{"id":47957,"date":"2026-01-28T14:01:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T06:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/?p=47957"},"modified":"2026-01-28T14:01:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-28T06:01:35","slug":"one-note-at-a-time-how-this-nsman-turned-his-hobby-into-craft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/one-note-at-a-time-how-this-nsman-turned-his-hobby-into-craft\/","title":{"rendered":"One Note at a Time: How this NSman Turned His Hobby into Craft"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"47957\" class=\"elementor elementor-47957\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-69a8fdc e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"69a8fdc\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6cea468 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6cea468\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>LTA (NS) Elias AlJoofri didn\u2019t hit pause on his music career during National Service. Instead, the experience gave him the tools, discipline, and drive to pursue his passion professionally.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a30a689 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"a30a689\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ed5acc1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ed5acc1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cI\u2019m an introverted person, but when I get on stage, I\u2019m a different person altogether,\u201d said LTA (NS) Elias AlJoofri, 22, an undergraduate in Engineering Product Development at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. A Temasek Junior College (TJC) Integrated Programme (IP) alumnus (Class of 2021), Elias served in the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) as a Rota Commander, leading a 30-member response team for firefighting, rescue and HazMat operations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1b62140 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1b62140\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">THE FIRST NOTES OF A BUDDING MUSICIAN<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c0a85c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c0a85c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>So how did this introverted and shy young man become a musician playing in a band? It started with small steps. Having played the guitar from a young age, Elias was no stranger to the guitar and to music. The turning point came when he was 14. As a student in TJC&#8217;s IP, he enrolled in a one-term music course and forming a band was part of the course requirements.<\/p><p>\u201cI was excited to start playing music with my friends (in class). We formed a band and performed together for the rest of my school years,\u201d Elias shares.<\/p><p>He remembers his first stage performance vividly.<\/p><p>\u201cOriginally, we wanted to play \u2018Dark Necessities\u2019 by Red Hot Chili Peppers, but it was too challenging for our beginner bassist. So, we did a rock cover of \u2018Hotline Bling\u2019 by Drake instead. I still remember making a huge mistake. There was supposed to be this big outro sync, but at that critical moment, I forgot to turn up the volume on my guitar. I was completely thrown off by it. Somehow, my classmates loved it; maybe the imperfection made it better. Our teacher, however, was not amused.\u201d \u00a0<\/p><p>For Elias, there was no looking back. The band stayed together through ups and downs for the rest of his school years. In 2019, the band participated in the National Schools Xinyao Singing and Writing Competition\u2019s songwriting category. They reached the semi-finals, but a particular incident left a deep impression on him ever since.<\/p><p>\u201cWe were the only ones who played our own song. But just minutes before the performance, I broke my best friend\u2019s guitar tuner. The judges didn\u2019t mention it, but we all knew in our hearts that we were out of tune. The incident caused a rift between me and my best friend. At that moment, it felt like everything we had worked so hard for came crashing down, and I felt like I didn\u2019t want to do it (music) anymore.\u201d<\/p><p>Eventually, his friend forgave him, but the experience stayed with him. \u201cSince then, I always tune the instruments before a performance,\u201d he says.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a7615c elementor-widget elementor-widget-video\" data-id=\"3a7615c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;youtube_url&quot;:&quot;https:\\\/\\\/youtube.com\\\/shorts\\\/1kIlxRQ5W_Q?feature=share&quot;,&quot;video_type&quot;:&quot;youtube&quot;,&quot;controls&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"video.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-wrapper elementor-open-inline\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-video\"><\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b401359 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b401359\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">HONING HIS CRAFT DURING NATIONAL SERVICE (NS)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c12fb87 e-flex e-con-boxed wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"c12fb87\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec5a8d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ec5a8d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Just like other young men serving their NS, Elias coped with the rigours of training, while finding time to pursue his hobbies. \u201cTime for music was really precious, especially during the training phase,\u201d Elias recalled. He remembers one big perk though. With careful budgeting, he managed to save up for a new guitar with his NS allowance. He is now the proud owner of eight guitars.<\/p><p>Four months before the end of his NS, an opportunity landed. His Warrant Officer, who knew that he was a guitarist, recommended him to audition for the SCDF Music and Performing Arts Club (MPAC). He remembers, with a laugh, &#8220;I had no idea what was going to happen, but if it&#8217;s music related, I&#8217;m all for it.&#8221;<\/p><p>This decision was the defining moment in his musical journey, opening new doors and giving him countless opportunities to learn, grow, and shine.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca78ad4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ca78ad4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-20-at-5.26.15-PM.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-47960\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-20-at-5.26.15-PM.