Preparing for the new academic year

All the pictures this week are from the trip to Cajamarca. 

The last three weeks have passed in something of a blur, my summer courses came to an end with a bit of a whimper as I was suffering from a heavy cold and had to cancel my last two days teaching. The date for my Chamber Choir concert had to be changed twice and then I decided to move it from Holy week and to do the concert in April, my Chamber Music students end of concert happened this last Thursday, and eyebrows were raised at the idea of doing a concert at lunchtime.But it was an informal concert and the students benefited from the opportunity to perform, at whatever level they were at, so we had a very quirky programme of music, including a duet for the unlikely combination of violin and euphonium, Elizabethan love songs on the saxophone, and a solo for double bass!

Here is a video of preparations underway; 

 

Cajamarca Cathedral

I have at last got the Harpsichord into a (just) playable condition but there is still a huge amount of work to do, and I think it will never be back to it's original condition, there is simply to much corrosion, oxidation (rust) and warped wood, thanks to it sitting in the damp for five years! But it was hugely enjoyable to play it during a chamber music rehearsal even it the tuning was still a long way short of perfect, and I have managed to break only 1 string in retuning so along with the string already broken I have two to replace.

Poster for the concert - with Luis the concert promoter

On March 2 I was in Cajamarca, a city some 7 hours from Trujillo by bus and up in the hills, it was good to escape the heat but still a shock to experience very British weather, weak sun, rain and wind. I was cold! I had travelled to Cajamarca along with Prof. Guillermo (Violin) and 5 students to give a chamber concert as the inaugural concert in a proposed series re-introducing the people of Cajamarca to classical music. It was a lovely event with over 100 people attending (and paying S.8/£2 for entry). Having been up all night Friday on the bus, I was too tired for any sightseeing but the city looks like a place well worth a future visit. I returned to Trujillo again by bus on Saturday night. The return journey being memorable for being with a very down-market bus company, the chicas in our group felt very vulnerable, as some of the other passengers looked to be very “rough diamonds”, I changed places with our cellist as her seat was next to a fat guy who was sitting with his stomach hanging out of his shirt, he smelled, and he was stuffing his face full of some horribly greasy hamburger. I made it quite clear that he had to not not stray into my space, but it was an uncomfortable journey. The bus was dirty, had no air conditioning and the toilet did not function! Mental note, next time I need to check with concert organizers as to which bus company is being used.

I gave a presentation to the Professors this week about the introduction of London College of Music exams and diplomas from this coming November. This is a real coup for me and the conservatoire as it will be the first time these examinations will be available at a high level in Latin America, let alone Peru. Prof. Carlos, the conservatoire director, is very supportive of the idea and of my plan to slowly, slowly raise standards of performance for those students with ability and motivation. Sadly neither all the students, nor all the professors have ability, motivation or the necessary enthusiasm improve!

During the meeting Carlos mentioned that new computers had been purchased for the library and the professors common room, I saw this as my cue to “bag” one of the old computers for my room. My room Aula 13 (lucky for me) is to be renamed the “Centre for the Execution and Interpretation of Music” with me as its “voluntary” director. The idea being that my efforts in the coming academic year (and beyond) is to support, encourage, promote and direct all efforts to improve music performance, through individual lessons, chamber music groups, a chamber choir and orchestra and in enabling more concerts and recitals. A very exciting prospect for me. The centre will also support all candidates and their teachers for LCM examinations and diplomas.

I have already identified some 15 students whom I think will be able to participate in musical performance at what I consider to be a level equivalent to that found in a UK music conservatoire. And this group of students will be the foundation for a fundamental shift in standards.

The computer being vital for me to make arrangements of music for various chamber groups and to write the necessary exercises and material to support this period of growth and change.

I need to restart my Spanish lessons urgently. Whilst I can understand and participate in conversations I am missing some of the subtleties which has led me to unwittingly agree to run several conducting courses for organisations not part of the conservatoire. I also appear to be a start turn in an upcoming Trombone festival and will be official accompanist to an international wind instrument festival later in the year!

So, my plan is to have two days off per week Tuesday – which will be “study Spanish day” and also (apart from some private practice) Sunday is devoted to quality time with Nick.

The next two months are looking hectic (in a good way) I have a concert on April 1, Conducting Course April 1-3, Concert April 9, holiday April 11 – 21, Conducting Course April 25 – 27, Symphony Concert May 10, Chamber Concert May 17, Opera end of May, plus a couple of recitals! But if I am to be credible I must also practice what I preach and so performing is a key part of being a role model for the students.

I has been good having the support of Kathryn (Otra Cosa volunteer) over the summer period, she has worked hard with the students every day and has been rewarded by the chance to play in the symphony orchestra, not a usual younger volunteer! I hope that through Otra Cosa a couple of other qualified teachers can come and assist in the work of improving opportunities for the students and professors. This really is an area for volunteers like me, older and with experience to share, who are willing to work hard 30 – 40 hours a week, rather than younger volunteers who want to combine a bit of volunteering with the opportunity to party nightly on the beach in Huanchaco.

Not a coffin - but the digital piano!

I feel as though I am missing something vital in this blog entry, but for the life of me cannot remember what it is …...... my next task is to write to the CEO ok KLM and persuade him to change my ticket (against all the booking conditions of my ticket) so that I can visit UK during the two week break in August, rather than returning on July 9 the date of my ticket! I am also exploring changing my visa status post August.










FINALLY,  after at least 50 years, I regressed to being 5 or 6 and  was tempted to eat some spun sugar candy, shame it made my fingers, tongue and mouth bright yellow! I just remembered this stuff is called "candy-floss"