Add Music Teacher to the Resume
Like I said in the last post, I have joined the singing/dancing church choir, and so far it has been great. But now, at the request of Fr. Method, we are singing Handel’s Halleluja Chorus in Kiswahili for Easter! As I also said in the last post, we don’t use notes or music– we only have the words and learn by ear. But, when you have a milllion “Aleluyas” you tend to forget what each Aleluya sounds like. So Cara and I took the music and were able to copy down our parts and write in the notes to help us remember. Well the sisters thought that was pretty neat and we were hired as teachers. So now I am teaching intervals and counting, which is something new for these African Sisters. Most of their songs sound rather similar to each other and nothing is particularly difficult about them exept saying about five kiswahili words in 2 beats of music. So I am the section leader for Voice 1.
Now if you know me or remember, I have very poor rhythm in music and never really learned to read music well– so you can just imagine my struggle teaching counting! But I have the most experience of any of them, so I guess well get it eventually. God help us. Because they now think we are both music teachers (Cara is!) they all have wanted the notes to, so I’ve made copies and written the part for Voice 4. I don’t know if it is really helping, but again, we’re trying here. Another reason we are going to need prayers is that the Sisters have no vocal technique. Most Africans are blessed with pretty good voices, but when you are trying to hit a high A, you need a little technique to make it sound less deafening. If and when we ever learn the music well enough, I think I might try to give a brief lesson on using your voice correctly to get those notes!
So, next to librarian, peanut butter maker, wine maker, expert paper shuffler, barber, weed picker, just add music teacher. Anyone know a job that requires these amazing talents? I’m looking!
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