1/3/09

Hi, Sorry for not having updated this all week - the internet has been a bit dodgy plus I've been pretty busy all week! Here's what I've been doing.....! (sorry it's a long one!)

Monday was a chilled out day. The kids were home all week because it’s half term. Did practice and general sorting out. Came to the house at lunch to find it was a floury of activity. Lamin had 2 guests for lunch, one of which was a member of parliament from Gambia. So there was a lot of food, and lots of mouths to feed - the whole family, plus me, plus the 2 guests, Manding had a friend here, as did Mohammed, so how many is that? 12 I think! But the food was yummy and I ate lots! Went with Fatu to her school to pick up her Maths books which she needs as she still had tutors during the half term. So I had a little tour of the school - it’s huge! It’s nursery, primary and secondary all combined with lots of sports facilities and space. Was nice to see where she’s going every day though. Siya was going to her classes so I got a lift and they dropped me at orchestra on the way. The traffic here at rush hour is so crazy - actually that kind of switch your engine off traffic with police everywhere, especially roundabouts. Nightmare! Orchestra was good, very useful having Bob here because now we know what tempos everything will be going. He’s doing the last movement a lot faster than we’ve ever played it! And we have quite a few semiquaver passages (not as many as the violins though!) which definitely need some practising! There is a saga with the cello Beata has donated because apparently she said that Michael and Soloman (and a couple of other cellists who live nearby) could take it home to practice. Which is fine. But the were unaware that she has donated the cello so I told them they need to bring it back to be registered as a KMS cello and then they can take it home again (because obviously I’m all for my students practising at home!) but they don’t seem to believe that they will be allowed to take it home again so don’t want to bring it back as a result. But it’s nearly sorted now, and they understand that it needs to come back, and that they will get it back. But that was a bit annoying/stressful. It’ll work out though!

Tuesday was lessons with Disan and Michael who are both doing well. Disan seems fine at adjusting to the tenor clef, I’ve also told him to come to orchestra. And Michael’s Hungarian Stomp is coming along well. We also had a look at the Mass which was very necessary! Just working on the hard fast bits, slowly first then getting then getting them faster - it’ll come! Went with Julie to see the workshop where John the repair man has been working with the 2 students he is training to do simple, but essential things like rehairs and fitting bridges. It’s in the garage of a lovely lady called Harriet who sings in the choir. It was really great to see and the students seem to be learning fast. He’s fixing some cello’s too which is great! Harriet provided us with a lovely English lunch as her mother in law has just arrived from the UK bringing cheese (which I was really beginning to miss!) chutney and after eights! Wow. So that was delicious. John and Julie and a few others (including me) are playing at a Ceilidh on Friday. He plays accordion and we had a little busk through some music which was fun. Went back to school expecting to teach Soloman but he called and we rearranged for Wed. Sam was playing with a band called the Alchemists at a club called Rouge. He put us on the guest list so we didn’t have to pay to get in which was cool. It was basically lots of bands and people playing and singing, kind of just a talent show type thing. I don’t think it was particularly Sam’s kind of music, but apparently they’re paying him which makes it all better! He’s doing a bit of keyboard, guitar and harmonica. It was all quite good fun really, but a very mzungu place - almost felt like we were in London again! Still a good night as had by all. Sam and Ed left for Mombassa early Wed morning. Not sure when they’re due back actually! Carys and I went and bought pizza at a fast food place which was yummy, and then we were sitting and eating it in an actual Nando’s, Ugandan style! But it was exactly the same with the logo and everything. Very weird but pretty cool at the same time!

Wednesday was a good day. Started off with teaching Soloman and a little further discussion about Beata’s cello which still hasn’t made it to the school yet for one reason or another. So that’s still being sorted. Despite this he’s doing well and getting to grips with vibrato and tenor clef. Also worked on the fast last bit of the Mass. He’s not so good at coming back in when he gets lost - essential orchestral technique! - so we were working on that together as well as getting it all faster. Charlotte is also coming along fantastically. We’ve mastered the notes of 2 of the 3 exam pieces so now it’s just making them sound good! Duets with Philip went well, his sight reading definitely seems to be improving, though he’s very quiet and unresponsive so it’s hard to know whether he understands/enjoys it at all! But he’s always the one asking when we’re next playing so he must enjoy it a bit! There was a bit of a disaster in Kampala on Wed - one of the major markets that sells clothes etc has completely burnt to the floor and as a result some people’s entire lives will have been destroyed. The news says it’s arson. It’s quite near the old taxi park and was complete mayhem - Carys had to abandon her matatu and jump on a boda boda as the traffic was at a standstill. There are lots of angry people, and lots of police, so there have predictably been clashes between them. Anyways it was decided we wouldn’t be going to Jenny and Jessy today as we simply wouldn’t have made it there - we would have to have passed the scene of the crime! And it would have been pretty dangerous by the sound of things. So the busy day that I was expecting was suddenly not so busy which was lovely and I went home and jumped in the pool! Still very hot at the moment, though it has been raining a bit in the early mornings so it’s less dusty and humid. Went back to school for choir, arriving a bit early so I could check my emails as the internet has been down for most the week. There is a lady visiting called Ulli who was here with Fiona Carr at the beginning of the whole thing. She teaches singing and has been helping lots with the choirs etc. So we sung the pieces we’ve been doing for a couple of weeks, including the Faure I sung at my concert, and brought the music for. They all really seem to like as they keep asking to sing it again! Would be great if we get a chance to perform it. Internet not working so settled down in front of a film in the evening which was nice and relaxing.

