The past two days have been emotional for most of us. I think, as a team, you have become closer and I was most heartened when I saw how you comforted one another despite being sad yourselves.

I think some of you have been blaming yourselves for our results. Some are probably even thinking our best efforts couldn't even get us a Silver and are thus feeling lousy. Please do not think this way! And, like one of your graduated seniors (who posted a couple of entries before this), I hope there will not be any finger-pointing and blaming of who was at fault. It is always very easy to push the blame on other people. To those of you who don't do this, I applaud you because you have grown one level up in maturity. To those who are, I urge you to reflect and think of how you could have helped your fellow members during practices.

As we (yes, myself included) reflect, allow me to remind everyone what we have achieved in spite of the SYF results:

1) The set piece this year was tough to begin with and yet you managed to learn the song well.

2) This is our first time attempting an a cappella piece and you only had two months to learn and master it. Even though we felt that it was far from perfect mastery, you improved tremendously (remember how you awful you sounded the first time you came to sing it together?), you did your best for it and got a Bronze which was no easy feat!

3) Our newer members were learning a cappella for the first time, with most of you having no prior experience in stage performance. I am sure you have learnt what it feels like to sing a cappella and to take part in a performing arts examination (SYF Central Judging is like a national examination for performing arts CCAs). And like what Ms Khor said, I'm sure you have better appreciation of choral singing as an art now. Hence, do not allow any criticisms (like, "because of you, Choir's standard dropped") to get to you. Because it did not. You were simply attempting something difficult without basic foundation skills in singing and prior experience in stage performance.

I know I have been harsh on everyone (especially when I was monitoring attendance) but all of you have bore my screeching quite well, I must say. To be honest, I enjoyed listening and watching you sing - and I realise it was not so much of how well you sang, but the energy and joy exhibited on your faces and in your body language as you performed that made me smile or want to smile. (I must maintain my reputation as an "anal" teacher, you know?)

Please continue singing and performing with joy and enthusiasm. Then I think Ms Khor, the teachers and I have succeeded in helping you better appreciate choral singing.

Naturally, we will want to take back that Silver (your senior said Gold!) come SYF 2011. Whether it's Gold, Silver, Bronze or Copper (maybe they should have Platinum and Titanium too), I know in two years' time, we'll be so ready and prepared for it that we can't wait to get on stage again to burst out in singing!

=D

For now, let's refocus and put our attention on studies. The mid-year examination is just two weeks away. We have done what we could for SYF; there are no regrets. Now, let's do what we can for studies. I wish you all the best! We'll come back together again after the exams - and yes, graduating seniors, please join us if you can and are willing. :)

Love,

Ms J. Tan

The past two days have been emotional for most of us. I think, as a team, you have become closer and I was most heartened when I saw how you comforted one another despite being sad yourselves.

I think some of you have been blaming yourselves for our results. Some are probably even thinking our best efforts couldn't even get us a Silver and are thus feeling lousy. Please do not think this way! And, like one of your graduated seniors (who posted a couple of entries before this), I hope there will not be any finger-pointing and blaming of who was at fault. It is always very easy to push the blame on other people. To those of you who don't do this, I applaud you because you have grown one level up in maturity. To those who are, I urge you to reflect and think of how you could have helped your fellow members during practices.

As we (yes, myself included) reflect, allow me to remind everyone what we have achieved in spite of the SYF results:

1) The set piece this year was tough to begin with and yet you managed to learn the song well.

2) This is our first time attempting an a cappella piece and you only had two months to learn and master it. Even though we felt that it was far from perfect mastery, you improved tremendously (remember how you awful you sounded the first time you came to sing it together?), you did your best for it and got a Bronze which was no easy feat!

3) Our newer members were learning a cappella for the first time, with most of you having no prior experience in stage performance. I am sure you have learnt what it feels like to sing a cappella and to take part in a performing arts examination (SYF Central Judging is like a national examination for performing arts CCAs). And like what Ms Khor said, I'm sure you have better appreciation of choral singing as an art now. Hence, do not allow any criticisms (like, "because of you, Choir's standard dropped") to get to you. Because it did not. You were simply attempting something difficult without basic foundation skills in singing and prior experience in stage performance.

I know I have been harsh on everyone (especially when I was monitoring attendance) but all of you have bore my screeching quite well, I must say. To be honest, I enjoyed listening and watching you sing - and I realise it was not so much of how well you sang, but the energy and joy exhibited on your faces and in your body language as you performed that made me smile or want to smile. (I must maintain my reputation as an "anal" teacher, you know?)

Please continue singing and performing with joy and enthusiasm. Then I think Ms Khor, the teachers and I have succeeded in helping you better appreciate choral singing.

Naturally, we will want to take back that Silver (your senior said Gold!) come SYF 2011. Whether it's Gold, Silver, Bronze or Copper (maybe they should have Platinum and Titanium too), I know in two years' time, we'll be so ready and prepared for it that we can't wait to get on stage again to burst out in singing!

=D

For now, let's refocus and put our attention on studies. The mid-year examination is just two weeks away. We have done what we could for SYF; there are no regrets. Now, let's do what we can for studies. I wish you all the best! We'll come back together again after the exams - and yes, graduating seniors, please join us if you can and are willing. :)

Love,

Ms J. Tan