APS Angklung Players' Space

Hello!

2011-07-04T14:21:00.001+08:00

Hello Angklung! Sorry I couldn't come back and see you guys! Is anyone updating the blog? Jeesh, for those who don't know me, I'm an ex-member/senior :D Anyway, what songs are you guys doing now?

Photos of that day

2010-05-01T15:14:00.005+08:00

Here are some photos - not very clear but still ok - taken on SYF day itself. Once I've got everyone's photos in I will burn them for you all ok? :)

Holding on together...

Soo Ching & Audrey looking cute

Cutesy pretty Malihah & Reegena :)

The cute girls of APS Angklung! Sooooooo pretty~!

At Republic Polytechnic, while waiting to go into the tuning room...

Dragonballz Ernest! (Back in school after SYF)

Not just about the award...

2010-04-29T22:40:00.002+08:00

Dear APS Angklung-Kulintang members,

It is hard to believe but it is true - we got a bronze this year.

Don't feel upset because you have all done your best and we are all very proud of you - myself, Mrs Kan, Mrs Thio, Mr M. Tan and all the teachers.

Before the results were out, Mr A smsed me: So what do you think of the ensemble's performance today? I said you all sounded better than all the practices we had. Mr A replied that he agreed that you all have done well. Given the difficult song arrangements requiring you all to play on off-beats and to adjust yourselves to changes at the eleventh hour, you all overcome personal fears to outdo yourselves.

Mr M. Tan asked me to sms him the results and I did. He said: “It's a young team. They will learn from this year's experience and can only get better. It was a splendid effort which is most important. Ultimately it's about appreciating music in the long term.”

I totally agree with that. We are the ONLY Music CCA who put our juniors on the SYF battlefield, had Saturday practices so that members from both sessions could practice together, and was able to adapt quickly to changes in song arrangements made by Mr A. I'm glad to see that the friendship and camaraderie has grown stronger and I hope to see this continue as you grow with the ensemble. It is such friendships which make a CCA worthwhile and it is what will help us achieve greater things.

So while we take a break after all that hard work, let's not forget to come back refreshed and ready to achieve more in upcoming performances and events. Take care and we'll see you soon :)

Two Days More!

2010-04-26T09:14:00.002+08:00

Dear Angklung Members,

The SYF is just 2 days away, and I'm glad that the last practice was really good. You guys really sounded much better than the so many practices we've had these last few months. Remember: Have confidence and let your confidence shine through -- the judges will be able to hear it! :)

Wishing the ensemble all the best *keeping fingers and toes crossed*!! 8)

Angklung Student Committee 2010

2010-04-01T18:23:00.003+08:00

Dear members,

After much discussion, we have come up with the Angklung Student Committee for 2010:

Ensemble Leader: Shashneetha (Soo Ching)

Quarter Mistress (Costumes): Shahira (Crystal)

Quarter Master (Instruments): Ernest (Jeffrey)

Publicity & Relations: Deborah (Crystal)

Section Leader (Kulintang): Anna (Melissa)

Section Leader (Angklung - Main): Soo Ching (Wai Pin)

Section Leader (Angklung - Junior): Rachel/ Xin Yu (Audrey)

Pupils in brackets will understudy the committee members.

Committee members, I hope you will take your posts seriously and be a good role model for your peers. Angklung members please provide support to your committee members.

Thank you! :)

Moliendo Cafe

2010-03-06T10:04:00.002+08:00

Dear Angklungees...

I found a few very nice and lively versions of Moliendo Cafe! Check them out:

The studio-recording latin version; these guys look and sound like they are enjoying themselves (Mel and Suki: if you can play as smoothly and in as a relaxed manner as the percussion guy we'll be halfway towards GOLD!)

José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a blind Puerto Rican singer and virtuoso guitarist, known for many international hits. Here's his version; you can hear the rhythm clearer:

I think if we can play as SMOOTHLY and in as RELAXED a manner as these guys, we'll definitely strike G*** :) Enjoy!!

WELCOME 2010!

2010-01-07T12:00:00.002+08:00

Dear Angklung members,

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL AND TO ANGKLUNG 8) As you all know this is a very exciting year for all of us because it is ........SYF *Gasp!* But don't worry because Mr A is going to see us through it :)

Some things to note:

1. Practices for both Junior and Main Angklung groups are now on Thursdays; juniors from 10:30am to 11:30am and main group from 1pm to 3pm. Our juniors have started practice today and seniors will start practice next week, 14 January.

