Wisdom of Humanity

開啟人類智慧有三把鑰匙：一是數字、二是字母、三是音符。知識、思想、幻想就在其中。 ~雨果~

Being a diligent student, I went to the second chorus lesson at Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra an hour before the class this evening. I carried a big children book of piano notes I borrowed from Taipei City Library in my bag. Luckily, Pianist Li Yi-hwa was there early, too, she helped me decipher the basic music notes.

With the combination of numbers from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, to 7, alphabets from A, B, C, D, E, F, to G, and music notes from Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, to Ti, I gradually felt the keys to wisdom of humanity in my hand. As I was eager to get to know more about the world of music, I looked forward to every singing class with D67 Toastmasters Chorus members in the future.

I confess, I have many secret dreams, one of them is to become a keyboard player of a Rock'n Roll Band. Therefore it's not a surprise I became a voracious early bird this evening. I gobbled as many worms as possible with the guidance of Yi-hwa. Young and petite Yi-hwa was so amazed at my enthusiasm to learn the piano at my golden age that she showed me how to move my fingers on the keyboard and introduced to me the basic music theory. Wow, I must "play" very hard from now on to make my dream come true.

At 7 o'clock sharp, we began our vocal practice with Conductor Chang yu-jing. Again and again we practiced with her how to breathe with our tummy by voicing out //ss// as many times as we could (it looks like, in no time, all members shall have a firm stomach, a splendid fringe-benefit of the chorus class), followed by vocal practice by articulating various vowels. Conductor Yu-jing also taught us how to open our mouth to allow more air in the vocal cavity, imaging placing a boiled egg vertically in our mouth. In addition, Yu-jing insisted we sit with the right posture. I knew this was to me, I sat at the front row this evening, and I kept my legs crossed most of the time. From now on, I shall keep in mind to discipline myself to sit with both feet on the ground.

After the warm-up, we learned a new song, a famous Japanese folk song "Red Dragonfly". I knew the melody and lyrics by heart, so I got a chance to sing the soprano part to cover for Michelle and Linda. Eleven chorus members came to the second choral lesson this evening.

Soprano: Jorie Wu, Kate Hsu
Alto: Marian Hsiao, Gina Fu, Lydia Lin, Maggie Chiu, Sherry Li
Tenor: Ron Chen, Kuo-hwa Yeh
Bass: George Yen, Bill Wan

赤蜻蛉 作詞：三木露風 作曲：山田耕作

夕焼、小焼のあかとんぼ 負われて見たのは いつの日か。
山の畑の桑の実を 小籠に摘んだは まぼろしか。
十五で 姐やは嫁に行き お里のたよりも 絶えはてた。
夕焼、小焼のあかとんぼ とまっているよ 竿の先。

夕陽斜照 紅蜻蜓 在水邊舞飛
引我想起多少年前 難忘的童年
想起當年我的大姐 出嫁離家園
從此一去斷了音息 已隔多少年

Homeways on pre sunset
When was it that I saw them last on Mom's back?
Color deepening red dragonflies!

At age 15 my beloved maid got married
I haven't heard from her since
My first love!
~English translation by Toastmasters Rio Imamura of District 76~

Second half of the class, we reviewed "Fireflies" merrily and added another voice part when we approached the conclusion of the song. Three voice parts competed with one another trying hard not to be dragged away other voice parts.

From Red Dragonfly to Firefly, D67 Toastmasters Chorus experienced another happy and lovely evening flying high with voices high. When Conductor Chang yu-jing announced that class dismissed, we realized it was nine o'clock already.

Well Begun is Half Done

Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent. - Victor Hugo

It was the combination of the three; good opportunity, favorable geographical location and support of the friendly toastmasters. D67 Toastmasters Chorus had a splendid first singing practice at Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Ms. Chang yu-jing and accompanying pianist Ms. Li yi-hua this evening, September 23rd.

When I arrived at Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra at 6:30PM, I saw Immediate Past District Governor Marian Hsiao waiting at the coffee shop with Pianist Ms. Li. Ms. Chang was one step behind me. Without further ado, we started the voice part audition immediately. Marian joined the Alto, Bill Wan the Bass and Yeh kuo-hwa Tenor. To everyone's surprise, most chorus members showed up at 6:45PM. So, I took the good opportunity of the early bird time to share a sign language song "A Grateful Mind" I recently learned with chorus members. It turned out that Conductor Chang was more enthusiastic about the sign language song than me.

At 7 o'clock sharp, we started our first choral lesson punctually. Conductor Chang's vocal skills and teaching technique were impressive. She told us how to breathe and how to accentuate. She told us she loved singing since childhood. She just graduated from graduate school of music, spent most of her time coaching children. When she invited all chorus members to stand up to sing children song Lightly Row* with her lovely simile and movement, we were excited to practice the right breathing skills by walking around in the classroom to greet chorus members. It felt like we became children in kindergarten, like little bees, flying in the garden, working hard, and singing merrily. George Yen and Jorie Wu were the happiest bees couple. They just couldn't separate from each other flying around.

