Path of Ascension

From an article published on the newspaper website, http://www.themetrunuitimes.com/. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this website, it was formerly entitled ‘The Mata Nui Times’. Due to recent events, the current newspaper has become the state-sponsored propaganda arm of Makuta Teridax. These are extracts written by senior correspondent Takanuva.

As follows:

‘TURAGA DUME WELCOMES NEW YEAR; ENCOURAGES NJC MUSIC PROGRAMME CURRENT J2S.

Today, from the Coliseum, Turaga Dume welcomed the New Year in his traditional opening speech to the Matoran Convention. While asking for all Matoran to take heart in the beginning of a new year, he also decided to draw attention to certain issues on which he would like to comment on. Firstly, he declared, he would talk about the issue of the current J2s in National Junior College’s Music Programme, proffering his encouragement and his sagacious advice.

“Today, I would like to bring our attention to some music students in NJC. Yes, I am talking about the second batch of J2s who would be starting a new leg on their journey in their musical lives. Firstly, I would like to open the issue by congratulating them on having made it this far, and to say that the citizens of Metru Nui, as well as those of the Music Room and Piano Room, are solidly behind you in your quest to finish your A-Levels. May you prosper far in this musical journey, and may your musical labours come to fruition with laudable results.

As we progress, we leave behind one whole eventful year. Let us now face the next year's challenges head-on refreshed after the passing of 2008.

Now, I would like to humbly offer my advice, whether you take it or not. Firstly, in my vast experience as the Turaga of Metru Nui, I would like to know your ethnic music well. Yes indeed, this sometimes unpleasant leg of the Music Syllabus can prove to be instrumental in helping you score your As for Music, given that it occupies 40% of your entire written paper. I would like to suggest that you should know the history of the ensembles, as well as the current affairs well, as well as the make of the instrument. These, while cumbersome, are actually free marks worth scoring for if you actually know the answer. Therefore, memorise this knowledge so that you can use it to your benefit. In addition, I would like to advise you to familiarize yourself with the style of each denomination per tradition. For example, if you hear a special twang or vibrating sound in the drums in an assuredly Indian Music extract, it is usually 99.99999% a piece from the Hindustani tradition. Knowing little things like this can help you prevent a loss of 20 marks if you get the tradition wrong, as tradition will influence your various answers. Another example would be like if there is a short monodic bar before the orchestra comes in during a decidedly Gamelan piece, odds are that it would be a Javanese piece. Knowing these idiosyncrasies could save your life (and your paper).

Secondly, for the History section, memorize the notes and examples that you get in class. You don’t have to quote the precise bar numbers for non-coursework pieces, but specifying in which movement, as well as the exact nature of the trait of the example saves your example from being an ignominious ambiguity. Try to exploit your coursework as best as you can, although you will have to quote precise bar numbers. Doing so can limit how much examples you can use in a shortage of time. Know the historical background of each piece and composer well.

For practical and lunchtime concerts (you might have to do a personalized recital just like your seniors), practice and practice! While practice does not always make perfect, it will help establish familiarity with the piece. Memorize all your pieces (you would probably be asked to anyway). It gives a more professional look and helps the music to flow. While not having the score may not necessarily help you to be more musical, it is the fact that you have to be so familiarized in order to do so, your brain and eyes would be freed from having to look at the score while you play, allowing you to add any more musical expression. A lot of practice does help you memorize naturally. However, there will always be a chance of lapse as your fingers are sequentially programmed; if you forget by accident one note, you could possibly forget the entire phrase. As such, you should just jump to the next pre-assigned ‘checkpoint’ of the the piece where you can continue on, all improvise to stall while you try to remember where to go next. If you have practiced a lot, this should be quite easy for you to recall. Don’t worry, the audience is unlikely to know, and even if they know the piece, they would likely to be forgiving as they would be scared of such a lapse themselves. The best thing would be NOT to show that you have lapsed, or it could be quite disastrous in appearance. Easier said than done? Possibly, but this could just tide you over.

Lastly, Treasure your unity, Do your Duty, and Fulfil your Destiny. Lunctus Delinquo Fatum. Well, there’s it. Have a Happy New Year, J2s, and remember, all of Metru Nui is solidly behind you people.”

Wise words of wisdom indeed. And now, for the situation on Xia…’

‘…Later on, the Turaga personally encouraged the Integrated Programme Students. Turaga Vakama personally reiterated Turaga Dume’s statements of phrase, calling the IP students “young talents and geniuses”. He urged them to continue their studies and not to give up, calling on them to nurture their latent potential, “accepting it as an heirloom and allowing it to bear fruit”. He also said that” the final metamorphosis is yet to begin”, and that these talents, “young or old, will see the programme to a new dawn”, just as before. He also emphasised the need for students that we “ought to have our own music, if possible, without sauerkraut”.

Furthermore, he would like to extend his welcome to future IP/JC student studying in the Music Programme, claiming that young talents will always be welcome.

And with that, this correspondent wishes the Music Programme a Happy New Year. And now, I shall be going on to venerate our new Great Spirit.’

Upcoming concert on 6th or 7th January next week (see below). Note the eclectism in Vakama’s quotes.