2. We need to elect a new Angklung Student Committee 2010 so if you have anyone in mind, you can let myself or Mr A know. :)

That's all for now; see you all soon!

PS: Alumni members are welcome to come back to visit and help out ;)

IMPT NOTICE: NO PRACT on 11 SEP & NO PERF on 14 Sep

2009-09-09T22:15:00.000+08:00

Dear members,

Please note that there will be no concert on 14 Sep as the school scheduled to visit us is not coming due to H1N1 cases in their pupils. As such there is no need to come to school on 11 Sep too.

THANK YOU! See you all as per usual pract when school reopens! :)

Of MIA, Rehearsals and being Cool

2009-09-07T23:08:00.005+08:00

Dear Angklung members,

FINALLY I have the time to be back here again! I'm so sorry for not having posted for so long but Term 3 was really very very hectic as I was running several projects at the same time, but now I'M BACK! :D

Some updates:

1. 11 SEP FRIDAY REHEARSAL: WELCOME CONCERT FOR BANGBU VISITORS 
As the concert is on 14 Sep - that's right, first day of the new term! - we've been informed of the rehearsal just before school closed. (Lucky we've got practices this hols! Phew!) Details are as below:

Date: 11 Sep 2009 (Fri)
Time: 0900 - 1030 (Pls reach sch at 0845)
Attire: Sch Uniform PLS!

See you there :)

2. NEW SONG?

I've been thinking of getting Mr A to instrument this song for our ensemble - it's got a really cool feel to it and if we can put in our effort and do it well we could WOW our audiences. How how how?

Besame Angklung Mucho! :)

2009-06-03T15:48:00.002+08:00

Dear Angklung members,

Here are some nice clips of the new song we are doing, Besame Mucho. The first one here is the slower version sung by Andrea Bocelli, a blind but accomplished Italian singer. You can hear the rhythm of the drums in the background - perhaps that's the style we are looking for:

I'm looking for a faster version for you all... will upload if I find it :)

Holiday thoughts...

2009-06-01T13:56:00.002+08:00

Dear Angklung members,

Here I am at the beginning of the school holidays and I'm in a day full of meetings :( At any rate, I hope you had a good practice today and are looking forward to the next practice.

Like I said, we're running low in resources for instructor fees :(( so I hope you all will buck up and be more focussed during practices so that we can CUT DOWN on instructor fees (NO MARNEE already!!) Or else you all got to teach yourselves for SYF 2010, and that's unimaginable.

Anyone got any ideas how to overcome this problem? :)

International Friendship Week Concert - Before & After

2009-04-11T17:07:00.009+08:00

Dear Angklung members,

Here are the shots of us sweating, toiling and practising real hard on Saturday, and performing on the actual day! ;) Enjoy!

Mr Ali was totally ENGROSSED...

... and so were our members!

Waiting to perform in the morning concert:

Somehow Alina & Cyril look like they are babysitting :)... our mummy and daddy!!

Don't forget to SMILE ;)

We work hard, we play hard!

Chilling with Mr A...

We're DA ANGKLUNG GROUPIES! :)

Lunch/ Timeout with Mr A:

Waiting to perform in the afternoon concert:

Hey, check out the functions on my handphone!

The beautiful girls of Angklung

Er... MORE beautiful girls of Angklung (Emileen was just too excited)

Say "ANGKLUNG!!!" :D

The posers of our ensemble...

Finally... it's all over :) YEAHH!!

AHA! Anderson's Next Top Models!

Looking forward to more performances! :)

Angklung Members: Need your responses!

2009-04-03T10:28:00.003+08:00

Dear Angklung members,

I'm glad to see that you all have improved in your discipline and have taken more responsibility for your CCAs. :) Here, we need your responses to the following questions, as briefed by Mrs Nam this morning. Please think about this and I'll get your responses on Sat:

1) Where do your CCA mates keep their belongings (i.e., school bags, files, & etc) before & during CCA?

(2) Discuss & propose the appropriate place & the steps (i.e., how will it be done & who will be in-charge) your CCA group will take to ensure that your CCA mates' belongings are safe before & during CCA time.

That's all for now; SEE YA ALL TOMORROW! :)

Stand by Me

2009-03-07T18:11:00.008+08:00

Dear angklungees,

Here is a video of the song we are playing, "Stand By Me" featuring the original singer Ben E. King. This is what you should be sounding like - relaxed and unhurried:

I also found a combination of "Stand By Me" and Sean Kingston's "Beautiful Girl"; the underbelly (background rhythm) is "Stand By Me" all the way. Sounds interesting and refreshing! Maybe we can ask Mr A to let us do it like this eh :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAJ7psRTyTE&feature=related

Enjoy!

