By Guitar Ensemble EXCO ’24
Have you ever watched guitarists on YouTube in wonder and admiration, and aspired to be just like them? Well, fret not! Raffles Institution Guitar Ensemble (RJGE) is here! RJGE is a fully fledged Niibori guitar ensemble that dabbles in a myriad of musical genres, ranging from folk, to classical, to pop.
Our sessions are held twice a week: on Mondays, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm, and Wednesdays, from 8.30am to 10.30am. Our friendly seniors and instructors, Mr Balraj Gopal and Mr Munees, will guide you every step of the way.
During practice, we typically split into our respective sections majority of the time, to develop individual playing skills while providing section-mates with opportunities to bond with each other in the process. The various sections, ranging from the tender and melodic Alto to the resounding and mighty Bass, come together to create lyrical music.
When we are not practising our performance pieces, we indulge our creativity by experimenting with multifarious guitar techniques which synergised with one another to produce melodic masterpieces. This includes small group jamming and peer mentoring to help those who are less experienced.
Our friendly seniors and instructors, Mr Balraj Gopal and Mr Munees, will guide you every step of the way. Those with no guitar experience will be provided with an 8 session Beginner Course to help them on their guitar journey! As long as you’re willing to put in the practice, we are happy to have you!
Despite a large number of members joining with no experience, RJGE has always performed well at SYF, obtaining a Distinction in 2021 and 2023!
In the Raffles Guitar Family, regardless of whether you have prior musical experience, passion and camaraderie takes precedence, not skill or an over-accentuation on perfection. We believe strongly in a tight-knitted community where members seek solace after a hectic day, to rejoice in the friendships forged, while immersing in the heartening CCA experience.
We hope that you too can join us on this immensely gratifying journey in RJGE, where we make the most out of the fleeting time here in JC to grow and become the best of ourselves, and let our passion take flight!
