IrishOboe

On Sunday March 12^th I played in the Live in Shirane! concert with Shirane High School’s brass band club. I had begun to regret the decision when I realized I’d be gone all Sunday and I’d rather be lazy at home. I had a good time, though. Since I was going to 10am rehearsal (they started at 9 but I negotiated to come later – the concert was at 3:30!), I was able to come a bit earlier and see the students going to Australia off. It was so interesting to see the fifteen girls in casual clothes – they look so different without their uniforms! Somehow I think their names would be easier to remember if they always wore casual clothes . . .Anyway, one boy had planned to go with them, which is so unusual. I’ve written about how the boys and girls don’t mix, and he didn’t really mix, but he wanted to go to Australia so badly so I stuck with all the meetings and everything, but he got very sick the day before so he couldn’t go! How sad!

After seeing the students off I joined the brass band where I met the director for the first time. It turns out that he sorts diamonds for a living (haha, Word automatically corrected diamonds to demons for me – oops!) and directs a few bands in his free time. I have a bit more respect for him now that I know that! I guess he volunteers his time for the kids when he can. He’s not a bad conductor, though I wish he could help the kids with their individual playing more.

We rehearsed for about an hour and a half then had more individual practice, during which time I stole to my office and got some work done. I don’t see the point in practice for four hours before a concert! Besides, I haven’t been playing much so I had to save my lip . . .

I had lunch with my ichinensei girls then we went to the concert hall. The students biked and Yuko and the other brass band club teacher took the instruments in their cars, so Yuko gave me a ride, which I appreciated because it was raining! That didn’t bother the kids, though!

We hung around the hall (Togen Bunka – where we had the orchestra concert before) for a few hours and I was able to listen to other groups, which were mostly traditional, which was interesting for me. Our part went pretty well and it felt weird to be on stage after so long. The other bands after us were much better and I have to wonder if they have guidance more than once or twice a month.

Backstage I was able to talk with the director a bit, but I still can’t understand my student’s Japanese unless they’re kind enough to speak in the polite for directly to me. I’m told that even Japanese adults have a hard time understand the language of students. Great!

I arrive at home around 5pm, so it felt like a regular full days work, but the next day was Monday! I don’t know how the other teachers work weekends so often. It’s depressing even if I did have fun!