嗡嗡嗡 嗡嗡嗡 大家一起勤做工 來匆匆 去匆匆 走得興味濃 春暖花開不做工 將來哪裡好過冬 嗡嗡嗡 嗡嗡嗡 別學懶惰蟲

This evening, we started with an easy but beautiful choral song "Fireflies" composed by Prof. Yu Chang-fa (游昌發) in three voice parts. I didn't know whether it was because "a famed teacher produces great disciples" or "toastmasters singers of a feather flock together", or both, I heard the voices of angels this evening. Conductor Chang was impressed. Pianist Li was impressed. All chorus members were impressed with the sweet harmony of the first gathering of toastmasters singers at Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra.

火金姑 丟丟來 一鮮錢給你買鳳梨 火金姑 丟丟去 一鮮錢 給你買甲蒺

During the intermission, I saw many photos of Maestro Henry Mazer on the walls of the recital room. Maestro Henry Mazer was praised as a "gifted conductor" by New York Times. He made Taiwan his home for 16 years with Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra. I was very inspired by Maestro Henry Mazer's contribution to the development of music education in Taiwan.

After the intermission, we were enthusiastic to practice "Fireflies" again and again. Upon the instructions of Conductor Chang, we started with very small voices to mimic the fireflies coming out in the dark forest in one voice part, gradually we raised our voices in two parts of Alto and Soprano. Wow, it was such a beautiful harmonic evening full of happy fireflies beaming here and there!

Soprano: Linda Tseng, Michelle Liu, Jorie Wu, Kate Hsu
Alto: Marian Hsiao, Gina Fu, Lydia Lin, Maggie Chiu, Sherry Li
Tenor: Ron Chen, Kuo-hwa Yeh
Bass: George Yen, Bill Wan

I plan to attend the second singing class much earlier in order to know more about Maestro Henry Mazer and to enjoy a good cup of coffee at the Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra before class. Care to join District 67 Toastmasters Chorus to have enjoy a fun and harmonic night? We welcome you with open arms and cheerful voices of angels.

*Remarks: The Lyrics of Lightly Row

Lightly row, lightly row, O'er the glassy waves we go!
Smoothly glide, smoothly glide, On the silent tide.

Let the winds and waters be Mingled with our childish glee.
Sing and float, sing and float In our little boat!

Far away, far away, Echo in the rock at play;
Calleth not, calleth not, To this lonely spot.

Only with the seabirds' note Shall our happy music float.
Lightly row, lightly row, In our little boat!

The Hubris Syndrome 2.1

This evening, I won the in-house humorous speech contest at Grand Toastmasters Club by delivering a not-so humorous speech. Judging from the response of the audience, I needed to work a lot harder to make people laugh. This is only the beginning of the long journey to claim the championship of National Humorous Speech Contest at D67 Fall Convention 2009 in November.

Fellow Toastmasters, I have a confession to make. I've got the Hubris Syndrome. It's a personality disorder! Just in case you don't know the psychological medical term, it is 大頭症 in Mandarin. It is incurable. I acquire it in Toastmasters.

Wednesday noon, September the 9th, Gina and I had lunch together. While we read the Apple Daily, Gina announced the major symptoms of the Hubris Syndrome of President Ma, managing the Typhone Makarot flood in southern Taiwan. "High Attitude, High self-esteem, Over-confident, Over self-pride, Focus on personal image, Love public speaking," Gina looked at me and laughed. "Sherry, you also have the Hubris Syndrome," Gina continued. Wow, that is a bad news, but I was flattered to be compared with handsome President Ma. In the evening, my dear husband echoed Gina's diagnosis, "Honey, for the past two decades, you have always been on the top. It's time we changed position." "But, I remember you told me you had acrophobia on our wedding night".

What is Hubris Syndrome anyway? It is an acquired personal disorder, among politicians and public speakers, George Bush, Margaret Thatcher, and most recent President Ma Ying-jeou. Fellow Toastmasters, please take a look at the fellow toastmasters around you. The Hubris Syndome can also be found in many TOASTMASTERS.

After Gina's diagnosis, I saw my psychiatrist Dr. Dennis Brown, the following week. Dr. Brown looked sorry and said, "Sherry, it is hard to cure the Hubris, after you work hard to get it. You're programmed to think positively. You're programmed to help others. You're obsessed in dreaming of being leaders to save the world." Oh, my time is up. Sherry, you are rich and beautiful. When you got it, flaunt it. You have every right to have Hubris. Here is my humble bill.