We're REGISTERED!

2009-02-19T11:51:00.001+08:00

Dear angklung members,

LATEST UPDATE: We are registered for the competition at Genting; I've just submitted our group.

This means we now need to:
1. Take our practices REALLY seriously - no fooling around, no latecoming plus lots of SELF-DISCIPLINE!
2. Get our costumes ready; those who have costumes already PLEASE KEEP THEM AT HOME.
3. Schedule another day for our practice.

That's all for now; going for meeting! See you all later! :)

Angklung Student Committee 09

2009-02-12T14:14:00.003+08:00

Dear Angklung members,

Here is your student committee for 2009. A warm welcome aboard to them and we look forward to an exciting year as an ensemble!

Angklung Student Committee 09:
Ensemble Leader: Bertrand Lee
Asst. Ens. Leader: Lee Sihui
Sect. Leader (Melody): Sylvia
Sect. Leader (TK & Bass): Shashneetha
Sect. Leader (Kulintang): Venessa Goh
Librarians: Jivitha, Tong Ling
Quarter Mistress (Costume): Suki, Melissa
Quarter Mistress (Instruments): Siew Ching, Pei Ni

WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL! :)

2009-01-02T16:11:00.002+08:00

Dear ANGKLUNG members,

WELCOLME BACK and a very HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL :)

Some updates for the new year:

1. NEW INSTRUCTOR

Yes, Mr K has informed us that he has got too many schools and he has to let go of some of them, much as he was very sad to do so. As such we have got a NEW instructor for the ensemble, whom we think would be an interesting and refreshing change for the group. As for his details, we will let you find out for yourself when practice starts so MAKE SURE you come for practice when it starts! :P

2. STUDENT COMMITTEE 2009

As the new year begins, we have decided to create a student committee body to help run the ensemble more efficiently. As such, we would like you, as a member of the group, to make careful nominations of pupils whom you feel are able to LEAD you. Here are the posts you can nominate your fellow members for:

Angklung Student Committee 09:

Ensemble Leader
Asst. Ens. Leader
Sect. Leader (Melody)
Sect. Leader (TK & Bass)
Sect. Leader (Kulintang)
Librarian
Asst. Librarian
Quarter Master
Quarter Mistress

We will call for your nominations at our first practice so keep your eyes PEELED on the notice board or HERE for the latest practice schedule. Cheerios! :)

My Brother's Rabbit

2008-08-08T22:34:00.001+08:00

adopt your own virtual pet!

2008-08-06T20:21:00.001+08:00

Clap@Khatib Racial Harmony Day Celebrations

2008-07-29T14:44:00.003+08:00

Dear angklungees,

That was really a good performance we had on Saturday - the comments from parents were it actually sounded better than what we did at SYF! It goes to show that definitely, we should try to RELAX as much as possible before any performances to do well, yeah? :)

Enough of talk.. here are the exciting snapshots of the event :) Enjoy!

Performances upcoming!

2008-05-31T21:07:00.003+08:00

Dear APS angklung members...

AHA! Caught you all online ah.. ask me to update da blog eh.. never prepare for your PSLE meh?

Actually, will still need the P6s to be around when we come back from holidays as we have a performance coming up on 26 July. (Cannot post too much details online eh later all our fans flock down there and mob us!! :P Hehehheheheh .. no lah. Not used to posting so much info online; not safe too.) So all you P6s please hang around till end of July when we have the performances ya? ;)

Finally time to relax a little, but still doing lots of admin work like preparing for worksheets, submitting reports etc etc... but my motto is WORK HARD, PLAY HARD! So I'll be taking a hiatus soon..

Darleen: Eh you all also can post things on this site leh... post something ya :)

No Matter What

2008-04-19T16:40:00.003+08:00

Latest update: SILVER for SYF 2008

Hmm. Frankly, for the effort we put in, we really deserve to strike gold. I almost thought we'd get it. Alas, what the judges see are the 8 minutes on stage, not the toil and hardwork for the 8 months.

Plus, I had spoken to Mr K and he did mention that many schools have adopted his method of instruction this year unlike 2006, where his schools were the only ones having such types of presentation. As such, many will sound very intricate and have full-bodied melodies, PLUS perfect movements etc. in other words, there are more schools with higher chances of gold this year. That means while we have improved by so much, other schools have leaped ahead by even more.

