Yesterday...

...was an interesting day. I went to Walvis Bay again to watch the marimbas rehearsal. I wasn’t completely sure what Mrs.Venter wanted me to do with them. Last week they basically just showed us what they have do so far....which was only adding djembes into a couple of songs. Mrs.Venter said she just wanted to stand back, watch and just have me do my thing.
Now what kind of thing do I have with percussion?? I did percussion my grade 12 year in band but never in my right mind would I call myself a percussionist that could possibly teach other people.
So, we started with the first song and luckily for 4 out of the 9 songs we’re doing I have a full orchestra score so I could just pick the instruments out of there and show them what rhythms to do.
It was kind of interesting though.... I really have no idea what to do with djembes! I don’t play them so I just let the guys do their thing. But for the other percussion instruments it was actually kind of fun. I had to even teach some of them how to play the instrument! Like a suspended cymbal! I taught them how to do the big crash sound.
And I taught them how to play claves....they were just playing them like sticks so I showed them how to hold it properly to get the correct sound. And same with a cabasa....most of them had never even heard of one!
So I actually had a pretty good time! Maybe dating a drummer for 3 years made me absorb some of this! Hahaha

We’re having another practice tomorrow where I’m supposed to show them the rest of the songs we haven’t learned yet. I’m going to keep going every Sunday as well to make sure they’re getting everything okay.

Last night was fun too... Lex, her dad and Pam all went out to Sussosvlei for the weekend and Casey and Beau went camping. So Jenica had their house all to herself. Ellen came over to and we all hung out listening to music, playing cards, eating pizza and fondue and watching the new Simpsons movie. (Casey’s friend got a ripped copy of it!) It was SO funny!!

But now, I need to seriously start cracking down and getting my ass in gear! From tomorrow I only have one month left!! I can’t believe how fast time has gone!!! One month! I feel like I still have SO much to do on this musical.

Oh, speaking of the musical I completely forgot about Mascato’s rehearsal on Saturday. THIS was interesting! We had another marathon rehearsal (from 10-5) The morning we just spent in sectionals learning music for the musical.
In the afternoon though – oh man – we had “acting” lessons. See, this is why I sing and play the piano, so I don’t HAVE to act. I can just be in the chorus or the band! I don’t think I have an acting bone in my body.
It was crazy to see how all of Mascato just lets go though...there was maybe only like 5 people that didn’t get completely into it! Professor Aldo Behrens (the man who wrote the script) had his wife come to give us these lessons. I guess either Aldo or his wife is going to come every week to help out.
Seeing Mascato do this is so funny! I just keep thinking what it would be like if Kokopelli ever did a musical? That would be hilarious!

So yeah…I still have to write out/make up all the piano/synth parts. Make up a motif for all the scene changes that the marimbas can play. Make up marimba parts for all the songs. And teach Mascato all the music! AH... this is going to be a hectic month!
Vera brought her klavinova over though so I can start picking out sounds for all the music. She told me at the beginning of September she wants me to come over and do workshops with all her piano students. She said she’s already been scaring them telling them that a Canadian girl is coming to watch them to see if they’ll be ready for their exams. Hahaha... I have no idea what I’m going to do! At least it will be good practice for when I get home and start teaching at Giovanni Yamaha!

Alrighty...enough procrastinating! I got work to do!

cya