Just about when I was at the crossroads whether to quit Toastmasters, Past District Governor Harry Fong came to my rescue. He invited me to join High Performance Leadership (HPL) Program with him and International Director George Yen. I turned down his invitation by saying "there is a long way before I could think of HPL. I'm more concerned about my Hubris Syndrome."

Governor Harry replied immediately, "Hi Sherry, it seems to me that this syndrome is bothering you now. It would not be easy to get over it within a short while. Please practice Ho'oponopono to see if they help. Feel the peace when you practice Ho'oponopono. When there is peace inside, you will soon regain your energy & power. If it works for you, please send the message to President Ma, too."

Ho'oponopono, what a funny name? Is it something like the Lamaze Technique to help the childbirth? Is it breathing in and out by chanting hooponopono? Being desperate to cure my Hubris, I didn't waste a second to practice Ho'oponopono. It's a simpler process to repeat four mantras, "I love you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you". Immediately I practice ho'oponopono with my life partner. "Honey, I love you for letting me be the leader at home. I'm sorry I insist to be over-the-top. I forgive you when don't listen to me. Thank you for not running away!"

Now, I am in a dilemma. Should I leave Toastmasters? Take it, Leave it? ......Oh, I'd better take it, because I still have many important tasks on my shoulder. 1. Grand is going to celebrate the 35th anniversary in 2010. Celebration party, without me, the party queen? 2. I am the Charter President of Kyoto Toastmasters Club, I am the bridge between D67 and D76. I can be the bridge between Japan's new Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio and President Ma Ying-jeou. A successful sino-Japanese dialogue, without me? 3. I can rescue Toastmasters in the world in time from getting Hubris Syndome. If not me, who?

So, I'm here to tell you my Hubris Syndrome. It is an acquired personality disorder. Chances are, you have it, too, if you are in Toastmasters long enough. I hope I can win the Area H1 humorous speech contest and to win National humorous speech contest at Fall Convention in November, so that I can save Toastmasters from acquiring the Hubris Syndome. Win or lose, let's make Toastmasters a safer place for all!

The Hubris Syndrome

Oh, my god, I have the Hubris Syndrome. It is an acquired personality disorder! It is incurable. President Ma Ying-jeou is the worst case in Taiwan and I am the worst case in District 67.

Wednesday noon, September 9th, Gina and I had lunch together. We read the Apple Daily. Suddenly Gina read the eight major symptoms of the Hubris Syndrome of President Ma, She looked at me and I heard she say "check" from the first till the last. "Sherry, you have Hubris Syndrome," said Gina. Wow, it is a bad and good news. I have the same syndrome President Ma does. In the evening, my dear husband echoed Gina's diagnosis. "Honey, for the past two decades, you have always been on the top. It is time we changed position."

What is Hubris Syndrome? Hubris syndrome is popular among politician and public speakers, George Bush, Margaret Thatcher, and most recent President Ma Ying-jeou. Their symptoms include, 1. focus on personal image; 2. love public speaking; 3, want to save the world; 4. over-confident; 5. act on adrenaline. Do these symptoms ring the bell? They are also applicable to TOASTMASTERS. Hubris Syndrome is an acquired personality disorder! And I acquire it in Toastmasters. One of my long time American friends proved it by saying, "toastmasters are hubristic, interested in counting how many ahs people make in public."

Just about when I was at the crossroads whether to quit Toastmasters, Past District Governor Harry Fong came to my rescue. He invited me to join High Performance Leadership (HPL) Program with him and International Director George Yen. I thanked him for your invitation. I told him there was a long way before I could think of HPL. I'm concerned about my Hubris Syndrome at the moment.

Harry replied immediately, "hi Sherry, it seems to me that this syndrome is bothering you now. It would not be easy to get over it within a short while. Please practice Ho'oponopono to see if they help. Feel the peace when you practice hooponopono. When there is peace inside, you will soon regain your energy & power. If it works for you, please send the message to President Ma, too."

Ho'oponopono, what a funny name? Is it something like the Lamaze Technique to help the childbirth? It's a simple process to repeat four mantras, I love you. I am sorry. Please forgive me. And Thank you.

Now, I am in a dilemma. Should I leave Toastmasters? Take it, Leave it? ......Oh, I'd better take it, because 1. Grand is going to celebrate the 35th anniversary in 2010. Without me..; 2. I am the Charter President of Kyoto Toastmasters Club, I am the bridge between D67 and D76. I can be the bridge between Japan's new Prime Minister Hatoyama Yukio and President Ma Ying-jeou; 3. I can help Toastmasters in the world from getting Hubris Syndome. If not me, who?

So, I am here this evening to pay my membership fee to win the in-house humorous speech contest. I shall represent Grand to claim a trophy at the Fall Convention in November. I am confident, I am proud to say that I will win!

