i smiled today at 5:46 PM


One of the courses we need to take over here at La Salle College of the Arts (www.lasalle.edu.sg) as a music major, is this course called MUSIC CULTURE, which lasts for a whole year.

I was looking through my notes, thinking back of what I learn last year in this course. And I found an interesting topic that was discussed in one of our classes with Mr Lindsay Vickery.

Allow me to share....
Now, quite some time ago albeit not that long, classical music CD covers were designed in such a way that - well - you would know it was a classical music CD as soon as you saw the cover. Why? It was standard. It was boring. Colours were limited. But they were straight to the point. Title, performers, main composers, main song titles, the main stuff that you would need to know about what you would hear in the CD.

It changed after a while, and it started to look better. Still, it was very much what we would simply call: boring.

You'd see the face or faces of the musician(s) on the CD covers. They'd be trying very hard to smile and look good, but they just couldn't. After all, they are classical musicians, how could they look good? Anyhow, it was very much that way. The musicians would appear on the CD covers, all dressed up as though they were about to perform in some huge hall that has some interesting history and some royalty was part of the audience.


OK, I admit, the smiles did improve. But would you buy a CD that had 4 men in penguin suits smiling at you from the CD cover, and calling themselves with such fancy names like "Tokyo String Quartet" (no offence!), and were standing on a bridge near a cottage in the background?

Be honest now.

Things did, however, change for the better (or worse maybe?).

Classical musicians sooner or later realised that they were not making much money through CD sales. Concerts and live performances, yes, good money. CD sales, no, bad money.

People like Charlotte Church, Vanessa Mae, and Maksim were making better money even though they were errrmmm, not really playing classical music? Dare I even talk about Richard Clayderman? No I don't. Not worth my time.

So, the story goes like this: Classical musicians found the secret to selling huge amounts of classical music through their CD recordings, even with keeping the authenticity of Mozart's or Beethoven's music.

How did they do it?


They had a total image-makeover! Would you even know that the group pictured above is a famous string quartet group that plays good ol' classical music pieces? Where did they hide their penguin suits?

Suddenly, money started coming in. And instead of posing in front of cottages or big concert halls, they put graffiti in the background.


Compare the above, with the below:So, classical musicians decided they had to change their image - and more specifically, change their wardrobe on the CD covers, in order to make sales.

Then soon after, they realized something even better. Why not do without a wardrobe?

BOOM! This CD made a few million copies extra compared to some other girl violinist who recorded the exact same songs. Why? The CD cover of course.

Ahhh, the power of knowing how to market your music.


i smiled today at 4:15 PM


These two brothers - Dean and Sam, go off hunting for anything that is supernatural in nature/not-nature. Ultimately, they are looking for the demon that killed their mother when they were kids.

Sometimes I get annoyed when I watch this TV show. It gets boring sometimes. Other times, I enjoy it. I guess it really depends on what they show in that certain episode.

Yet even though I do not find anything really magnificent about the series (in fact, I think the script is horribly written), I seem to keep on wanting to watch it no matter how bored I get.

I guess it does have a supernatural effect on its viewers.

Humans, I suppose, just enjoy being thrilled and scared. Ok ok, maybe not every one is like that. But generally, we look for excitement in our life. We want things that make us scared in a good way. Which is why so often, the ghosts-houses at theme parks and fun fairs are the most crowded places. You know you'll get scared, you know it will be scary, you know you will scream, yet you choose to go in. Ok ok, again, maybe not everyone. But generally it is like that. Don't argue with me.






i smiled today at 1:09 PM


Question: What do Joey Tribbiani (from FRIENDS) and Dominic Luk have in common?

Answer: They both love sandwiches.


Haha.

I thought it would be a phase, the SUBWAY phase. But it doesn't look that way.

SUBWAY is this Sandwich franchise store that is found all over the world, and all over Singapore! KL has only 12 branches I think, so pathetic.

Anyhow,

I have gotten hooked onto these beautiful and delicious sandwiches. You wouldn't believe it, but I probably wake up earlier just to go to Subway before class starts. Then before going home, I usually stop by Subway again to get another Sandwich.

The Subway people even know me already. And I don't even always go to the same outlet. I go to several outlets - Junction 8, United Square, Paradiz Centre, Plaza Singapura.

And you don't just get sandwiches. You get those yummy cookies too!

And you know what else? Subway is healthy and fresh. Or at least that's what I like to keep telling myself.

