Next Phase

I have 5 more days in Japan. I will really miss this place. I have a life here now... Friends, my housemates - all wonderful are like family, and have been as much part of my learning curve in Japan. But, I have so many exciting adventures to go on... I go back to Australia for 3 weeks, training hard for the competition! I'll leave for Linz on the 12th of July, and attend the International Marimba Festival, and then I'll go to Croatia for 3 days for lessons with Professor Lesnik. Then I'll go to Strassborg for lessons with Emmanuel Sejourne. I'm excited about this... I'm learning his new Marimba Concerto at the moment for the competition, and I've played his Vibraphone Concerto, so I have PLENTY of notes of his to play! Thank you Professor Van Sice for organising this! Then I'll go to London for 3 days before flying direct to Baltimore to settle in, find a house, and start school in September. Life sure gets busy sometimes.

Last Lesson

What a wonderful, sad and peaceful day. I had my last lesson. I played Emmanuel Sejourne's new Marimba Concerto for Abe Sensei. We had such a wonderful time enjoying this great piece of music. My accompanist Fukiko is a genuine soul, and we both love this piece. It was such a pure joy, I couldn't feel nervous, but just happy to play.

Abe Sensei and I have a special relationship. I feel that I understand not only what she says, but what she doesn't say. We share a great energy. Today, her special gift to honour our last lesson, was the first performance of her latest piece. It is a six mallet solo, and was inspired by a guitarist and the folk songs of Israel. Her improvisations and musical genius touch me on a deep level.
Her musical philosophy is highly Shintoist in some regards... Often inspired by the grandeur of nature. Just like the beautiful Japanese prints I saw in the Ueno National Gallery, and the Yokohama Gallery where humans are always depicted insignificantly small compared to the awesome stature of mountains, waterfalls, wind... the elements. I felt like there was loneliness in her music, but the influence of nature dwarfs these feelings to insignificance, so there is only peace.

I explained to Abe Sensei I felt pure happiness and peace from my time at Toho Gakuen, and was so grateful for the kindness and generosity of the Toho Students. We wept together as we feel we know each other. Here is our photo.

Marimba Lesson 6

Played Time for Marimba again today. From memory, which is a step up. I also played the set-piece for Linz which has been a real struggle to learn, but I got through it. I just have to remember MUSIC. I really have to force my imagination in this piece, but it's a good challenge nevertheless. Abe Sensei was of course wonderful with her advice. I feel I know her a lot more now, and can understand her advice better. She says a lot without saying very much. We improvised together again. It was great. It was an unplanned free/modal improvisation which lasted about 6 minutes. Despite the fact we had no plan, the music had structure. I could hear where she was going, what she wanted to play, and I found it very easy to respond to her. I have another lesson tomorrow - the last one, so we promised to improvise again. I am so sad to leave.

1st Bad News

Well, it had to happen sometime. I didn't get the Fellowship.... I've already cried about it, so I'm not going to do that again in writing. The road I tread is sometimes burdened with steep mountains. At least I still have legs.
The sun shone again when I saw Gary Burton play with Pat Metheney, Steve Swallow, and Antonio Sanchez. Thank you Gary Burton for your artistry, Pat Metheney for your lyriscism and your electric hair, Steve Swallow for that particularly dirty bass solo in Fallen Grace, and Antonio Sanchez for your time, and your energy.
These guys were all incredible. (Oh, and thank you Mr Burton for letting me shake your hand.)