how many more days left to SYF?

hello section, your SL Natalie here. SYF is coming (i am not really bothered on counting the days///) but yes it;s on the 8th april at 115pm and you and i that is not much time left, so you should know what to do. other sections are having section talks and blah and joanna is pushing me for a section talk but i cant talk face to face with yall because really i wont know how to phrase what i want to say at that instance (yes, my horrible english) and this blog post is really just a form of what i would like to tell the section if i were to have a section talk. just that this is in a form of a blog post and that it'd be more grammatically correct. i hope you guys know that our section isnt good anymore.... let me reiterate the point that our section used to be super pro and awesome (thanks to our seniors) and we used to be a section that the band kind of looks up to or however you put it but over the years, our standards just keeps dropping.. probably due to less people with flute experience joining nycb. and even people with no music experience joining experience which was rare in the past. when i told laoshi that other sections felt that our standards are dropping and that our tone sucks, i really mean it because it is not just one person saying it but a number of people. i dont know how guys feel, but it really does suck to know we are the ones who caused this downhill. to the SYF team (Joanna Yeju Chiyan KohMin): you guys really have to start practising and when i say that i mean by going through the passages you are unsure of, keep repeating the same passage over and over again (like what we did with jiaxin that day), and adhering to what mrlim/wanglaoshi/your own SL has told you and not say yes and note it down in your score but you didnt even follow instructions. sometimes i really do feel that you dont even take me for your SL so when i say PRAC LONG NOTES just prac lah still want play your own stuff. during sectionals i ask yall to hold the notes and tune to each other THEN HOLD THE NOTES LAH dont stop playing because seriously it happens all the time and it irkes me. the two things i really need yall to focus on is INTONATION and TONE. INTONATION--- LISTEN TO EACH OTHER (and tune with the band in general). dont be an ass and continue playing although you know you are seriously out. TONE--- idk why but everyone in the band knows how to distinct a good flute tone from a bad one. if you cant even have a decent tone then how are you expected to play anything? that;s why i said DO LONG NOTES and situps everyday if you dont follow my instruction i would be utterly disappointed im serious to Joanna: really really have to work playing softer for your high notes!! cuz it is really protuding now so please please go prac that. and you have a tendency to stop play stop play stop play and then finally produce the note we cant have that to happen because your register is so high so just try to keep a constant tone and adjust by turning in (cuz usually your notes are sharp) to Yeju: you have to learn to play with more emotions!! shaping + vibrato. like the diptyque bar 24 or 29 i cant remember aiya yknow where lah. the semplice part. to Chiyan: TONE!!!! people are saying that 'they dont trust people who are playing with those grey flutes because of the differing timbre' but hey as laoshi said, it;s still achievable in getting that flute tone okay so keep working on it! experiment with your embouchure if you have too okay to Kohmin: tone tooo!!!! idk if it;s your mouth shape or your braces but you have got to achieve a richer and louder tone! also, you tend to play stop play stop play then able to get the note like joanna. idk if it;s a habit but try to hit the note immediately when told to! to oboes: i dont play your instrument but somehow i feel that i have to say something. you guys have to learn to practise efficiently-- prac slowly and keep repeating, like the same bar over and over 20 times if you cant get it right the first time round. i know this may be a bit late to say but i hope you will heed my advice for future practices to end off to this part of my blog post i would like to say that i have been in a bad mood later cuz of the state of the section is in for syf. like seriously not only do i have to worry in band i go home and i get troubled at night when i eat when i study when i sleep. i dont see much drive in yall and i dont see yall taking my feedback seriously and at the end of it all truthfully this syf has been a really really emotionally and mentally draining journey and since syf is coming i want to know that mine and everyone;s efforts to be worth it. i dont even care if we get distinction but knowing that my section didnt perform to their optimal standard will just dampen my mood. because i really think that if yall listen to what i say (especially on my point on long notes and tone) i think we all can achieve much more!! at the end of this syf journey i want to feel proud of my section and for what we had accomplished together, really, i dont even care for the award we get (sorry to Joanna if that spoils the mission of the comm). so really, syf is not far away and all we can do is to make do with what little time we have in doing what we can okay! to the rest of the section (yiting yunwen and sec1s): yiting and yunwen: i know you guys arent in syf but that doesnt mean you can slack off because really i hope both of you are working your asses off equally hard as the rest of us are okay!!! i also need you guys to be of a certain standard to lead the secones, so really take the extra time you have now to pull your socks up! you two + kohmin will be leading flutes for the next syf and really at the pace and standard youre going it is not enough. for yiting, i feel that as long as you still have the passion for band and flute and will be committed to putting in my time and effort, your seniors and laoshi will always be there to help you so never give up! for yunwen, i really appreciate the time and effort and interest you have in flute, but you have got to listen and heed the advice of your seniors and laoshi, dont just rely on Youtube okay. sec1s: i hope yall are doing well in band and hope you enjoy playing the flute! because really, so many want to get into flutes but you guys are the lucky ones who got chosen to be in this unique and awesome section. if you dont like being in flute and band please do tell me, because it will cause lots of problems in the future and it is best to be known now. Also, i would like to bring up the point again of taking care of your instruments!!! because really. flutes aint so cheap as you think they may be, and really a slight hit against the floor or something can cause it to spoil so please really treat it with care okay!!! AND REMEMBER ABOUT THE SALIVA CLOTH AND POLISHING CLOTH I TOLD YALL. to the oboe junior i have not actually talked to you but i heard you like band and oboe alot so thats great and continue with that same amount of drive and passion okay Just want to end off and say that the 1 of the 2 existing reasons that i still like band is because of my dear section--- YOU GUYS. yes i do get depressed and disappointed with you guys and yes that has been happening alot recently but that is because i love you guys and i think yall really have the potential to do better. i hope yall will also respect me as your SL/senior more because it is really heartbreaking when yall dont listen to me. just would like to say jiayous to you guys, especially to the SYF team yes we will get through this together and at the end of this magical journey i really want all of you to leave that stage, knowing that you had put in your best and had played with no regrets all the best to everyone for blocks and band!! lots of love, Natalie, flutes SL 2013 (I am sorry seniors if i had let you down in any way. i will do better in leading the section and may flutes/fluboes become the most talented and exquisite section yet again!)