Whirlwind child, Song of my land,
You are the friend, Of my good people…
read the diary from some days in Colombia and listen to a Primary School song performance.
Diary extracts, Colombia, Summer 2005:
We have now been in Ibagué for 2 days. We have been given an amazing reception with many musical groups – orchestras, bands, recorder groups, trombone groups all playing for us. There have been concerts in the Conservatoire both evenings. The music by small children playing tiny violins brought some tears to my eyes! Also, the trombones played by teenagers were very sound, musical and professional. Last night we were given a meal with representatives from the British Council and the Colombian Ministry of Culture.
The bed now has a very hard mattress and is no longer king size (upside down face). The shower gives out sparks when you turn it on. We asked our host how to operate it and she demonstrated with the handle of a mop.
There are many keys to get in which is a problem. We have heard some sounds like gunfire at night times.
The fruit juices are brilliant!
Really enjoying Colombia!!
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Yesterday was my first day of teaching. There were 2 classes of about 20 children. They are all ‘conservatorio’ musicians and were very quick with the songs I taught them. In the afternoon we went with Saul’s trombone players and gave a concert to small children in the playground of a nearby school. After we played lots of children came crowding around to speak English and get their little books signed. Next time I must take some small sweets for them. Returning to the ‘conservatorio’ I was invited to a choir rehearsal. I taught the group a ’round’ from South Africa and another from Israel .
Everyone here is so friendly – lots of greetings each time they see you. There is music happening all the time in this special music school. The students have a lot of free time and practice instruments all around the large open area. How I wish I could have had this type of education.
Today my only group will be another choir (younger children, I think). After this email I need to sort out some songs to teach them.
Before choir we will be going to swim.
Didn’t work out why there was the sound of gunfire. Walking around doesn’t seem a problem, but obviously it is necessary to keep alert.
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Moving rooms – the reason for this was that we had explained about the shower sparking electricity and having to turn it on / off with a broom handle.
By the time they said we should move we had become good friends with the owner, so it was all a bit tricky.
Every day there are new challenges & things to see.
Gustavo (guitarist who was in Dorset about February time) with friends Andreas and Daniel took us out for a meal on Wednesday night.
We have had to think fast and adapt to situations. At lunchtime yesterday, Luciano took me to a small cafe place where I had Trucha (trout). I then went to his flat to share ideas about music using his computer. Arriving back at the Conservatorio we were immediately whisked across the road to a school. The children were really excited to see us as we jostled with them going up a rickety staircase. They entered the room and soon settled down into performance mode. Under the direction of a brilliant teacher named Tatiana, half the room played as an orchestra, while the other half sang Colombian songs (about 60 children altogether). They had movement to go with the songs.
Then it was our turn to teach the 60 children some songs. We did “Heads, shoulders, knees and toes” and other action songs, followed by “Zum, Zum Gali Gali” ( Israel ) and “The Cuckoo” from Austria . At the end we had to both sign 60 sets of autographs to an excited line of children!
We then all went back across the busy street to the Conservatorio for other classes. I had to go with Tatiana for a children’s choir group. Tatiana got the group to perform excellent arrangements of Colombian songs, with actions. I taught them “My Bonnie” and “Tina Singu”, a round / song from Lesotho.
Then it was over to the main hall where Amparo was directing a chamber orchestra. Amparo then took us to her house where her family celebrated birthdays for her twin boys Victor and Cesar aged 16. Her husband Alberro had prepared the meal. Other friends of the twins were there as well.
This morning we taught 2 lessons, with more excellent singers. Now we are free until 5.00pm when we will watch a band performance in a different building. Later on Jorge has invited us for a meal.
Listen to Niño Torbellino
