WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MARCHING SHOW BANDS this July: 16 countries so far!

Hey guys just got this fresh from the oven. This is the confirmed list of bands/ countries taking part in World Championship Marching Show Bands this July in KL as at 1st January 2011...According to sources more bands will be confirming their participation in the next few months. Here goes..!

1. Canada - 2 bands
2. China
3.Taiwan
4.Czech Republic
5.Singapore
6.Denmark
7.Holland
8.Thailand- 3 bands
9.Indonesia- 3bands
10.South Africa
11.Columbia
12.Italy
13. Hong Kong - 3 bands
14. Japan
15. Germany
16. Malaysia

This  definitely IS an opportunity not to be missed by Malaysian bands. Compete against the best! Compete against the World! Go for it!

Hello 2011! What Is Your New Year Resolution?

Hey guys,

Welcome to  2011!...almost February and this is only my first post this year. Sorry about that. Have been away..and am still away at the moment in the US on work assignment. Is there anything going on in the Malaysian band scene at the moment? Everything is a bit quiet isn't it?....or is it??hehe.

Today's topic is...What is your New Year resolution? (Che...like school teacher meh) hehe. Mine is simple...to be myself...good old Robin...straight as an arrow...shoot from the hip, to speak out without fear or favour,...to tell it as it is in this blog so that people are well informed and get along with others who share the same passion.

You see...it being still "relatively" a new year and all.. it is still not too late to plan on what we intend to do for this year...take your bands for example! I think it is time that we really think what we want our bands to achieve.

" Eon" years ago people set goals and these goals were followed by others and these became known as time goes by as traditions. And these "traditions" became a yardstick for further development. So people set goals to achieve....Moving on to 2011...NOW we don't call them traditions (old school la)...we call them KRA- Key Result Area...We also hear of KPI- Key Performance Indicator. The government recently launched ETP- Economic Transformation Plan ( see I oso read a lot meh...not only obsessed with Malaysian band scene...unlike some people...hehe)

So lets ask ourselves what is the KRA or KPI of Malaysian school bands? Does any school have a "BTP"? (Band Transformation Plan??). Before you even attempt to answer that... STOP! I challenge you to sit down with a group of friends and discuss this in detail! It is not an individual's job to answer that question! It is not an individual's EGO trip to say "I know how to solve this!" THIS is the problem with our band scene... we leave it to some "demented" ( maksudnya gila la) individual to tell us "Hey this is MY dream and others follow me!"

To me a "real" KRA or KPI for your band is to set high standards. It should target being world beaters! I DIDN'T SAY WORLD CHAMPION coz now as you know Malaysia have so many "World" body hehe ( I can't help that). Key Result Area should not only cover music but also other areas such as for example..academic performance should not be affected by band activities. It should also include which type of competition your school enters. What kind of standard are you targeting your band to achieve? The days of bands setting 'jaguh kampong' standard is over! Bands should not take part in competitions which is sub standard not only because are you being conned, but also because the world has moved on to higher standards and a faster tempo. We need to catch up with the rest of the world. Since 2007 we have been exposed to world class bands...THAT my frenzs is the new standard!

KRA should say - I want the best trumpet players in my band or I want my band to improve by ten folds.  So the KRA should be matched over a time period against a KPI ( a set of targets to achieve) for example being World  Champ. Is that achievable? YES it is! The Thais have done it so many times at world class competitions in europe. NOW take up my challenge meet up any where and every where...be it in Miri, KK, KL, Selangor, Kedah, Penang, Kuantan (did I miss out anyone?? Sori k if I did! hehe)...and DISCUSS and DECIDE! What The KRA and KPI of the Malaysian band scene should be. Tell your teachers what you want your BTP to be! . TRANSFORM YOUR BANDS! Set higher standards! Should we believe what others say about us?(like Misterrr Billl) No! I think we have confidence enough to say that we are ready to challenge the world!

Look, I'm already almost 30. I am now in the USA. The world is ours for the taking. It is not just about marching bands my frenzs..it is about seeking your full potential. Go for it!

I hope this post will generate a lot of positive discussions among The Band Members and Teachers. I throw you another challenge..if I get a hundred reply from this post I will organise a get together when I get back next month. Then we all can meet up. A hundred reply and we'll meet up! Anyway I am meeting a few  frenzs here later on to "talk shop" kopitiam style...and catch up on things in Malaysia.