Categories: music
Date: 31 March 2011 20:54:46
It began with almost oversleeping!
This was not good - fifteen minutes to wake up isn't enough!! So, apologies to the two people who tried to engage me in chirpy conversation on the platform at Main Station this morning, I genuinely was not awake enough to be capable of polite conversation.
I get a later start, and an earlier finish on a Thursday. This does not mean a slightly later journey though. It's one of my days for going to Smaller Site for work, which is a stop after Larger Site stop... and trains only stop once an hour at Smaller Town, but half hourly in Larger Town. So, I meandered to a coffee shop, for a very large mug of coffee to assist the waking up process, and to while away the 40 minutes or so before I need to be on site. Those with whom I work will give no leeway for me being in oversleeping, not awake, grumpy mode. (Shame I have to be considerate to them in same mode...)
Once I was fully caffeinated, I made my way to work. On Thursdays I am prepared for anything, and normally need to be very alert for the five hours or so I'm with this group. They are delightful, but volatile.
To my delight, and surprise, the most unstable of the lot has found a project that is fully engaging his attention, and the morning past by without incident, as he was totally engrossed in producing the work not only in the format required, but going way beyond the minimum. Oh joy, oh happiness!!! Official, written recognition of this took place. He was utterly gobsmacked, we were delighted to be able to do so.
The afternoon produced more surprises. We found ourselves in a room with a piano!! We only needed a room with computers, the piano was unexpected. Two of them, including young Mr Unstable, made for the piano like bees to a honey pot. They did pick out recognisable tunes, so we left them to it, as the rest settled. Then, I kicked them off to work, and I started to play....
It was somewhat of a revelation all round. I haven't played a proper piano for months, but l can always manage one or two things regardless of how in practice I am or not. There were serious dropped jaws all across the room, as Fur Elise emerged.
As a method of getting work completed this afternoon, it worked like a charm! Every half an hour or so, if work had been done, then some more snippets of music from the Japes' repertoire were played (A bit of showing off with Beethoven's Pathetique sonata, Debussy's First Arabesque and Golliwog's Cakewalk). At the end of the session, three of them had not only completed their work, but had remained receptive enough to learn to play, by ear, and me telling them what to play, the first few bars of Fur Elise for themselves. Including my young man of the morning who astounded me by continuing in engaged, engrossed, charming mode.Yay!!
I've been send home to learn two songs of their choice, and definitely not mine, but as neither is hard, it's fine, We'll use them in the lesson next week!! (The joys of downloadable sheet music... I don't mind paying a minuscule amount for music for a one-off occasion!)
Shame I had to come home to deal with the utilities company, with whom I am not best pleased. I am calm now, but was not. I will from henceforth, take monthly readings, as I'm not going through that ridiculous conversation again.
I seem to be more exhausted now than if I'd done a full day at work!! There is some serious thinking to be done as a result...