I think I understand point 2 liao. Never take as much breath as you can hold. It is about taking the right amount of breath. Example, if got long break/rest, take more breath. If short breat/rest, take a quick breath (using mouth). So, gotta be familiar where are those break/rest and whether they are long break/rest or short one. After know it, gotta practice much too.
If want to sing pop song, need to use a pencil to right note the break/rest because no song sheet ma.
It has been a struggling moment of practicing my singing for so long. I read much, book, article and from forum. I tried out things. I put into practice what I read but still so hard to sing. The output the bad.
I know it is breathing problem but don’t still the same. I don’t know exactly what breathing problem. The problem also I got distracted to think or learn other thing like resonance, pitch matching etc.
But, I think I got to identify the problem in these few days. It wasn’t about me not using diaphram (because I can feel and use it when holding a pitch but not got mess up during singing a song) but the problems are a few like me holding the breath, mouth/nose breathing got mess up and etc.
Just now, read a book in Mid Valley. Btw, found out that there are a few vocal book over there. I found at least 3 books and one with CD book type. I browse through one of the books and found these execellent point about breathing.
These are the point that I’m going to bang them in my head at least for these few weeks.
I want to particularly focus in the first and third point because 2nd and 4th is quite hard and not get it yet.
Thank you God for helping me in singing.
As a Christian we know that using illegal software is unrighteous. It is theft. If you take one year to develop a fully functional well tested software, using all your brain power and precious time, will you want someone to get it just RM5 and you don’t even earn a single cent from that RM5? Of course not, right? The bible says, “Do to others, what you want others to do to you.”.
Living in this country, illegal software is so prevalent. Even though, government has enforced much action to be taken, they are still out there for you to get it, so easily. The difference is too big, just RM5 you can get a bunch of softwares worth up to RM10,000. Indeed, a big temptation to Christian. Besides this, there is another issue. The original software is expensive. A software price can cost more than a brand new pc! Example, Window XP Pro OEM version costs RM500 which is half a price of a new pc. Also, there aren’t many retail shops to get original software, especially window operating system. Many do not realize that OEM version is only entitled for those who are buying a new pc.
Being an IT student and as a Christian some many years back, I have already started to think about it. I feel bothered by myself using illegal software because of the earlier question. But, what can I do? It is too much money to buy all original softwares for a student.
But, I still want to pursue to do what is right. So since then, I began to do to find solutions. And, finally I got it. The solutions is to use freeware or open source softwares.
The first column are all the freeware or open source software you can consider to use to replace the paid softwares which is at the second column. The third column I divide it into 2 main categories of usage: Corporate and Home. Actually, there are many softwares free for home use but definitely not for corporate use. So, do check their website for confirmation and for any latest changes.
| Freeware / Open Source Software | Paid softwares | Free for | Description |
| Ubuntu | Ms Window XP/Vista | Home * and Corporate use | There are few open sources Operating System (OS) besides Ubuntu. But, I think Ubuntu is one of the most user-friendly, just like Window XP. |
| OpenOffice | Ms Office | Home and Corporate use | In Open Office, Writer is like Ms Word; Calc is like Ms Excel; Impress is like Ms PowerPoint in Ms Office. |
| AVG | Norton Antivirus | Home use only | |
| KerioZone Alarm | Home use only | Firewall | |
| We-Blocker | To filter pronography | ||
| Spybot | Home and Corporate use | Can scan and clean up spyware. | |
| Adware | Home use only | Can scan and clean up spyware. | |
| 7Zip | WinZip | Home and Corporate use | |
| GIMP | Photoshop or Fireworks | for graphic design | |
| HTMLKit | Dreamweaver | Text Editor | |
| AceFTP | WS FTP | to upload or download your files. | |
| Regclean | Clean up your registry | ||
| MySql | SQL Server 7 or Ms Access | Database | |
| WinMerge | Used during Implementation stage in Software Development |
* Home use is another term for Personal use or Non-Commercial use.