MEET & GREET

I like September. Just looking at the covers of fashion magazines on the shelf in the city library, I feel so much uplifted to embrace the harvest season. The leaves are ready to change colors in the cool morning breeze. People are ready to change wardrobes to welcome colorful Autumn on the way.

What's more exciting about Fall 2009 is, of course, none other than the Mouth Opening Ceremony of D67 Toastmasters Chorus Wednesday evening, September 23rd. Thirty toastmasters members will get together for the first time to venture into a world of MUSIC.

Toastmasters Rio Imamura of Kita-kyushu Toastmasters club wrote, "On Sat. August 29, Kitakyushu Toastmasters hosted the Division E Officers Training session, welcoming12 club officers (from Hiroshima to Miyazaki), District instructors and officials, totaling approximately 70 Toastmasters. During the reception time, Masaki Oshiumi and I had a chance to announce the D67 Fall Convention in November and the proposal we received from the newly organized Taipei Chorus Toastmasters to sing together songs of common interest at the opening, and asked their possible participation. The chartering ceremony picture was passed around."

George Yen kindly suggested five beautiful and funny names for D67 Toastmasters Chorus, Frogs of The Golden Pond; Li Li La La; The Croakers; The Wannabees; and The Toastees.

Now let's meet and greet fourteen chorus members in four voice parts: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass as follows,
Soprano: Linda Tseng, Michelle Liu, Jorie Wu, Trini Ding, Kate Hsu
Alto: Pamela Yang, Gina Fu, Lydia Lin, Maggie Chiu, Sherry Li
Tenor: Ron Chen, Erick Suen
Bass: George Yen

Four voice parts sing in a different range, and each part has a very different personality. According to Guide to Choir Singers by un unknown author, the four voice parts can be easily distinguished. Wow, that certainly tickles my curious nervers to know more about our fellow toastmasters from the musical point of view!

The sopranos sing the highest, therefore they think they rule the world. They have longer hair, fancier jewellery, and swishier skirts. Sopranos have varied attitudes toward the other sections of the chorus, though they consider all of them inferior. Altos are to sopranos rather like second violins to first violins - nice to harmonise with but not really necessary. All sopranos have a secret feeling that the altos could drop out and the piece would sound essentially the same, and they don't understand why anybody would sing in that range in the first place - it's so boring.

The altos are the salt of the earth. Altos are unassuming people who would wear jeans to concerts if they were allowed to. Altos are in a unique position in the chorus in that they are unable to complain about having to sing either very high or very low, and they know that all the other sections think their parts are pitifully easy. They know that while the sopranos are screeching away on a high A, they are being forced to sing elaborate passages full of sharps and flats and tricks of rhythm, and nobody is noticing because the sopranos are singing too loudly. Altos get a deep, secret pleasure out of conspiring together to tune the sopranos flat. Altos have an innate distrust of tenors, because the tenors sing in almost the same range and think they sound better. Altos like the basses and enjoy singing duets with them - the basses just sound like a rumble anyway, and it's the only time the altos can really be heard. Altos' other complaint is that there are always too many of them and so they never get to sing really loudly.

The tenors are spoiled. For one thing, there are never enough of them, and choir directors would rather sell their souls than let a half decent tenor quit, while they're always ready to unload a few altos at half price. And then, for some reason, the few tenors there are always really good - it's one of those annoying facts of life. So it's no wonder that tenors always get swollen heads - after all, who else can make sopranos swoon? Tenors have a love-hate relationship with the conductor, because the conductor is always telling them to sing louder because there are so few of them. Tenors feel threatened by the sopranos because they can hit those incredibly high notes; by the altos because they have no trouble singing the notes the tenors kill themselves for; and by the basses because although they can't sing anything above an E, they sing it loudly enough to drown out the tenors. Tenors move their eyebrows more than anyone else while singing.

The basses sing the lowest part. This basically explains everything. They are stolid, dependable people and have more facial hair than anybody else. The basses feel perpetually unappreciated, but they have a deep conviction that they are actually the most important part. Despite the fact that they have the most boring part and often sing the same note (or in endless fifths) for an entire page. They compensate for this by singing as loudly as they can get away with - most basses are tuba players at heart. Basses make horrible faces when trying to hit very low notes. When a bass makes a mistake, the other three parts will cover him, and he can continue on his merry way, knowing that sometime, somehow, he will end up at the root of the chord.

I am an alto and I agree what it is said above, funny but true. While waiting patiently and ardently for sixteen more chorus members to take the challenge to join the chorus to voice out in harmony in District 67, I solicit your assistance in spreading the recruitment news to all toastmasters around you who are interested in singing and expressing themselves in Magical Do Re Mi.