Thursday I taught Disan first. Still working on technique stuff, plus had a look at the Coronation Mass seeing as I’ve managed to persuade him to join orch! His sight reading and counting skills definitely need some working at - hopefully being in an orchestra will help! We’ll keep looking at the part in his lessons so he can catch up with everyone else, concert’s not too far away now! Next was Michael. He explained to me that Soloman has spoken to Mr Yiga about Beata’s cello. So it seems to be getting sorted. The cello still hasn’t made it to school yet though! Soon I hope. We’ll need it for the concert for sure! But he’s doing well and his sound is great! Looked at a new piece which he already seems to have mastered the notes for so again it’s just making them sound good now.. Lots of scales to work at with him too. Had a little break when I went and spoke to Mr Yiga about this cello business, it seems he understands the situation, and we’re just waiting for an email from Beata herself confirming what is to be done with the cello. So it’s going to be fine I think! Had a unplanned lesson with Francisca as we were both free, she is also doing well. Good ear, will start on some more interesting pieces I think coz she should be able to cope! Internet café again, and then home for lunch. Headed back to school for the informal concert which was good. A guitarist who is teaching classical guitar to a few people at the school played a couple of great pieces then there was no one to play after but a pianist guy called Ivan just got up and played some Beethoven - hadn’t memorised it all, but it was an informal concert after all! After John was giving a workshop about maintaining string instruments and explained about keeping them clean and what to do if the bridge falls off and other simple but essential points, like why not to tighten the bow too much. Very useful stuff. We had a little Ceilidh reh after which was fine. Just busking through music, all I had to play was the bass notes on each half bar. Nothing too taxing! Back quite late again.

Friday I had an 8am start which Julie had forgotten to tell me about until about 9pm on Thu evening which was lovely of her! We were giving an assembly at a school with the intention of us starting to teach cello and violin there. It wasn’t too hard. Just played a little and explained about our instruments. We spoke in front of the older kids on Fri, and are going back next Fri to talk to the little ones. At least I’ll know what to expect this time. Back to school for a lesson with Charlotte. Scales and tuning definitely improving with her. Now looking at staccato’s in the Elephant. Its going great. AC meeting after. Sam, Carys and I are meant to be sorting out aural skill lessons for exams, instead of musicianship lessons, on Sat afternoons. Maybe they’ll start next Sat. Will have to discuss it when Sam’s back from Mombassa which no one seems to know when that is! Should be today or tomorrow apparently. Taught Soloman after the meeting. He still hasn’t brought the cello back and keeps finding excuses. It’s getting quite annoying now, especially as Mr Yiga now keeps asking me about it. It just has to be back for orchestra really. John very kindly said he would take Carys and I plus our Cello and Double Bass to the Ceilidh that evening. So we went back to Harriet’s house get changed into ‘posh’ gear. It was a 65th birthday party. The house where the party was was incredible! Was out in the middle of no where and was so beautiful. We played for the dancing - a bit before food was served, then more after. Was very good fun. Got chatting to this couple who live in Kololo who kindly gave Cays and I a lift back - dropping us at a bar where we managed to catch the end of the Wales vs. France rugby match (poor Wales!). Carys stayed at mine because that was a lot safer than her making her way home alone at 1 in the morning. So that was fun - watched a film in bed…!

Had to get up what felt like quite early for junior orch on Sat which I actually didn’t end up playing in because John the repair man (who left today) brought a whole load of cello’s and violin’s back that he’d repaired so I spent ages signing them back in. He brought back 4 repaired cellos, (and apparently there are more!) and now there's not enough space in the cello cupboard! I’m gonna play them all and decide which ones are best to keep at KMS and the rest can go to be stored somewhere else. We need at least 6 because there are 6 people in orchestra now! Got a lift back home from Bob then went straight out again to the monthly get together West African lunch I went to last month too. Arrived about 2.30 and didn’t get home until 7.30 - very long lunch! Ate far too much! Headed off to the Kampala Rugby Club to watch the England vs. Ireland match - what a close result! What’s so different about here, and what I love, is that everyone dances! Like we were in a rugby club and there were men dancing! You’d never get that at home would you?! So that was fun. Went home for a long, well deserved sleep. Has been a very busy week. Have done something every evening. But it has been very fun too! Today is a day of rest and catching up with everything. It has been extremely hot and humid these last few days but it has actually just started to rain which is a relief because it will be cooler and less dusty and humid now.

Hope all's well at home! I can't believe it's already March - time is flying so fast! X