trying my best to know as much as i can about home studio recording.
So i got hold of this guy before he graduate, to learn more.
I first learnt about the hardwares needed and their uses.
1) Laptop with the necessary software.. (adobe audition) downloadable free trial.
2) Interface - to line in the instrument. Instrument -> interface -> laptop mic hole.
- also to be able to hear the playback while recording simultaneously

Additional items
3) DI box - to reduce noise due to the magnetic field affecting long wires.
4) Mixer - To plug in the instrument or the mics then adjust the balance and gain
5) Mics.. this is simple enough to know y we need mics. Usually for vocals. Or drums.

Yawn... my brain is tired... Maths lecture was tough.

Anyway, i still need to learn how to operate the software. I must play around with it.

And i learnt some new chords for keyboard from the keyboardists.. sus chords using 2nds and 4ths. But i still donno when to invert the bass. Need to try out and clear some doubt. then how to apply a weird bass note to make playing interesting.

Then.. tats all lor.
I am tired, must not forget these important things... it is sure useful in my lifetime.

Thank God for this few days of lessons! I have been awake, if not subconsciously listening. Thank God!

The reason behind every dream...

"The pursuit of the change you want to see
and growing to become this special person God made you to be."

To glorify God, i see nothing more important than being the best vessel to be used by Him and to love Him back in return.

Soon i will be back to school.
Holidays has been a great period of change for me, emotionally. I turned stable.
Physically i am fitter, but still skinny.

Thank God i passed my IPPT! Got a silver! Though there is a comment that, "it is your own effort" however, i know this is a gift from God that is easily taken for granted. Thank you my God.

There is this chinese band in NUS called "GE YAO". I joined and then after 1 practice, i disappeared from their sight. Haha. Cuz i was busy with my archi works.. then there wasn't any aircon in the practice room also.
Anyway, i was called back to play a piece composed by one of them, called "wu hou".
It is a smooth Bossa nova piece. So i tried and they agreed with my playing and started to record. The recording process is fun. But i only recorded once.
Firstly, they give me a earphone with the pre recorded guitarist playing. She had played to the metronome.. so i won't need to play to the metronome. Yeah.
Secondly, they say they are going to record this time.
Lastly, i played through it.. not bad.. no major mistakes. I was feeling very excited though. However, i left for my ippt. I had a dream when i was in sec 4, i wanted to be a studio drummer. Well, here is a great experience for me.

Then for church band, i have to confess like that 2nd keyboard player did.. i didn't like to play drums in church. Sorry God, though i have said it so many times but i will confess again. Forgive me for my rebellion and pride, and being so bored at this. I keep forgetting it is you i am playing for.
But, i will change and learn how to make it better instead of complaining how much worse it can get. I will be obedient to your call for now and play to the best to help everyone worship you. The keyboardist has been a great one, the guitarist has been very very nice, the worsipleader has been so powerful, only this drummer hiding behind his drums has been intolerably awful.

I have a band with my friend wee siang(drummer) though. I think it will be up in 3 years time. At least now i have a retreat to the genre i thought is what i have been dreaming of. I have no idea of whether if it is going to work out, only God knows. And the band in Ge yao, which i can go back to my drums in the genre i thought was what i am dreaming of. These 2 non christian bands.
Church band, maybe not as close to me.. But surely we are close to God.

This band. With the purpose: to reach out to young people through the music. Attract them with the music, then the lyrics, then let God do the work in their hearts.
No easy task, no amount of dreaming can make this happen unless action is taken. i am sure no amount of action can make it happen too unless there is prayer.
And i am so so so sure it won't happen if i am alone.

Well anyhow, i have been declaring this very often because i need to get off from the deception of reality that our church music is bad. That means it is really bad.
I declare that our church music is going to sound so great everytime!
Why?
Because nothing on Earth sounds better than Praises for God!
So!!! We actually sound really really beautiful to God whenever we play and worship. This includes everyone in church who sings. Or even humms.

No gift meant for a love one
can be better than the gift true from your heart.
No sound made for You
can be more beautiful than the heartbeat of Your own creation.
No matter how far I drift apart,
as long as my heart is still beating,
I will come back to you.