27/3/09

Sorry it's been a while - have been busy! So Tuesday was teaching. Actually not a huge amount of teaching becuase Michael didn't turn up and Disan had already told me he wasn't coming. But Soloman is doing well. Tuning getting lots better which is very encouraging. It has been very hot all week so came home and jumped in the pool to cool down. Then spent quite a lot of time with Manding in the shop. She works very hard really - gets all these amazing clothes from West Africa and sells them in the shop (in the garage). They're all beautiful. She also gets loads of fabrics and people come and order exactly what they want to be tailor made to them. I was measured for my own African style clothes! Very exciting. Then went out to a bar called Rouge where Carys was with some people which was quite good fun. We found this pizza place which is buy 1 get 1 free on Tuesdays which was a yummy late night snack!

Wed I taught Charlotte. Her scales and sightreading are very good. She's having trouble with slurs though which I'm also finding quite hard to teach. She still has 2 months til her exam though so we've really got nothing to worry about! She's doing fabulously, I'm so happy. Grabbed some lunch then set off to Jenny and Jessy with Carys. Teddy was still recovering from whatever it is she had so we were going solo again. We managed to get the younger kids clapping rhythms using crotchets and minims. They seem to be getting the hang of it! Tricky part comes when we try introducing quavers. The older kids are doing very well! Are now confident at clapping rhythms with minims, crotchets and quavers. They're picking it up so fast. We also got them doing a dance with the minims swaying slowly, the crotchets marching and the quavers shaking/dancing in the time of the quavers. It worked well I think. Will do that with the little kids too if we ever get that far! Our next problem is working out what to do next...any ideas?! What's the next step after note values? Actual notes/reading music? Bit tricky without any instruments... Learning about the different instuments? We have no idea! Gotta do some thinking. Jumped in the pool again as it's been just so hot everyday this week. Phew! Then there was Kampala Cantori in the evening. The Faure is coming along nicely and should be good for the concert. We're going to do another piece to contrast which we just need to decide on. So it's all getting there. Manding also went to Dubai on Wed to stick up on stuff for her shop. Lots of people have been here the past couple of weeks asking her to buy specific materials and jewellery etc so it's a business trip with lots for her to do. And Siya has taken on the mummy role excellently!

Thurs I taught Disan and Michael. Disan's tuning is still getting there. It's really hard to teach someone pitch! Michael's Hungarian Stomp is going well, though he admitted to have only practiced that and nothing else since our last lesson. Better than lying I suppose. I was hoping he would play it in the informal concert that evening (we had a rehearsal with the piano during the lesson) only for him to tell me after that he could go to the concert that evening. Genius. And I'm not here next week (am on safari!) so maybe the week after, but maybe we'll have moved onto a different piece by then because I don't want to get bogged down by it. We need to move on really. Then it was beauty school in the afternoon. We were doing pedicures this time. It's really good, I'm enjoying it. Looking forward to learning the massage aspects too. There was a plan to go out in the evening with people from the school, but then Julie invited me round to her house for dinner (spaghetti bolognese yum!). We were planning on joining the others after dinner but ended up just chatting for ages. They'll be lots of going out before Carys and I leave though I'm sure!

Today (Fri) I briefly taught Soloman (he turned up late because he forgot the time of the lesson!) but he's getting good for sure. Then it was Charlotte who's still having trouble with these slurs but she's working hard and will master them soon I'm sure. It was the AC Meeting after. Nothing too exciting, as ever. Julie and I then played some violin and cello duets and have decided (I think!) what we're playing in the visiting teachers concert. I think Julie misses playing with others now she's been here so long so it was good just playing lots and having a bit of fun. So I've got lots to be practising - that duet, duets with Sam, solo piece and rehearsing the cello ensemble. Sam's organising jazz stuff too so it's all coming together. Another swim necessary after all that hard work playing! It must be well in the 30's, and humid too - you just spend the entire time sticky! So the pool is a blessing! Home in a month - it's going so fast! I'll be seeing you all soon!