Kelly Tang

Do you have any word of encouragements or advices to all bands who have participated in SYF 2009?

It is crucial at this point for young musicians to step back to see what is happening in the Arts in Singapore and not be wrapped up only in their own school bands. There is a fundamental shift that is starting to occur and if we all put our backs to it, a wonderful new musical spirit will emerge in the hearts of Singaporeans. We can turn into a true Renaissance City.

In the first two decades of our nation’s history, a solid emphasis on science and technology was essential to consolidate a strong economic foundation.

Today, as Singaporeans enjoy the fruits of those efforts, we are also endeavouring to make a transition to higher levels of cultural and artistic refinement. However, our predominantly technological and pragmatic mindset has become so pervasive that it permeates every aspect of our worldview, even the way we view the Arts.

However, the logic that lies at the heart of Music is far too complex to be understood using a scientific grid based on cut-and-dried classifications and schematics and analyzing an object by breaking it down to its elements.

Playing music with such a reductionist approach grossly over-simplifies its richness and strips it of life. The music would sound as though it were executed by a machine: cold, mechanical, blatant, plain, crude, raw and monotonous.

Having been part of SYF adjudication panels across various ensembles, including Angklung, Harp, String Ensemble, Guitar, Guzheng and Handbells, it is most revealing that our overseas adjudicators consistently observe that our student ensembles are extremely strong in handling technical aspects, but are somewhat less advanced in grasping the finer nuances of Music.

Sometimes, people have decided upon the award their band should receive even before they step on stage simply because they chose a technically complicated score and can execute all the right notes with a minimum number of errors. Unable or unwilling to grasp the measure of true musical artistry, they equate it directly to complexity and technical difficulty.

Their minds are unable to fathom that musical interpretation extends much further beyond a mere literal and superficial reading of the notes. The worst claim they make is that “Music is subjective”. Thus, they neatly excuse themselves of any responsibility to explore further the elusive truths that determine musical beauty.

By restricting themselves safely within such a self-referential and self-serving fortress of complacent ignorance, they reduce music to a binary phenomenon capable only of two outcomes, “winning” or “losing”. Such an insecure, petty and lazy attitude poses the greatest danger to our nation’s chances for artistic excellence.

The true cultivation of musical sensitivity demands two elements that Singaporeans tend to consider too much of a liability: Time and Passion.

We feel compelled to invest our time more efficiently on pragmatic pursuits which yield tangible results, and passion is a luxury we simply cannot afford in a world where practicality rules the day.

However, based on the overwhelming musical passion that our conductors and students demonstrated at SYF 2009, I have full confidence that our nation is well on its way towards a far brighter musical future. I felt truly heartened and inspired by the tremendous energy generated by our band scene.

We Singaporeans love shortcuts and instant recipes. However, there is no quick formula to attaining artistic enlightenment. It requires a great deal of time and effort to listen intently to great performers in order to capture the subtle things they do that shape a phrase so beautifully and create a convincing sense of structure.

It is absolutely essential to expose ourselves to music beyond the wind band, so that our musical understanding will not stagnate and be limited.

Listen attentively to the legendary Jazz musicians, the great classical violinists and the revered masters of traditional Asian music. Try to understand the deeply embedded qualities that make a great performance rise beyond those that are merely academic.

As our deep engagement with great music transforms us into more discriminating and sensitive listeners, we will naturally begin to perform music in a manner that is more colourful, vibrant, nuanced and dramatic and alive.

It is sensitivity to the microscopic details that builds to an overall picture that bursts with overwhelming artistic purpose and impact.

The best way to attain a Gold with Honours is NOT to desire a Gold with Honours.

Strive only to go beyond yourselves and your mental barriers in pursuing musical truth; nothing else. Humble yourself by realizing each day that Music will always extend beyond what we can imagine. This is why there is inexhaustible joy in pursuing it.

Once you reach a particular level of performance, the recognition will come. By then, you might not even want the award that badly because you’ve realized that the real prize is already within you. The Music has become part of who you are.

Any other form of so-called “musical” pursuit would be a total waste of time.

How’s that for Singaporean efficiency?

What do you hope to see in SYF 2011?

We’ve had two years to apply the significant lessons learnt from SYF 2009.  I would be delighted to hear conductors and musicians of 2011 performing with a deeper sense of musical understanding than before.

I also hope bands that were successful in 2009 will not simply rely on the safe formulae that secured them a medal, but would keep extending the threshold of their artistic boundaries and to sound fresh.

But substantial musical improvements can only follow on from a fundamental change in outlook amongst school administrators, conductors and students towards placing greater value on Music.

In order to do so, we need to free ourselves from our unhealthy and self-defeating bondage to marks and medals.  If high scores and awards are all you yearn for, you may get them.  But all you’ve have is some scraps of paper, pieces of metal and a rows of digits.

But your heart will be devoid of the most valuable reward of all: the Music.

Kelly Tang’s music can be accessed on-line at: www.reverbnation.com/kellytang

Joshua

Joshua is a social 'freak' who enjoys music, photography and good food. He is currently based in Melbourne doing his Bachelors Program in Information Technology Systems.

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