Day to remember

Today at Gros Islet Secondary School,  another history was written. The day started with ecumenical service to celebrate teachers day and afternoon was taken to distribute laptops to form 4 students.

The ecumenical service was a blessing, some awesome gospels,  touching prayers, mindful scriptures and sermon. This year, sermon was done by Brother Denver Pierre from bethel tabernacle. He was passionate and captured single student's attention. He made them scream with his musical talent and even repent. The whole service was just melodious.  Mr Jeon backed up the whole ceremony. Oh by the way, one class just could not hold the appreciation they had for this specific teacher.  The presented her with a wine, she is none other than Mrs Pitcairn. She is a really great teacher who reaches students' heart, goes beyond her duties and teaches not only whats in the syllabus but the way of life. She is well respected around the school and deserves much praise for her work. She is my partner for home room and she has been supporting me in anyway possible. I dont have many viewers in my blog as its for more private use but I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Pitcairn for all of her work, energy and determination.

After wonderful service,  teachers were treated with a little snack and a drink.

After lunch was the moment for some students. The government has decided to invest in education by providing form 4 students with a laptop, what they call a "tool" to provide equal opportunities in learning against other nations as well as financially abled families. Huge investment and a big step towards better quality in education and ICT. I personally can't wait to start my lessons with students using their laptops. A class where learning can be funnier, more enjoyable and more interactive than how it is now. I have already started a step closer before this ceremony by using Google docs, dropbox, blog and emaiks but this initiative will definitely make our communication faster and more efficient.  To this I say thank you to the government and special greetings to minister Robert Lewis and minister Emma Hippolyte.

Well folks this has been another edition of Day To Remember

Happy teachers week

This job, often criticized but hardly appreciated... It is wonderful to have a week celebrating dedicated to teachers. There are plenty of hard working teacher. I am a teacher and my friends are teachers, trust me, it takes dedication, patience and a lot more to stay in teaching, you have my word. When school does not perform well, teachers are blamed. Even to choose schools, public views as though the teachers are so great in over achieving schools compare to under achieving schools. I will tell you now, this is not the case. You can take the same teachers from under achieving school and replace them with the teachers at over achieving school. You will not see the difference. Perhaps if you can see the difference, the school will be beyond over achieving. My colleagues are so dedicated and passionate about teaching, its amazing to see that there are so many good people out there when we believed that the world no longer consists of good people including us. Anyways, this post is dedicated to all my colleagues and hard working teachers out there. Don't give up no matter how difficult it looks in our eyes. Your dedication and hard work will go along way, beyond what syllabuses and academic materials can teach. Bravo! to end I say HAPPY TEACHERS WEEK!!!

Interview on HTS about G factor

Featured on BAUGMENTED

BAUGMENTED is a blog by Mr. Jason Joseph, Curriculum Officer for Music in St. Lucia. This blog was initiated by Mr. Joseph to highlight effective music teachers and best practices. I felt honoured to be featured and felt motivated as I was recognised by my hard work. Please take time and check it out

Overcoming The Odds

Choral Arranging Workshop for District 1

This year, choir format has changed, there are not test piece. Teachers are asked to choose 2 songs, 1 of which must be a Caribbean genre (not necessarily produced within Caribbean region). The purpose of this change, explained by Curriculum Officer Mr Jason Joseph said that it creates importance for teachers to by creative in their work. Hmmmm. problem? Do teachers know how to arrange? What about the teachers who are not specialized in these areas, like me perhaps. But there were not turning back. There after district 1 music teachers held a meeting of our own to discuss and plan activities for the term. It was then revealed that many teachers to be more specific, mostly all teachers needed assistance in arranging. What is being about that by CAMDU or government? Is this only a problem for district 1? Does this mean the winning school is likely to be dependent on the level of skills a teacher from particular school have? Is this going to be a fair assessment? Many questions comes up in my head but like I always tell my students, work with what you have and don't complain about what you don't have. This time, we don't have time... I was approached by the teachers to give some form of workshop on arranging aspect. I decided to give it a shot and here are some photos. The feedback after the workshop were great. I hope all the schools from district 1 will make it to Finals of this year's Choir Competition

Pictures from St. Lucia

Some random pics from St. Lucia.

