Project Serve

I actually am writing my 2nd week update! This is amazing. Amazing because I can’t believe that I’m sticking to this so well,

Let me start with Church first. I have started serving in the music team actually. Played guitar last week (yes as a newcomer to the church) and playing drums tomorrow. It has been quite some time I stopped listening to 赞美之泉, especially their newer albums. So it was quite refreshing to hear their latest album. 2 songs which I particularly like are:

1. 耶和華行了大事 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRwT98q_244
2. 滿有能力 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni49uG3uSVs&feature=related 

Well yes they are fast songs, driving, nice drum parts, but that’s not really why I like them. 

I recognize even more now how a song leader or worship leader, is really important. What he says, how he says it, what he teaches while leading. And I have been very privileged to work with people like that in Heng Tong. Music team in PLCMC can consider songs from the new album yeah? Anyway how’s everyone there man?!

I’ve finished my audition. Nothing great. Just normal. 2 major mistakes, but nothing crash and burn like. Now posted to (like army lidat) Concert Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Percussion. Already without the major lesson assignments, life is filled with much music. I have spent close to $400 US just on scores and instruments. Still have to buy some books for my other courses, or modules.

I went Johns Hopkins for my Cognition module on Wednesday. It feels very cool, woah, a student of JHU. But I’m gonna drop that course, cause it is a bit intimidating leh. I think I’m not up to it la.. serious, although it is a 101 course.. and the distance from music school to main campus is actually quite near, but the buses here are too unreliable. It is an internal shuttle here, like those in NUS, but the timing is just way off. And the bus that I took back after school, the driver did not want to stop at music school because she was running late. I don’t think I wanna risk missing classes, and besides I already have quite a number of courses in music school. But it was nice to visit the main campus anyway, and join a lecture or two.

I am sick again, 2nd time in America. I’ve caught a cold. Don’t tell my parents k, I’m fine la, recovering le. The Air cons in school and dorms are just so cold. International students keep telling the school but the Americans are used to it. The weather outside is quite good actually. My Turkish buddy treated me to Starbucks yesterday when we went to the inner harbor yesterday which made me better actually.

The challenge ahead is to face the many music which is before me. I’ve learnt something new this week. Students here buy their music scores. But not in Singapore, where everyone just photocopies. I think a musician tends to practice harder, or more willing to practice, when he buys his own scores. Maybe that’s why there’s the rule to not photocopy music?