MiLoh BSGSSB Adventures

New Leaders

MiLoh's POV

Dear Diary,
So things were a little crazy in Band about 10 years ago on this very day. New juniors,accomplished concert,new seniors...those are not exactly the perfect combination to a good Band. Yet.

So 10 years ago on this day I entered the Band room to find most of the new seniors in hustle and bustle,going crazy trying to prevent their section from being scolded first. Books and files were being thrown everywhere,valve oil spilt on the floor in small sticky patches,things like "Where's my reed?" "Did you see my pencil?"heard all around the place.

"Xiang Ling!!"said Yang irritably,"What have i told you about leaving your mouthpiece on your euphonium?" The girl sighed and twisted it off. Things were in,i wouldn't say a mess, more complicated than messy. But of course,everything stood still at that time. The metronomes seemed to tick much slower,then stop dramatically. Books fell gracefully onto the ground with a clump. Some people turned their heads,mouths open in horror,and twisted their bodies to run and hide,their hair swishing behind them. Time stood still for the woman as she entered.

She was old but did not look her age. The fierce eyes behind her glasses seemed to pierce anyone who looked at her,instilling instant fear. She had ruled the Band with an iron fist for more than 20 years,and under her guidance the Band had thrived gloriously. The gold trophies on the top of the drawer all seemed to bow in respect to the powerful person,Ms Siew.

"What are y'all doing? Why aren't you tuning up? Practising scales? Working on your lip slurs? Breathing,even?" Everyone scrambled back to their seats and sat down,waiting for her command. She gave me a curt nod and a little smile,then turned back to the Band.

Xuan burst in all sweaty,her hair flying in all directions as usual. "Good afternoon Ms Siew,"she gasped,sprinting to her seat and putting her file down. First day as Section Leader was always frazzling. She told her off for some small things,then raised her hand. At the raise of a finger,the whole band's eyes were on her. I always wondered how she wasn't nervous about more than sixty people staring at her intensely.

The warm,rich sound of an F note filled my ears and the air with the familiarity of hardship. I haven't heard that sound since...almost 2 months ago. Events before the concert flooded into my mind. These people never did give up,did they?

"No no!"she screamed. "Trumpets are out of tune,and clarinets louder!!!" I could see them stressing already,their eyebrows furrowed. "Project your sound,tubas!!!" Xuan was puffing her cheeks when she played,which i heard was a bad habit,and Yang was pressing her mouth so tightly that a red ring formed on her lips,making her lips look infected. Ms Siew complained of Diya's sound being "not good" although it sounded perfectly fine to me.

The real trouble came when she asked for the junior book of scales and simple songs. Xuan's junior had brought home the only copy they had,and Rathi only had one copy. I stared as they tried sharing the book in the most absurd way as possible. I also had the feeling that Xuan and her junior knew their stuff but needed the book to reassure Ms Siew. Unfortunately,she caught them and ordered them to search their section cupboard,insisting they had another copy. I was surprised when Xuan's junior followed her to the section cupboard although it could have been just her. They always say Band is a family,and i could see that.

I also saw it from the way they searched together frantically,trying to please Ms Siew. It became obvious that the "other copy" of the book was simply non-existent. Despite that,they still searched everywhere together. I stared at their knees. Okay,they have been squatting for almost 20 minutes now,i thought to myself. And it's definitely gonna hurt. They didn't give up. Ms Siew ran through a number of songs till the end of band,and i didn't know whether to be horrified or impressed that the 2 tuba girls did not falter,and were joined by the Sec One junior who helped them without fail. This was obviously blind searching,but i didn't want to say anything in case i was harpooned by her pencil or something.

The end of Band came and they limped back,rubbing their sore knees and talking softly about the non-existent book that Ms Siew kept harping on. She didn't give them a glance,which was probably a blessing. She instead occupied herself by telling everyone else off about this and that,and not paying any attention to the tubas at all. I was shocked at how anyone could squat for almost 40 minutes straight and not collapse or something. "You...doing alright?"i said,trying to sound cool. Her reply was exhausted and drained. "Not really,thanks MiLoh."she said.

The first day for Section Leaders really was hard but i was sure they would do their greatest to shoot the Band into greater heights.

Signed
MiLoh