The above are just some of the freeware or open source softwares I’m using. There are more out there.
Question: I am buying a new laptop now. The vendor asked if I would like to have Window Vista Home version or Professional version. Which version should I get?
My Answer: Normally if you are classic ASP or .NET developer, you might need IIS which is available in Professional version. And if your pc or laptop will be used in a corporate network, you should buy Professional version. Otherwise, you can just get a Home version.
Question: Where can I get all these freeware or open source softwares?
My Answer: You can easily download the latest version from download.com or from their website. They will even send a CD to your home for free. Example, Ubuntu. I went to their website and send my information and requested for a CD to install Ubuntu. Within two weeks, I received the CD and it is all free!
Question: I have downloaded Open Office and tried to use it. But, how come it is not the same like Ms Office and not easy to use?
My answer: I know that you might have some difficulty to use Open Office compare to Ms Office which you have been using all your life. But, I think this is because you are not used to it yet. But if you hang on there for a little while, you will get comfortable with it. Actually, with Open Office, example Writer, you can save your file as .doc (an extension for Ms Word). Same goes to other file type like .xls (an extension for Ms Excel) and .ppt (and extension for Ms PowerPoint).
Last but not least, say no to illegal softwares. It is stealing. And God does provide a way out (1 Corinthian 10: 13).
Just now, sing around 45 minutes of karaoke at home. Feel that time time, better output compare to last time. But song still too high for now. Feel like I need to use maximum push from my diaphram to output those continuous high notes. After a while, diaphram can’t tahan liao.
Also tried out something new, using falsetto to hit low notes. Seem can work. Just gotta practice more. When I change to use falsetto to hit the notes, so much easier and comfortable.
Just gotta keep train myself in my support/breathing. I think hearing is not that bad. I can’t hear myself out of pitch.
21 Oct 2006, I went to Kuantan for mission trip. Those going are 17 Christians from KL church including me, 1 from KK and 1 from JB. After breakfast, we departed. I sat in Aaron’s car. Behind were my mom and Serene. There were 4 cars. When we reached about end of MRR2, we caught into a traffic jam. Something we are not too happy about. This traffic jam must be due to holiday sessons where everyone wants to go back to their hometown. After the Genting toll, our car has separated from the other 3 cars. Later, we realize that the three cars has stopped in one rest stop which we have already passed by. So, we splited since then. After some hours of drive, we reached Kuantan at the end, which is about 1pm. Aaron bought us to eat at the best gon lo me in Kuantan. We ate and it was good. I like the duck.
Then, we went to Grand Continental Hotel, Kok Meng, Siew Ting and Chu Kee welcomed us. Then, the rest (from the 3 cars) came but they have not eaten their lunch. So, they went for their lunch. After they came back from their lunch, we went to Kuantan Parade for evangelism, while the Singaporian took Mega Mall.
Reached to Kuantan Parade, we splited into small group of 2-3 for evangelism. Daniel and I together. There were a lot of Malays! Perhaps 90-95%. Amazing. Something never seen in KL. So, every Chinese became very precious to us. Because not many Chinese, Daniel and I has decided to talk to the people who work in the shop or owner of the shop. But, when there is not people there. At the end of 1 hour evangelism, we didn’t meet many Chinese and only 1 contact.
Then, we went back to Grand Continential Hotel to meet up to share good news. One good news is about Anna, a friend who has been studying the bible, invited her 6 friends to her house for bible talk. She asked Nancy to preach to her friends but in Chinese. Nancy in turn got Chu Kee to preach instead because there might man there and also of her incompentency to preach in Chinese. Chu Kee preached. That is awesome. Another good news is from David Lang’s wife, which is also quite a similiar story.
After dinner, those were involve in the service were meeting up in Grand Continential Hotel for service rehearsal. The song leader rehearse the songs. Also make sure other technical area is okay like the laptop for the song lyric and the projector which is in charge by a Singapore brother, Fred.