The thing I like about Subway is its variety. You get to choose from many kinds of sandwiches, get to choose your veggies, choose your bread, choose your sauce, choose whatever additionals you want, then choose your cookies.

Some days, I feel like a tuna sandwich on a toasted 6-inch Hearty Italian bread, with Sweet Onion sauce mixed with Honey Mustard and lots of black pepper.

Other days, I have an Italian BMT (yummy) on a 6-inch Wheat bread, toasted, with cheese, with lots of tomatoes, and lots of Sweet Onion sauce.

I only tried eating a foot-long sandwich once, and nearly killed myself.

Then you get to have cookies - Peanut Butter, Oatmeal, Double Choc Chip, White Chip, M&Ms, oh so many flavours to choose from... it's madness!

But that's not all - it's affordable - it's filling - and it leaves a smile on your face. Because you know you had a good full meal, healthy, not too filling until you want to vomit, and nice enough to make you feel fresh and happy!

They have breakfast specials too.

I am at Subway now, blogging. Just had Turkey Breast sandwich, with two cookies and a drink.

Long live Subway!





i smiled today at 3:01 PM


Malaysia's most decorated public toilet found at SS2. Visit it. Cheap entry even if you don't need to use the toilet. Lots of food to eat around the area too. Nearby is Murni, some food courts, some cheap fancy restaurants, and very limited parking space.

I do this all the time, for fun. I never knew I was actually being really polite.

One of my hamsters. I like her colour.

The educators of JJ Pianoforte Music Centre, who commit their time and lives to passing on the gift of music to everyone who wants to receive it by will or by force of parents.

Fried Mars Bar - found at New York! New York! in Singapore. Categorized under sinful in the menu. Indeed, sinful.

Singapore harbour, early in the morning. Beautiful.

If pain and suffering could be put in a picture, it's this one.

The lunar eclipse that occured recently. Photo courtesy of CWNN (Christine Wong News Network).

Last but never the least - Princess Amelia of Tenom. My niece, Dylan's little baby sister, and the cutest baby in Tenom and KK, and some even say in KL.


i smiled today at 3:01 PM


"Have you read today's paper yet?" Naz asked me after shaking my hand and introducing himself (and also asking me to "briefly" tell him about myself).

"Errr, no". Was my humble and honest reply.

I don't really read the newspaper that much, I have to admit. It is so much easier to go online to read the news. But even so, I don't do that every day. Tsk tsk tsk.

"Don't worry, I'll get it for you". And Naz walked out of the little freezing room and came back in less than a minute.

"Here. Find any two news articles, then talk about them later when we audition you." He smiles, then walks out.

I didn't even have time to read the headlines, when suddenly they called my name and escorted me into NTV7's The Breakfast Show studio. The real one. The one you see on TV. The new set they made, with the real kitchen, that reading corner and the beautiful living room.

So I had to quickly blaze through any article I could find. But OH NO! He said TWO articles. So I flipped the page, and AHA! No problem. Can! Naz did also say that it won't be so much about the content but more on how I present myself during the audition.

After pinning the microphone on my shirt, and fixing up the ear piece, and then the usual testing-testing-one-two-three-check-check, Naz and I quickly had a little chat before the cameras rolled.

"Are you local" he asked. I explained my heritage. He was astonished.

Then I got straight to the point, and asked him "how will this go?"

And he explained it all to me, and helped me understand what I needed to do. Which was to just chit chat with him. Talk about what we needed to talk about. Introduce ourselves. Listen to the caller's question, answer the question. Wrap up. And go with the flow.

Then the 10-second countdown began.

And I was already smiling at the camera. I wasn't nervous. I was having fun actually. It felt nice being in front of the camera, with the producer's voice in the ear piece, and the text on the screen behind the camera (dunno what the real name or term is for that thing).

He introduced himself, then introduced me, and then we started talking and having fun, as though we were really live on air hosting The Breakfast Show - The Show Worth Waking Up For!

So we talked about the Nurin case. How we felt about the DNA tests, and so on. And we talked about our responsibilities as citizens to report any suspicions of child abuse to authorities. Yes, it was fun. Then someone called in to the show (fake call, of course) and challenged me on a statement I mentioned earlier in the "show". Ahhh, a test? Well, I answered the question swiftly and did it effortlessly. The caller was Suzzy from Mars (that's what it said on the screen). But I recognized the producer's voice.

And then we continued chit chatting for a while.

Then in the ear piece was the producer's instructions: break on your cue!.

