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Wednesday, December 19, 2012 @ 9:01 PM
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Japan OELP Day 3
19 December (GMT +7)
7.30am: Morning Call!
8.00am: Most people having breakfast around this time at Neuf Neuf-buffet style.
9.00am: Meet up at Ramada hotel lobby to go for sightseeing at Nara Deer Park.
10am: Reached deer park. There are many deers there and the scenery very the nice. Amusing! We can never get into such close contact with so many deers back in Singapore! Some people bought deer food (cookies w/o sugar) to feed them @150Y. All of us took a walk in the park & took lots of photos. Although it was freezing cold, we still ate ice cream cause the ice cream just won't melt!
Group photo @ deer park!
11:30am: We made our way to Tezukayama High School and had our lunch with the students there. They were very friendly and took good care of us.
(& for the first time for most of us), we saw snows!! Though it's little, but still!
After that, we had a band rehearsal with the students there which we sightread a piece - Santa Claus is coming to town - conducted by Mr Ong. While we are playing, we realized that the band members there were very in sync in their running notes. We think that we can learn from their teamwork and improve on our playing further.
This is followed by a short Q&A session were they can ask question about us and vice versa. Through this session, we learnt that they have 3 practices/wk, 1.5 hour each.
We had sound check after that. During the sound check not all of us played to our fullest potential, which we think that it can be improved by more practices.
After which, we had our mini exchange concert. The MCs there abruptly asked JJC band to give a welcoming speech but we did not anticipate for it, thus, did not prepare speeches. However, one of our MC, Irfan still managed to do a impromptu speech for us and it was quite well delivered.
Even though there were few mistakes made during the concert which can be further improved on, we managed to complete the concert in success. During our concert, Tezukayama's band did a wonderful job as a great audience with good concert etiquette. We think that we can learn from them and put this etiquette in full use as we go for the concert @ Izumi Hall by Kinki Universitry Orchestra this Saturday.
Then, it was Tezukayama's Band turn to perform. They performed the sound of music medley. It was spectacular! Their articulation was clear and their intonation and dynamics was wonderful. We need to work towards that!!
A way to welcome us to Tezukayama High School
4pm: After the mini concert, we had a school tour in different groups around their high school. It was interesting to see facilities that are not available in Singapore.
Japanese Calligraphy
A typical classroom setting seen in Japan
5pm: We had tea time with them and it was time to interact with people from same sections. They prepared food and drinks for us and were really excellent hosts! Even though its hard to communicate and awkward at times, but music really bring us together and slowly we began to interact. By interacting with them we learn more about the Japanese culture too.
Bassoon, Euphonium & Tuba section
Horns section
Oboe & Flute section
A full combine photo :)
6pm: We left the school and had dinner at Downtown Osaka. We were told to split up into groups and learnt to take care and look out for each other. We had separate dinners according to what we like to eat. After dinner, we headed back to the bus and everyone was on time, good job! Our band had certainly acquired punctuality aspect from the Japanese. We learnt a new word, Okini!!
8pm: We headed back to the hotel and prepared ourselves for another exciting day.
Sign off, group 2 (Jane, Ernest, MeiHui, Audrey, Valerie, Diyanah, LengWei, Ernest, HouYee)
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