D.M.T. Chorus rehearsal & Recital group rehearsal

This morning's chorus rehearsal at the Douglas Morrison Theatre was uneventful. I arrived five minutes late and was pleased that no one called me out for that. It was a relaxed atmosphere in rehearsal this morning, but still there was a lot of music to get through. 

I only gave the packet of tunes a cursory glance prior to today. Only a few of the selections will be especially difficult. My biggest challenge for these concerts will be No. 21 from Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" - "Glory to God in the Highest". I absolutely massacred it this morning. It may get better by performance time, but for now it's a mess. In most measures there's a chord change on every 8th note. Both of my hands are bouncing all over the place, sometimes hitting the right notes. I did practice this piece at least half a dozen times prior to this morning, but still no joy. It is difficult music.

During the break one of the small groups had previously reserved my time to run through their revisions to an arrangement of the Christmas standard "All Through the Night". It was totally straightforward; not much to go over, really, but I'm sure they feel more secure now.

Straight after the D.M.T. rehearsal I jumped in the car and drove to RHL rehearsal studios in Fremont. Every recital I try to program a number of group songs where students collaborate with one another on some well-known pop or rock standard. I am never compensated for my role in organizing all this and being present at the rehearsals as an instructor. It's funny how none of the parents or students every questions it. It is a unique individual who would approach me saying, "Hey, you're clearly working here. What fee should I pay you for this rehearsal time?" Never happened yet. I need to sort this out in the future and at least charge a minimal fee so that I don't descend into bitterness.

A mere 10 minutes into rehearsing the Metallica song "For Whom the Bell Tolls", I strapped on an electric bass and plugged in. Josh, one of the guitar students, gave me a 2-minute primer on the iconic bass riff that features in the introduction of the song and then we were off. I'll be performing the bass part for the song.

For next weekend's recital I was able to corral students of Jason, a guitar teacher and regular collaborator of mine, as well as Brandon, a drum instructor who I've been working for a while now to bring into the fold. I had a bass teacher on tap to bring some of his students on board as well until he bizarrely ceased returning my phone calls. So that part of the dream for this recital died. I'll be playing electric bass on one song, synth bass on two other songs, and then Jason will play bass on the fourth group song.

When I woke up this morning I was not looking forward to the amount of work facing me. But the afternoon rehearsal turned out to be a lot of fun. It's been years since I've been a member of a band. It's fun to turn students into collaborators. They're helping me relive something I've missed, even if only for a few fleeting hours on a Saturday afternoon.

Jesse