Term 2 Online Reading Portfolio(AGAIN) a.k.a. WORK(again)

more work *chiong*

Pub Date: 02/04/2007 Pub: ST Page: 4
Day: Monday
Edition: IN
Headline: TIME TO JAM IT UP
By: NURUL LIYANA YEO
Page Heading: IN
Picture Caption:
Better teen bands get added exposure through competitions like The Straits
Times School Of Rock.
Source: SPH

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INANDAROUND
YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
MORE STUDENTS ARE FORMING ROCK BANDS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, AS NURUL LIYANA YEO
DISCOVERS
There’s no denying that music is a universal language, and something everyone
enjoys.
Almost everyone owns either an iPod or an MP3 player these days, and our local
music industry is booming with songs by Electrico and The Great Spy Experiment
riding high on our airwaves.
So it is no surprise that more students are now keen on forming their own rock
bands – while still in school.
“We do it because we feel the passion and drive to make music,” says Fahmi
Sharin Shariff, 17, a Bukit Batok Secondary 5 student who plays bass for rock
band Darkrossa.
Many of these bands have their schools to thank for providing them with a
platform to showcase their skills. Nowadays, it is not uncommon to see these
bands rock out at school events such as Chinese New Year celebrations.
If they are good enough, they get more exposure through band competitions, such
as The Straits Times School Of Rock competition, and varsity events.
Wisteria, which comprises Secondary 4 students from Bukit Batok Secondary
School, has successfully played a gig at the Singapore Management University.
“We did it for an experience we wouldn’t have ordinarily got from our school,”
said lead guitarist Lee Jing, 15.
Such exposure has allowed them to gain confidence in facing large crowds.
Many of them use these experiences as a springboard into the music industry.
A check with jamming studio Nuradee Bros. found that seven student bands have
recorded demos with them.
Said a studio spokesman: “They’re not too bad, and some are really outstanding.
As teenagers, they have big potential.”
But teachers have their concerns about these student rockers.
“I know they’re really passionate, and it’s goodto see students directing their
energy to music. But they should apportion some time to studies as well,” said
Mrs Ruth Tan, an English Teacher from Bukit Batok Secondary.
But the student musicians say such worries are unfounded. They say that adults
do not know that bands have made many sacrifices like cutting down time spent
watching TV and playing computer, in order to juggle their studies and band
commitments.
The student bands practise once a week at jamming studios for up to three hours
on average to polish their skills. They pay anything from $14 to $18 an hour.
“We’re students, and not loaded. But my parents support me and my group, so
they sponsor a bit of our fees,” said Sec 5 student Muhammad Firdaus Saladi,
17, rhythm guitarist of Darkrossa.
He added: “The band knows that we do not have the luxury of money nor time, so
when we practise, it’s super-serious.”

REFLECTION:
Most of us teenagers are impressionable and while chasing after trends, yes, this is one way we express ourselves. Even a music junkie like myself hopes to be a big star to rival and even surpass my idols in death and black metal. However such a career while being glamourous and stuff, it is also extremely stressful, to have pepperazzi's chasing you 24/7 for all sorts of hot news. If you do anything, preferably embarrassing, I doubt most can live with such humiliation. Such a game can only be played by veterans and professionals. Us teens also lament about how people don't understand us, well, for most part, I feel that it is not that people don't understand, but we refuse to let them in on ourselves. If this is one way of expressing what is really inside, you parents better jump at the chance to understand what's inside! But because music is our passion, not just as a consumer but to be one of those contributing to our entertainment, we of course would put in extra effort to practice hard and seriously go along with this. Not just because of our idols, but for ourselves, our inner peace, peace that we have finally found something which we really like, something we can live for. And that is what defines the happy-go-lucky teenagers in this industry.
However, there are always people trying to put you down, no matter what you do. In this case it best defines the teachers and school and mostloy parents. Society expects us to just stay at home and study for the 'good of our nation', well hello. I'm tired of being what you want me to be. If everyone contributes to the society in his or her own way, then the true sprit of giving is there. While most teachers are concerned with studies and the like, I feel that such a thing that defines our future has been already paid enough attention to, even as teens, we all secretly know in our hearts that studies are important. And so with the passion of music in our hearts as well, we would put aside time and manage it well so that we can balance both our work and our hobbies. Even as such, is it guranteed that we would enjoy as much fame and glamour as Avril Lavigne or Dimmu Borgir? There are just that many bands that are unheard of, who are trying to earn their keep, who continue making music even though they know they're dying in this industry. And that is the true sprit of the passion in life.
In conclusion, I support the teen's choice of forming bands, making music, so long as it does not affect one's present committments.