La La La

If education was meant to inspire students the wonders and joy of learning, I think it has failed me on most accounts. In fact, I am convinced that there are murderous consequences...
Of course, there were rare moments in NUS when I genuinely looked forward to lecture... but tragically, these "interesting" modules seem to gravitate strongly towards the Arts and Social Sciences faculty.

This semester was no different. Despite having fulfilled the university requirements of elective modules, I decided that this was my last chance at taking a module that I truly liked.

It was a tough decision with tempting (at least to me...) modules such as Reason and Persuasion (Philosophy), Japanese/French/German Language, Science of Music, Music in the Global Context, Introduction to Film Art.

But in the end, I rashly bidded for MUA3211: Chamber Singers II.

Module Descriptus:
This course allow students to learn the fundamentals of vocal production and choral techinique through participation in a vocal performance ensemble. Students will participate in regular rehearsals, and will learn and perform choral music with an emphasis on Renaissance and Twentieth-century music. Through this course, students will gain knowledge of diverse repertoire, composers, genres, styles and period performance practices. They will also learn fundamentals of vocal production and choral technique and will experience working together in a unique team ensemble.

It was unplanned and unexpected because it was worth only 2MCs (as opposed to the normal 4MCs), 3 hours of lessons, and even had a compulsory audition. In other words, this module is really damn boh hua lah.

But who could resist the temptation of NOT taking a module at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music? The cacophony kaleidoscope of music I hear as I walk to my class is sufficient to make my day.
Fine, I'm not very rational again.

Nonetheless, I've stuck long enough to realize that there's a performance in less than 48hours... and to think that I've never gone for any of the free noon recitals at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory before.

Guess I'll view the conservatory concert hall for the first time, from the stage. AGAD.

Monday Noon Recital
Venue: Conservatory Concert Hall
Date: 16 March 2009, Monday, 12.15pm

PROGRAMME

Piano Sonata No. 2 in D minor, Op. 14 (1912) by Prokofiev
IV. Vivace

Khoo Hui Ling (MUS3), piano

Sonata in A major (1886) by by Franck
III. Recitativo - Fantasia
IV. Allegretto poco mosso

Cantabile by Paganini

Jia Xiaoke (MUS4), violin
Liu Jia, piano

Three Shakespeare Songs by Vaughan Williams

Fancies I by Sven-Eric Johanson

Sigh No More, Ladies (from Much Ado About Nothing, Act II, Sc. 3) by George Shearing

Conservatory Chamber Singers

Leith Park Swimming Complex

With the mid-term break ending, I guess I'm more than halfway through my final semester.

While I have been feel increasingly compelled to post more entries to chronicle this supposedly momentous period, my hectic schedule has made it near impossible to even upload some inane comic.

Not surprisingly, the main culprit of my utter lack of time would be my final year project.
Yes, blame it on those umbilical chord cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells.
But then again, I'm not about to wax lyrical about the module Chamber Singers II, especially I have a "pop quiz" coming up in a couple of days time.

I'm also not about to start on a skin-related entry.

The LUSH hamper I won is certainly not the crux of this post.

Which kinda reminds me, I've not even blogged about my short 围棋 (Wei Qi or Go) stint at Bishan Community Club!

Ahhh... The splendid lunch at Oosters Belgian Brasserie...

... and the British Queen & Mangosteen Pub.

I've digressed.

Rainy days.
This short and random entry is about the love-hate relationship with rainy days. Like most people, I absolutely abhor braving a thunderstorm outside while squeezing into a sardine-packed public transport.

But hate evolves to love, when I'm at home on a rainy day
The occasional lightning and thunder might be irritating, but snuggling up at the sofa or bed or just sipping a hot cup of chinese tea simply makes my day.

However, less than 48 hours ago, my love affair with rainy days has soured dramatically.

28th February 2009: Home

My precious enclave has finally been breached.

A part of my shelf was utterly destroyed.
The real anguish was when I found out my lifetime-memento of booklets/pamphlets marking the musicals I've watched, the choir performances, my time at Montfort and Victoria and much more had been partially soaked.

Not spared were my cherished collection "political books" including a signed copy of JBJ book!
And I thought the worst was over.

1st March 2009: Home

It rained again.
And this time, it was bloody back with vengeance.

My parents' room was even worse affected than my room.

This looked straight out of the scene of the movie, Dark Water

At one point of time, this was how I felt...

Okay. Maybe not that dramatic and certainly not against the wall.
I was on my fours, scooping up and hoping that I could collect more water than the leakage.

By then, my sister and brother-in-law had just arrived to help contain fast deteriorating situation, while my parents were still happily playing badminton in Yio Chu Kang.

And then, the lights went out.

With the sun receding beyond the horizon, time was clearly running out. More leaks were emerging randomly as I struggle to prevent the master bedroom from turning into a swimming pool.

Wham!

One of the ceiling lights had fallen and a gaping hole began pouring ominously out along the broken wires.

Yup, I never would have imagined, but a beautiful waterfall of yellowish water had spontaneously formed in the middle of the room.

Then it all became a blur of collecting water, empty pail, scoop water, empty pail...
.
.
.
.
.
.

Almost two hours later, the damage was finally contained.
But the inevitable mess, repair and cleanup has only begun...