2018 SASS 4E EL MYE P1 SectC w Ans

SASS 2018 MYE 4E5N Sample Essays for Paper 1 Qn 1: Describe a powerful performance you have watched or taken part in. Why was it so impactful for you? Being a huge heavy metal fan, my ambition in life is to be a musician. I have worked hard to master the art of playing the electric guitar, in my bedroom. Although I am still a student, my band have already performed at some of the biggest local festivals. Our big break came when we were invited to headline a massive show last December, opening for Arch Enemy from England. Two hours before, we had to set up our equipment on stage. As I entered the hall, I was dumbfounded. The venue was easily 10 times the size of our usual performance space. My legs began to wobble under the weight of the enormity of the task ahead. ‘For a mediocre guitarist, this is way out of your league,’ self-doubt engulfed me like a flame. Worst still, while standing on the stage, I was gripped by the fear of failing during the performance. One hour before, we were waiting anxiously to talk to Arch Enemy. As they entered from the back stage, I had a vision of some Bollywood film heroes strutting with style and poise. They were so cool, exuding a tremendous air of confidence. Words would not flow out from my mouth; I had to force myself to whisper ‘Hello’. I was star-struck. ‘Just do your thing, fellas,’ cooed Mark Arm the lead guitarist, after dishing out some useful tips on working the crowd and keeping our nerves in check. ‘Let’s pray,’ he continued. What an irony, praying in a metal performance! Five seconds before we entered the stage, I was expecting pin-drop silence as everyone had come for the main act. Boy, was I so wrong! Soon as we stepped up to take our instruments, the crowd went hysterical. The ocean of noisy chanting reverberating round the hall was supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. ‘Metal! Metal! Metal! Give us metal!’ Closing my eyes like I was in a trance, I struck the first note and I could feel the hall rattling like Godzilla was fighting with another monster. The audience was jumping up and down to the beat of our music. As we got pumped up with pure adrenaline gushing through our veins, we began to play with great aplomb. The jumping looked like sea waves and we felt like we were actually sailing in the sea, shouting out words of oppression, angst and pure anarchy. We were the prophets of doom. The stage was flooded with colours as strobe lights were flicking everywhere and people with epilepsy would have had a hard time there. When the performance ended, we were heartened to hear the crowd chanting ‘We want more!’ Looking back at this performance, I was thankful for the advice Mark had given me about the most difficult part – playing the solo. ‘Take the stage as your bedroom where you normally practise,’ he looked me in the eyes. ‘Suddenly, all your parts will be easy-peasy,’ he winked. That had made all the difference. Soon, the world will be my