This cow is just enjoying the view

I found a pirate ship. No treasure though.










Just a sea view from the St. Lucia

Justus summer concert - live

We're live from Entrepot human resource centre. Some background information,  Justus choir is a youth choir directed by John Bailey, former director of St Lucia School of Music.

Choir warms up by singing "thanks thanks we give you thanks". They warms up the crowd with sweet melody. One if the audience already started getting their blessing, clapping and screaming out.

Here we go, the show starts by singing of national anthem.

The beginning pieces are from the classical era namely; be not afraid, o come every one that thirsteth, and then shall your light break forth from Elijah, Felix Mendelssohn. These beautiful harmony from classical era created that feeling of warmth, softness at the same time dark mist followed by brightness. Beautiful harmony and progression from classical era. Why can't music be like this in 21st century.

Next we have allegro extract from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. By W.A Mozart arranged by w. Swingle.  It is for instruments but arranged for voices. O e thing is for sure, if you are not here, you miss out. Goodness can music get better than this?.

Next piece is directed by Jason Joseph,  curriculum specialist for music. This arrangement is a medley of folk music from st. Lucia.  The crowd is dancing. It was a change of environment from these classical music. Feels as though I was in these suit and tie with my wight here rolled up on both side of my head like all the famous composers of the past like Beethoven and Mozart. Then now feels like in the sugarcane field cutting bananas singing my sweats off in the hit sun of Caribbean. 

The environment changes again now with the classic hits sunny, you are beautiful and we are the world to round off the first segment. These contemporary genres mixed with a bit of jazz enlighten the hall. Harmonious first segment comes to an end.

Here we go at the second half, the choir started by singing another popular hit unchained melody arranged by Kirby Shaw. Love is here to stay and more jazzy piece taking a chance on love both arranged by Darmon Meader. Beautiful harmonies. 

The last segment of the night, Caribbean medleys. the choir started rocking the crowd by some sweet reggae medleys. Followed by soca and folk numbers. 

Videos will be coming soon. It has been a very memorious evening. Thanks for reading. This is Chun and I approve this post. Cheers!

How to upgrade graphics card

First you have to know what expansion slots that is available, how much money you want to spend, the power supply unit and their wattage. I am just goin to do a simple installation to my stock hp pavilion series desktop.

I chose Nvidia GTX 650, for this graphics card, the power supply I have won't work because of the number of plugs available (this graphics card need additional power to work apart from just the connection to the motherboard. Also, the power supply was pushing 300W. But I had a 500W power supply from my past computers, so I replaced the power supply.

After changing the power supply, I install my new GTX 650 in to my PCI slot.

 Then I connected the additional power cable which is needed to power up the card

Connect the power cable to the card

Close up all the slots and the case. 

Connect the monitor, keyboard, mouse, any other devices you are using.

Put on your computer.

Install the driver.

Well. So far I have tested this card  on Fifa 13 Max setting, Sims 3, Borderlands 2. It all plays well. Only complain, the card can get loud and irritate you. Hope you enjoy.

This has been "How To" Segment brought to you by Chun.

St Lucia National Anthem

This is St. Lucia's National Anthem

If you need a transposition, you can contact me.

G factor

G factor is an annual singing competition organized by music department of Gros Islet Secondary School. It is held in 1st academic term which is from september to december. The concept of the competition is taken from famous x factor as well as american idol. It is hekd in different stages where students pair up with a teacher who guide them to develop skills and develop positive teacher student relationship. The competition starts in september till late November or early December.  There are three rounds where weakest links are dropped and the best of the best moves to the next round. Over the years, GrosIslet secondary school's music department played a significant role in students' development as well as school's growth. Music as a subject is still being marginalized by the nation, community, public,  parents and even teachers. If only these people can get the experience the changes music can contribute in their life, the world would be a harmonious place. But for now there are significant improvements on students self esteem, dicipline, teamwork and patience.

Welcome

Warm welcome to my viewers. This blog will serve as a information hub for different projects I undertake. Thank you for viewing and keeping visiting my blog. If you have any questions relating to music, technology and education. Feel free to ask.