Of course, we would be disappointed. Definitely, with the amount of effort we put in. But let's take away some useful lessons from this:

1. Don't compare ourselves with others; only seek to supercede ourselves. We've already done our best, and we all know that. And that is enough.

2. Take practices seriously. We were lucky to have the opportunity to watch other schools and to realise that hey, we are really not up to mark yet. And we managed to pull up our socks.

3. MOST IMPORTANTLY, it's not the award that counts, it's what you've learnt about teamwork and team spirit while you are in Angklung.

(How come no response one ah?? NO one reads this blog meh!?)

Performer's Jitters, Performer's Blues

2008-04-17T16:54:00.007+08:00

I've been on stage many times; since primary school band performances in the school or outside at venues like Centrepoint, Botanic Gardens or even with NUSSB at Takashimaya and Victoria Concert Hall.

Oh yes, the training would be tough; I remember our band leaders/ instructors scolding us, reprimanding us, telling us our attitude/ discipline/ mood/ playing was NO GOOD. But we wanted -- it was US who wanted -- to achieve the best we can. And we sweated, worked and cried through it all.

Then, performance.

The feeling before a performance is indescribable; when you wake up that day, you tingle all over as if anticipating something good to happen to you, knowing something good is going to happen to you.

When you're getting dressed for the performance, you know that all your team members are going to be dressed in the same attire and you are all going to look so good on stage together, with your instructor. The pride and confidence grows with every button you do up and every shoe you shine.

Then you get your instruments and make your way out together; it's a feeling of exhilaration! (Must ask Carmen how she felt being the first to walk out for Melody)

When you start to play, suddenly the stage and audience melt away, and you find you are the only one there playing your songs, no longer just practicing, but finally performing in front of a real crowd.

Then, all too soon, you realize the moment is gone.

There seems to be a feeling of emptiness inside, making you want to linger on in the concert hall even after the last of the audience has gone. And you want to play your songs again somehow; it doesn't matter who was right or wrong anymore.

Do you feel the same way as I did?

Changing Faces

2008-04-05T20:52:00.004+08:00

Dear all,

Thought the old background was a bit dreary so I changed it to a lighter one.. Anyone who knows where to get any good Angklung ethnic skins, let me know! ;)

Still counting....

The Rehearsal Post-Mortem

2008-04-04T22:14:00.002+08:00

Hey all...

Was tossing and turning all night after the rehearsal; not that I actually planned to be thinking of the rehearsal but somehow the events of the day kept drifting in and out of my head.

While I was standing some distance away watching you all and listening, it dawned on me that: hey, you all actually looked and sounded good. Really much better than I have heard you all since many practices! *BRAVO!* I think you all have really put in alot of effort to *try* to be really disciplined and that showed. (Of cuz there's room for improvement - I hope BRYAN and PRAVEEN are reading this! AHEM..)

Counting down to the SYF CJ!!!!! 8)

Playing Worst Than The Worst

2008-04-04T21:15:00.000+08:00

To my Angklung Seniors:

Happened to read some of your blogs about our workshop at MPS -- and I am shocked that the tic there actually said those words about us. Though it's true no names were mentioned and we don't actually know which school she was talking about, but knowing our standards we all know who it refers to when she said it.

This really is no good coming from a teacher, I agree. No matter how bad someone is, we should never publicly criticise them because that doesn't help anyone at all. On the contrary, it leaves a negative impression of the person who says such things.

That said, let's take this positively - so we're the worst of the lot. But so what? That gives us more space to grow and be BETTER! :) So looking forward, we should work hard towards the last lap of our preparation and give the rest of the schools a good run for the GOLDS at central judging! We'll put up a good show and make them fall off their seats at the next workshop yeah!

Under the boardwalk Song

2008-03-29T18:32:00.004+08:00

Hi everyone! I found one of the songs we are performing for SYF... Under The Boardwalk!!! the URL to go there is :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV6WgRAN9FU

Pre SYF Madness...

2008-03-07T11:59:00.000+08:00

Dear APS angklungees,

The SYF is looming up in the horizon..how does it feel? For me the TIC, it has been so very stressful coordinating practices, making sure members turn up, getting rooms, instructors, practice notices etc et ready.. sometimes I feel like giving up. But then again, this reminds me of when I was in military band when I was in pri sch.

We were a newly formed band and were up against so many experienced band that if it wasn't for our determination and drive to get a gold, I think we'd never have made it. I think the most important thing is to BELIEVE you can do it.