So we talked a bit, then Naz called for the break, and we said we'll be right back after the break.

Of course there was no break. It was over. The audition was over.

If you ever go to NTV7, please ask someone who has been there before how to get there, because it is not easy to find.

Will keep you updated on what they say when they call back, in 2 to 3 weeks.

Your feel good friend,
Dom



i smiled today at 12:09 PM


These are some of the songs I am currently learning and working on in my singing classes at La Salle College of the Arts:

1. With Pious Heart Handel
2. Vecchia Zimarra Puccini
3. Wer Ein Liebchen Hat Gefunden Mozart
4. Hat Man Nicht Auch Gold Daneben Beethoven
5. Ho Capito Mozart
6. Honour And Arms Handel
7. Rail No More, Ye Learned Asses Boyce
8. Vergebliches Standchen Brahms
9. Sapphic Ode Brahms




i smiled today at 11:54 AM



My friend Dennis does not know that I am publicizing him on this blog, but he will thank me for it soon I hope :)

Dennis Lau's myspace website is at http://www.myspace.com/dennismosaic where you can view his full profile and see his accomplishments so far.

He also has another website, which has been coming soon for quite a while now, but hopefully he does something with it soon. http://www.mosaic.com.my

Briefly, this is who Dennis is:



i smiled today at 12:46 AM


I mentioned a few blog entries ago that I got a small role in this upcoming film.

Well, the film is called SELL OUT!

It is a musical, comedy-ish with slight dark humour and a rather interesting and unusual script.

We had our first script reading session a few weeks ago where we met all the cast at the same time. Oh we had food too. But the main thing was the food. NO! I mean the script reading session. We haad to all sit in a circle, then when it was our turn to speak, we had to go to the center where the mircophone was, and read our lines, without any interruption.

My character has no name. I am affectionately called The Bachelor. I have to play PLAY STATION 2. I have to pick up the phone. I have to try not to cry. Interesting character.

Shooting is coming up. I am excited. Press conference is around the corner as well. Hannah Lo is in the film as well.

That aside, I got a call from NTV7 while I was in the Singapore Esplanade LIbrary recently. They said they were looking through my profile, and would love for me to audition for NTV7's Breakfast Show.

I was shocked.

Then I wanted to sound happy.

But I was in a library.

So I had to speak softly. And she (whoever was calling) must have thought I was shocked.

But I was.

Anyway, wish me luck. Who knows what could happen.


i smiled today at 12:41 AM


My new thesis title (please ignore the old one) ... due to some things that are too much of a waste of web space to put here, my thesis title has been changed to:




i smiled today at 12:19 AM


Not many people actually understand what it is like to be a student studying music at tertiary level.

Allow me to shed some light.

You see, studying music at university level is different from what kids do when they go to their cute little piano lessons once a week and get a nice little candy for playing well (or get your hands whacked if you teacher is Ms Agnes).

Studying music at college is not cute. It is fun.

The interesting thing is - most college music students chose to study music, and were not forced to. (usually that is the case). You hardly hear a music student say "actually I wanted to study law or medicine but my parents forced me to study music so I can be rich". Usually it is the other way round - "my parents forced me to study law or medicine but I really wanted to study music".

Studying music in college is indeed challenging. So much is expected of you, and there is just too much to learn. You are kept busy with daily practises, and you have know your music history well. Then there's the theory and aural part that everybody wishes didn't exist but still secretly loves so much.

But what I actually want to say in this blog entry is this... Studying music in college can be stressful.

Wait....

Isn't music supposed to take away stress, not give it to you?

YES!

And I am not stressed at all.

But I keep hearing people saying that. "so stressed.... so much to do...."

And I feel like asking the exact same question to them... shouldn't music help relieve stress and not be the reason you are stressed?

But you see, studying music at college level is something different. Of course it is challenging - of course it is tough. If it were so easy, you'd see everyone carrying a degree in music by now.

So, the point is....

I am tired and need to sleep.

So I shall end here, without a point. And you my friend, will leave here, smiling.

Good night!





i smiled today at 7:58 PM


I got tagged, by Felicity, and well, how I can not not do it? ;)

5 things found in my bag:
1. Pens.. never know when you need to write something
2. Notebook/Scrapbook.. to use with the pen!
3. Wet tissues.. ya, I know.. influenced by my mom...but they are useful!
4. Umbrella, a small one.. weather's unpredictable in Singapore.
5. A little pocket book.. God's Word of Life for Men, to read on the bus...


