Spring Dance Band Performance 2008

On the 11th of February, the band auditions for Spring Dance 2008 were held in the school multi-purpose hall. In this set of auditions, a number of bands competed for the three available places for the actual Spring Dance Band Performance, held on 7th March. In the process of preparing for the auditions to clinch a place in the three, we practiced for four sessions, one hour each from our lunch and breaks, in our school’s music room, under the permission of Miss Carol Ling.

After the auditions, it was announced that my band, Ruffles (formerly Pipe Dream), was one of the three bands chosen. Having heard this piece of news, we practiced further at the Beat Merchants’ Studio along Jalan Pinang, for another four sessions, this time three hours each. On the 6th of March, the school required us to take part in the full dress rehearsal after school, for Spring Dance.

On the actual day, the 7th of March, we were the first band to play and our performance lasted around 30 minutes and onwards due to sound-checking.

We hoped to entertain the student population with music at this school event. In the process of this, we found it hard to have all members of the band present at every practice session. In the earlier stages of preparation, we felt that we were not going to be ready enough for the auditions and may not get a place. There was also the difficulty of the choice of songs. But eventually, we managed to overcome this problem as a band.

From this activity, I’ve learnt more about the importance of preparation and the different talents and personalities of the members of the band. I also learnt new songs and skills with the guitar and my ability to work with a band.

This activity benefitted the student population and the overall success of Spring Dance 2008. If we were to do this activity again, we would choose not to be the first band to perform and we would prepare our songs sooner.