March 31st, 1987

March 31st, 1987 My first step to Singapore.

"I am going to change band scene here, people will be grateful of my presence.
After all, I am going to teach only 3 years."

Really I was thinking this way, and one year later ought to change my way of thinking.
and I am still learning, learning how to teach band, how to communicate with young people.


ECA(CCAB) asked me to teach 2 schools at first, Yuang chin Secondary school and Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Secondary school.

Yuang Chin band was brass band and very supportive principals.
I really thought I can improve this band to the top band in Singapore in anytime.

Started Japanese style of training, forced them to run the field and immediately play long tone for scales and again ......
Went down to the school yard to play interval, crashed cymbals for 100 times (I used to do that 1000 times in Japan)
One year later band size was reduced from 60 to 40 plus. But I was still thinking that those pupils who quite the band was the loser, I will get good result with these band members.
April 1988 , my first SYF, result was Silver.

I couldn't believe it and still thought judges are something wrong.

Next day went listen to another band performance at SYF. (This was the first time listen to the Singapore band)
I knew WHO was the one something wrong. It's ME!

Some of the Band played really well, especially still remember RGS played "Hurricane" was the really the performance of the day. Of course I never imagine have to teach this band 15years later.

That was the day I restarted my learning journey of teaching band in Singapore.
My second home town.