Dear Band,
First of all, Happy Chinese New Year.
It is coming to the end of January and we have less than 3 months to prepare for the SYF. I know it has been difficult and trying for everyone, especially when you have to cope with your school work, balancing your time between practises, family and friends.

Both Miss Ong and myself may not be physically present most of the time but we are concerned about all of you. And I can tell you, when we heard how you played during the past few performances in school for the Sec 1 Orientation concert as well as the Chinese New Year concert, we felt so proud of you. You played wonderfully, albiet the small mistakes here and there. You have shown to the rest of the school how the band has improved and evolved in this short period of time. This is evidence of how much effort all of you have put into the practices, sectionals, performances and band exchanges. Even the teachers were full of compliments about how the band has grown.

I felt that as the band grew, all of you as individuals grew as well. You've learnt to take ownership of problems, mistakes and tasks given to you and you have done it well. Extremely well.

Though you have progressed, please make sure that you don't let regression step in. It will when you become too complacent. It has happened before and it will happen if you allow it to. Do continue to strive hard, work hard in both band and your school work! Both Miss Ong and myself feel proud when teachers tell us how well the band students behave in their classes.

Press on for the last stretch of this race! Instead of aiming for a Silver, aim to achieve the first GOLD for the band, for the school. Show everyone that you have made something that was seemingly impossible, possible!

Love,
Miss Maybelline Tan