AISA Band Festival
(KIS participants of the AISA Band Festival 2010, YIS)
For those who either take classes or teach in international schools, music is something that is always around you somewhere. People are rehearsing everyday in Choir, Band, or String classes. Some people practice individually for individual musical goals. In B1 of KIS, everyone, even pedestrians who are just passing by, has some kind of musical inspiration. Music is something that cannot disappear in KIS.
There are numerous musical events and performance opportunities that the students can participate in throughout the year in KIS. There are big official events like KAIAC(choir, band, string), Music Department Concerts(October, December/Holidays, March, May), graduation, etc. There are also minor, informal performance opportunities with differnet titles every year, which are not as important as the official ones. However, if I were to pick one most unique musical event, I’d definitely pick the AISA Band Festival.
AISA Band Festival, just like AISA Choir or AISA Strings Festival, are international gathering of international school students from different countries in Asia. It is very similar to AISA sports events, except the fact that the participants play music instead of getting sweaty. What is so special about this festival is that musicians get to travel other countries and acquire experiences. The musicans get to stay in private houses during their stay in the host nation. They can experience the culture and life in the host nation. Even if one’s school is in the host nation, one can still meet different musicians from different countries and get musically inspired.
The objective of the festival is very simple: a great concert. Muscians meet early in the morning and rehearse more than 6 hours a day in order to make the performance successful.(same goes for the Choir and the Strings Festival) There is no doubt that each and every one of them is a talented musician. It will not be possible for the concert to be successful unless the musicians are talented since there are only about 10 hours of rehearsal in total. However, past AISA concerts were all successful.
The festival is divided into two parts: Concert band and Jazz band. The Concert band is the formulaic Wind Concert band. The Jazz band is a Jazz Big Band composed of a horn section and a rhythm section. The composition of the groups might be simple, but the difficulty of the music makes people hard to pass the audition.(yes, there is an audition!) The pieces that are used in the festival require a lot of practice and musical analysis.
Everything is perfect for AISA Band Festival. However, there is only one flaw that the festival has; it is the lack of support by the people. Since most participants are from other schools, it is a job of the students of the host school to support the musicians and come to the concert. Yet the festival is not getting enough support that it deserves. This year, the festival is taking place in KIS. It is one of the most fascinating performances you can see throughout the year! Also, AISA Band Festival 2012 is taking place in OIS in Osaka, Japan. Therefore, it is the last AISA you can come and see for non-participant rising seniors and juniors! So come and support the musicians!
(AISA Band Festival 2010 Yokohama/ Concert Band – Arabian Dances / KIS participants – John Minwoo Jo, Jay Jeong, Brian Kim, Taeyoon Kim, Arnold Minkyu Hwang, Brian Moon, Austin Yoo, Hajung Kim, Nancy Lee, Emily Park, Minjae Lee, Soyeon Jeong, Ann Yi / Director : Mr. Jay Londgren)
(AISA Band Festival 2010 Yokohama/ Jazz Band – Spain, Bugle Call Rag / KIS participants – Austin Lee Choi, Jaemin Shin, James Huh, Steve Kim, Mr. Jay Londgren)
This performance changed my life! The Jazz Band performance is one of the most influential things that happened in my life, even though I did not actually participate in it.
Fall Out Boy
Patrick Stump : Vocals, Guitar
John Trohman : Lead Guitar
Peter Wentz : Bass
Andy Hurley : Drums
Fall Out Boy is one of the most controversial Rock bands in America. Just like other Neo-Punk/Hardcore bands like Green Day and Sum41, the band was criticized by conservative Rock fans. They described FOB as being “sissy”, “lame”, or “Corporate Sellouts”. Some even described the band as “gay”, “emo”, or other terms related to homosexuality. The term “a sissy band with eye liners without any guitar solos” best describes the band’s image to many Rock fans.
Nonetheless I like Fall Out Boy. Even though numerous Rock fans and citics criticize the band, I think the band’s music is good. The style of the band is very consistent throughout its three albums. The music gives me energy every time I listen to it.
The band was formed by Peter Wentz in the year 2001. For 3 years, the band stayed in Independent scene. In 2005, the band broke throught mainstream with its mainstream debut album “From Under the Cork Tree”. The debut album was followed by 2 other albums. Even though many people criticized the music, the band had a great success, becoming one of the most popular Rock bands in America. The band is currently on a break.
The band members spins during concerts. This is an action that symbolizes Fall Out Boy.
Personal Reviews (Due to my lack of knowledge, I am unable to review the Independent albums)
From Under the Cork Tree(2005) ★★★★☆
This is a typical FOB album. It energizes the listerners. The album is full of youth and energy.