So Angklung members, what's your stand? ;)

2008-03-06T17:11:00.000+08:00

More about kulintang:
The kulintang a kayo (literally, “wooden kulintang”) is a Philippine xylophone of the Maguindanaon people with eight tuned slabs arranged horizontally atop a wooden antangan (rack). Made of soft wood such as bayug, the kulintang a kayo is a common found among Maguindanaon households with a musical background. Traditionally, it was used for self-entertainment purpose inside the house, so beginners could practice kulintang pieces before performing them on the real kulintang and only recently have they been performed as part of a “wooden kulintang ensemble.” This ancient instrument is considered to have come to the Philippines before the importation of metallic gongs from China and therefore is considered a precursor to the present-day kulintang.[1]

2008-03-06T16:59:00.000+08:00

Welcome to
ANDERSON PRI ANGKLUNG BLOG!!!
Wan to know more about ANGKLUNG???
read on :Angklung is a musical instrument made out of two bamboo tubes attached to a bamboo frame. The tubes are carved so that they have a resonant pitch when struck. The two tubes are tuned to octaves. The base of the frame is held with one hand while the other hand shakes the instrument rapidly from side to side. This causes a rapidly repeating note to sound. Thus each of three or more angklung performers in an ensemble will play just one note and together complete melodies are produced. Angklung is popular throughout Southeast Asia, but originated from Indonesia.
History
The Angklung got more international attention when Daeng Soetigna, from Bandung, West Java, expanded the angklung notations not only to play traditional pélog or sléndro scales, but also diatonic scale in 1938. Since then, angklung is often played together with other western music instruments in an orchestra. One of the first well-known performances of angklung in an orchestra was during the Bandung Conference in 1955. A few years later, Udjo Ngalagena, a student of Daeng Soetigna, opened his "Saung Angklung" (House of Angklung) in 1966 as centre of its development.
In Bali, an ensemble of angklung is called gamelan angklung (anklung). The instruments are tuned to a 5-tone slendro scale, though actually most ensembles use a four-tone mode of the five-tone scale (an exception would be five-tone angklung from the north of Bali, as researched by Ruby Ornstein in the 1960s.) While the ensemble gets its name from the bamboo shakers, these days most compositions for Gamelan Angklung do not use them. An ensemble of mostly bronze metallophones is used instead.
In Hindu period and Padjajaran kingdom era, Sundanese people used the angklung to sign the time for prayer. Later, Padjajaran kingdom use this instrument as corps music in Bubat War (Perang Bubat).
Angklung functioned as building the peoples community spirit. It was still used by the Sundanese until the colonial era (Dutch East Indies, V.O.C). Because of the colonial times, the Dutch East Indies government tried to forbid people playing the angklung instrument.
Because it was forbidden to play angkung during this time, the popularity of the instrument decreased and it came to be played only by children in this era. [1]

[edit] Outside Indonesia
In the early 20th century, the angklung was adopted in Thailand, where it is called angkalung (อังกะลุง). The Thai angklung are typically tuned in the Thai tuning system of seven equidistant steps per octave, and each angklung has three bamboo tubes tuned in three separate octaves rather than two, as is typical in Indonesia.
Angklung had also been adopted by its Austronesian neighbours, inparticularly Malaysia and the Philippines, where they are rather played as part of bamboo xylophone orchestras. Formally introduced into Malaysia sometime after the end of confrontation, it found immediate popularity[2]. They are generally played using a pentatonic scale similar to the Indonesian slendro, although in the Philippines, sets also come in the diatric and minor scales used to perform various Spanish-influenced folk music.

[edit] Further reading
Balinese Music (1991) by Michael Tenzer, Periplus / University of Washington Press .
Can You Shake It? The Angklung of Southeast Asia by Prof. Kuo-Huang Han, School of Music, Northern Illinois University

[edit] References
^ Kompas, 9 November 2006, page 14, column 7
^ http://infopedia.nlb.gov.sg/articles/SIP_843_2005-01-11.html Lay Tin Koh, "Angklung" (1972, December 3). The Sunday Mail, p. 9

[edit] External links
Gamelan Sekar Jaya (excerpt about angklung) from Michael Tenzer's book Balinese Music
Musical sample composed by I Nyoman Windha
Saung Angklung Udjo
Angklung Orchester Hamburg, Germany (2003/2004)
AWI (Angklung Web Institute) in Bandung
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angklung"
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