Today's band practice wasn't exactly...productive. We only have 18 days as of today to the Taiwan trip, and yet rhythm is still not solved.
And not all of you do something about it. Most of you just whine and say the rhythm is hard, you can't do it. So why don't you just take a metronome out and use it? Do you think the metronome is useless? Do you think you are above it, too good to use it? Or you don't want to use your brains to follow the metronome to figure out your rhythm? When you receive your scores, one of the first thing you should solve is the rhythm. It is the most BASIC thing in there. If you aren't able to count simple rhythms like crotchets, quavers and minums, you know that you have a lot to work on. Are you trying to tell everyone that your 1/2/3 years of music education taught you nothing?
Don't you guys feel tired of being under-prepared for every single performance this year? Why don't every single one of you work hard, just for a change? For the band to move, we need everyone's effort. I'm sure you heard this many times, but have you actually thought about it? In one ear, out one ear eh? It is very unfair for people who actually did practice and solve problems.
Have you ever experienced a band practice when everyone knew how to play their parts? Do you know how fun it is when you are playing in a musical group that does not need the conductor to teach a certain person/section simple stuff like rhythm, WRONG NOTES and intonation? The group will just keep moving on to more complicated things like chords and musical expression. And you will have a hell of a time enjoying yourself. Because by then, you will be playing music. Not notes.
Any amount of ranting will not change your mind, your attitude. Only you can do so yourself. I can only hope that people will actually visit the band blog instead of facebooking and playing blackshot/maple/dota/*insert game here* and read this and THINK about it. In fact, I bet some of you are rolling your eyes by now and going to go back to whatever you were doing before instead of reflecting. Well, go on. Roll all you want. Or think I'm luo shuo/ma fan. I hope your eyes pop out from rolling or something. Funny how you can be meticulous about stuff on the computer, but not on your music playing.
To those people who have actually been working hard, good job and continue the good work. To those who haven't....up to you to decide.
- SZ