Recommended Songs: “Dance, Dance”(my favorite song), “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down”
Infinity on High(2007) ★★★☆☆
This album is another typical FOB album. However, I think the band put more dark and heavy tones in this album.
Recommend Songs: “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs”, “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race”, “Don’t You Know Who I Think I Am?”
Folie A Deux(2008) ★★★★☆
This is my favorite FOB album. It is also the band’s latest album. The band declared that there will be a long break after this album. I think the style of FOB is finally perfected in this album. That is the reason why I am waiting for the band to return and release its next album.
Recommened Songs: “I Don’t Care”, “20 Dollar Nose Bleed”, “She’s My Wionna”, “What a Catch, Donnie”(this is basically a summary of the band’s career)
I recommend you to just simply listen to the album “Greatest Hits”.
Coldplay
Chris Martin : Vocals, Piano
Johnny Buckland : Guitar
Guy Berryman: Bass
Will Champion: Drums
I spend a lot of time listening to Jazz. However, I also spend time listening to Rock music as much as listening to Jazz. Coldplay is one of my favorite Rock bands. Coldplay is a band formed by men from London College University. In the beginning, the name of the band was “Starfish”. It was the year 1998 that the members changed the name of the band into “Coldplay”. Coldplay released its debut album “Parachutes” in 2000. In the year 2002, the band released its second album “A Rush of Blood to the Head”. The album was very successful both commercially and musically. The band became one of the most popular bands in the United Kingdom. “A Rush of Blood to the Head” was followed by “X&Y”(2005) and “Viva La Vida and Death and All His Friends”(2008). Millions of copies were sold for both albums wordwide. The band is now one of the most popular British bands in the world.
My Personal Reviews
Parachutes(2000) ★★★☆☆
Coldplay’s debut album was not as successful as other albums. Still, the quality is as good as the band’s other albums. This album is good for getting to know the style of Coldplay.
Recommened Songs: Trouble, Yellow, Shiver
A Rush of Blood to the Head(2002) ★★★★★
A Masterpiece. Coldplay’s second album was praised by many critics. Coldplay’s unique style and sound give the listeners a 50 minutes journey full of wonders and mysteries.
Recommended Songs: God Put a Smile on Your Face, Clocks, A Rush of Blood to the Head
X&Y(2005) ★★★★★
This is my favoite Coldplay album. Even though critics had mixed opinions about this ablum, the band sold more than 10 million copies. I personally think that this album is as great as, or even greater than “A Rush of Blood to the Head”. The sound became more “solid”, but Coldplay’s distinctive style is still very evident in the album.
Recommended Songs: White Shadows, X&Y, Talk, Speed of Sound
Viva La Vida and Death and All His Friends(2008) ★★★★☆
After 3 albums, some fans started to say that Coldplay is becoming boring. Coldplay and the band’s producer accomodated these opinions immediate in the band’s next album. Viva La Vida and Death and All His Friends, released in 2008, is quite different from other albums of the band. Still the album was very successful, bringing 3 Grammy Awards to the band.
Recommended Songs: Viva La Vida, Yes, Lovers in Japan
Keith Jarrett – The Piano Virtuoso
In my opinion, the 5 Powerangers of Jazz Piano would be Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Red Garland, Bill Evans, and Keith Jarrett.
Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea are known for their skills in electric piano. Red Garland is known for his skills. Bill Evans is a white legend in the world of Jazz, which is mainly composed of black. Keith Jarrett is a legend of improvisation and musical inspiration.
Keith Jarrett was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1945. In the year 1963, Jarrett graduated from high school and atteneded Berklee College of Music. During his time in Berklee, he played Cocktail Piano in local clubs.
Jarrett’s Jazz career started by Art Blakey. Art Blakey hired Jarrett as the piano player for his new project. After releasing several albums with Blakey, Jarrett started working with Miles Davis.(all of my 5 favorite pianists worked with Miles Davis at least once) In Davis’s project, Jarrett played Fender Rhodes electric piano and the keyboard. This was the only time that he played electric instruments throughout his whole career. Jarrett’s own career finally started in 1970s. Jarrett’s projects include Keith Jarrett Quartet, Keith Jarrett & Friends, and Keith Jarrett Solo Piano Project.
Keith Jarrett’s style is very different from other Jazz pianists. Someone who is not familiar with Jazz might describe his music as classical. Another distinctive characteristic of Jarrett’s music is that he always improvises in his solo concerts. Jarrett never writes pieces before his lives. He just follows the musical insiration when he plays and improvises. This method is very risky to use. But for a musician like Keith Jarrett, who is full of inspiration, it is better than performing rehearsed tunes.
Legendary!
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