5 favourite things in my room:
1. My bed
2. My huge wardrobe cum bookshelf cum mini store room
3. My lamp that I bought from IKEA
4. Music CD collection
5. DVD collection, a movie a day keeps the mind not bored.

5 things I've always wanted to do:
1. Be a guest judge on American Idol
2. Travel around Europe and USA
3. Sing in a full scale opera
4. Open a restaurant
5. Reinvent the wheel

5 things I'm currently into:
1. HEROES... such a good story line, unbeatable
2. Window shopping
3. Reading articles online
4. FRIENDS, watching everything, again, for the millionth time.
5. I'm into SUBWAY sandwiches.. yum...

I'm going to tag:
1. Alicia
2. Winnie
3. Man Keat
4. Hui Wen
5. Kenny Sia... as if!



i smiled today at 4:36 PM





Cute little hamsters.

:)

I got two.

Aren't they adorable?

:)


i smiled today at 4:00 PM





It has been a while, hasn't it?

You see, life in college isn't always about fun. Sometimes it is also about studying and doing work. It is, after all, inevitable!

So, adding on to the fact that I cannot always get an internet connection at home (owner hasn't installed the internet yet), and I am lazy to carry my laptop around to the places in Singapore that offer wonderful FREE wireless internet access, and I have been caught up with school work, ya, haven't managed to blog much.

But lo and behold, I have returned.

I had a glorious Merdeka celebration in KL. The National Day weekend for me was fun-filled and it couldn't have been better. I ws at The Curve, where celebrities were singing their souls out for the nation, a bazaar was going on too at the same time, and the highlight of it all - a 20-minute fireworks display at the strike of midnight. All in the spirit of nationhood.



Happy Merdeka to all my Malaysian friends. Oh ya, happy National Day (long overdue) to my Singaporean friends! And by the way, Malaysia was officially formed on 16 September. Therefore, Malaysia Day is on 16 September, when all the Sabahans happily get a public holiday.


As far as college is concerned: I got my thesis title more or less approved. I shall be researching mainly on crossover singers. No, nothing to do with crossed-dressed singers and Elton John. Crossover singers include Josh Groban, Charlotte Church, Andrea Bocelli, Sarah Brightman, so on.. These are the more popular ones. They are all classically trained singers, but have crossed over to the modern styles of presenting and performing their music. So my thesis is about them: why the cross over... money? fame? fun? passion? And, is it educational for the listeners? Does it help the recording industry? Do people actually bother listening to "real" classical singers anymore, or are they slowly slipping away? So my friends, if you have any info that could help me out, if you stumble across any literature, hear about anything related to this, think of me, think of me fondly....

My new room in Singapore is cozy. I have two single beds placed together to make it feel like a king-size bed. With pillows everywhere, and a bolster. How much more comfortable can it get. I have three fans, and an air-con that has been fixed twice but still doesn't quite work, and lots of space in the room for me to walk around if the need ever arises. And because it is not really near school (in the old campus, I could walk across the road and reach school in less that 5 minutes), I feel more like a Singaporean now. Waking up early, taking the bus, taking the train, walking to school, then the same routine to get back home at the end of the day. Unlike Gianna who can set her alarm clock 3 minutes before class starts and still be on time.

As for my vocal classes in college... they are going on rather well. I have selected several pieces from various Mozart operas, some Verdi, some Puccini, some Handel pieces, a few Poulenc songs, some Brahms, a Beethoven piece, and some songs from some not very well known composers that I cannot remember right now. Our college choir and chamber choir and orchestra is alsp preparing Bach's cantata: Wachet Auf. I, along with the other voice majors, will be the soloists in the cantata. Which means... I have to prepare. It's so so ...... fun!

I am also going to be in this feature film, a musical film, which will be aired in the local cinemas, don't know when yet, but my role is minor, very small, a few lines, 3 scenes in total, but hey, I am not complaining! I also have a supporting role in an upcoming Sony Ericsson commercial. The pay is low, but hey, no complaints! (pink elephant)

I will be conducting a vocal workshop in Singapore on 15 and 16 December as part of a youth leadership seminar. Exciting.

Christmas is soon. Haha, not so soon. But doesn't hurt to start getting excited about it! I have a friend who couldn't wait for Christmas, and that was in February. She's so mad about Christmas, that the only way to convince her to go karaoke, is to tell her that they have Christmas songs in the song lists. Cilut, I can already hear your laughter...

Anyway, live life to the fullest. Or at least try to.