About xiaozu recently

Recently, as we all know, xiaozu practice has become somewhat disruptive, because of our lacklustre behaviour since ages ago. Particularly because of differences in personality and the varying attitudes that different members have for RICO. So, at last Monday’s practice some of us stayed behind and mulled over the dilemma that we were facing. It is apparent that the issue has been so prolonged and pent-up that I think we must address it immediately. For the fear that this matter may blow out of proportion and spiral into more trouble than needed (think Murphy’s law), I will only list out some of our problem areas that have caused this dilemma.

First of all, it must be admitted that our basic punctuality is quite sucky. People come in one-by-one at various times; indeed, I don’t remember any time when we started practice promptly at 3.30 sharp. Because the RJCO room too far away for people to collect their instruments by 3.30, since school invariably ends at different times. So I’m suggesting we push practice hours back by 30 minutes, i.e. 4-7pm. So far most people are okay with it, so Wen Qiang has agreed to put the decision to a vote at next practice.

That is the smallest problem by far, however. A more severe reason for our poor rapport with X so far is because our standard and commitment to RICO is not quite up to standards. One xiaozu practice a week, although supplemented by dazu on Saturdays, is hardly enough for myself, while in the past because we had two xiaozus a week, our standard may have been better. The assumption is that we will do self-practice at home. Personally, even as I have my own zhongruan, I hardly ever have the time to do much more than half an hour on my own. What more our members who don’t have their own instruments, or don’t bring home? Wen Qiang has thought over this (and been rejected as well), but I think it’ll be beneficial if we can get Wednesday or Friday for self-practice.

Thirdly and most importantly, we need to raise our commitment level to much higher. Some people (hint hint) don’t come very often for practice, and some others choose to go home even if an hour or two of practice still remains. And as Chun Yin has said before, we need to be more respectful and responsible to (hint hint) if we want to actually get more substantial progress done during xiaozu practice. Like greet with more sincerity at least.

If we don’t want to screw up for the upcoming concert, but uphold our dignity as a core CCA on par with others, and also live up to Mr Yeo’s expectations of us, I think change has to come from within. Now.

(Please comment on the proposed changes: pushing back of practice time, restoration of extra practice hours.)

Jun Sean