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-20-at-5.26.15-PM-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-20-at-5.26.15-PM-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-20-at-5.26.15-PM-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-20-at-5.26.15-PM-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-20-at-5.26.15-PM-1200x800.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-11-20-at-5.26.15-PM-1980x1320.jpeg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Elias (second from left) performing with fellow SCDF MPAC band mates during a Rota Commander Course Dining-in ceremony on 21 December 2023.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c7fab4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2c7fab4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>&#8220;I was an amateur,&#8221; he says, &#8220;Even though I was an amateur, the experienced band members taught me everything I needed to know,&#8221; he says. He remembers his first jam session. His new band mates were a &#8220;well-oiled machine who already had a repertoire of songs that they were familiar with.&#8221; A few minutes into a rehearsal, one of the lead guitarists paused. After looking at Elias&#8217; guitar settings, he said, &#8220;This is what you&#8217;ve got to do.&#8221; Soon he put Elias through the paces on sounding good when playing onstage. Aside from being mentored, Elias also relished being part of a community and the pure satisfaction and joy from playing with &#8220;really good musicians&#8221;. He also acquired first-hand knowledge of the backroom operations and logistics of staging a performance such as seeing his first \u201cflight case\u201d, which is a custom-made box for instruments, and helping to unload, set up equipment, and handle the teardown afterwards.\u00a0<\/p><p>&#8220;Since then, I constantly received compliments about my guitar tone. I&#8217;ve always attributed it to him and the guidance he shared. Even now, I&#8217;m still using those tips and sharing them with others.\u201d<\/p><p>But it was not all about music and the stage performances. When performing for various events, he had the opportunity to interact with various officers from the SCDF and the Home Team. This opened up his perspectives on how different officers contribute to the Home Team in their unique ways.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb6bd8b elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"eb6bd8b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">PURSUING PERFECTION &amp; STAYING GROUNDED<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85ae4c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"85ae4c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Elias is someone who has an eye for good aesthetics. He appreciates a well-tuned guitar, bags incorporating clever design, and visually pleasing fountain pens that write well. This appreciation for design is close to an obsession for him. He puts it quite simply, \u201cI like good design.\u201d It is here that we see Elias\u2019 pursuit of perfection come into play in dimensions outside of music. While he once considered pursuing music full-time, Elias has since chosen to study engineering product development. The course, with its strong emphasis on cross-disciplinary skillsets, gives Elias a chance to apply his love for good craftsmanship and design in a more tangible manner.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c867b29 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c867b29\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1066\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-13-at-12.27.06-AM-1-1.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-47962\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-13-at-12.27.06-AM-1-1.jpeg 1600w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-13-at-12.27.06-AM-1-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-13-at-12.27.06-AM-1-1-1024x682.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-13-at-12.27.06-AM-1-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-13-at-12.27.06-AM-1-1-1536x1023.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-13-at-12.27.06-AM-1-1-1200x800.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">Elias (right) performing with his fellow MPAC member during an event. He was  presented with a certification of appointment as an MPAC member at that event.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-857cd4f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"857cd4f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Music, however, continues to be a big part of his life. He hopes to rediscover his creative spark, writing his own music and developing a distinctive voice in both lyric and melody. What began as an after-school hobby has grown into a personal calling, one that Elias continues to shape through constant practice. His journey reflects how passion and a willingness to learn can transform a simple pastime into a true craft.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-437cd74 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"437cd74\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7e344eb\" data-id=\"7e344eb\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6bc20a4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"6bc20a4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31e5866 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"31e5866\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em style=\"font-size: 14px; text-align: left; font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); letter-spacing: -0.21px; color: #105cab;\">Like our stories? Subscribe to our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/frontline\/newsletter\/\">Frontline Digital newsletters<\/a>\u00a0now! Simply download the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hometeamns.sg\/mobile-app\/\">HomeTeamNS Mobile App<\/a>\u00a0and update your communication preference to \u2018Receive Digital Frontline Magazine\u2019, through the App Settings.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>LTA (NS) Elias AlJoofri didn\u2019t hit pause on his music career during National Service. Instead, the experience gave him the tools, discipline, and drive to pursue his passion professionally.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":47959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,39],"tags":[60,73,430],"class_list":["post-47957","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-close-up","category-featured"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>One Note at a Time: How this NSman Turned His Hobby into Craft - Frontline<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"LTA (NS) Elias AlJoofri didn\u2019t hit pause on his music career during National Service. 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