In order to allow Jack, Eliza and James Moore to go ahead of us to Murraydeen primary school to teach some brass there, I came to Ballanta from the TV interview. I arrived amongst a cacophony of musicians coming from every available space: nooks and crannies spring to mind. Nate downstairs teaching cello at beginners level, on the first floor, Quentin teaches piano in the library, Maddie, fresh from her interview dived straight in teaching voice techniques to 4 pupils, then upstairs, Lula teaches the flute to a beginner and Pip soldiers on despite the heat and no break teaching clarinet! It is inspiring to see our young minds inspiring others- all eager to be taught by them, waiting sometimes for 2 hours to get a chance!
I shall now let the heroes of the day, Molly and Maddie give their accounts! Over and out from me!
JDA
After a hot night of freetown-wide power cuts, we woke up to a tropical downpour. Everyone got ready to leave at the normal time while Maddie and Molly, your resident TV stars, had a bit of extra beauty sleep. The two of us went to the AYV (African Young Voices) TV studio for the interview on 'Wake up Sierra Leone'. We spent a few nervous minutes sitting in the waiting room with Auntie Kitty and Ms D, briefing us about how to promote the programme. We were led into the studio and sat getting miked-up while overhearing the intense political row on air before us. After they stormed off, we took our seats. Surprisingly, it went well, with Maddie performing a 'Mary Poppins' style rendition of Danny Boy, and Molly making all her answers up on the spot. In all seriousness, it was a great experience and the presenters were friendly and great at making it feel like a conversation. With our local mango juice, we braced ourselves for the cheering crowds to come. Apparently they got lost on their way, so we got a pat on the back from our cheering crowd of two. Only then did we get informed it was one of the most popular shows in Sierra Leone - thanks Ms D.
Auntie Kitty drove Molly first to JTR to run to her second lesson with Prep 6, meeting a very sweaty (but very happy) Indi there. Mr Bowen informed me that she had done amazingly on her own, and the kids seemed very happy with their activities. In the headteachers office, we foolishly decided it would be a good idea to brave the playground. We skipped down with a squeaky ball in hand, and were immediately swamped. With 10 kids per leg, and too many kids being trampled to get to the ball, we tried to get to know the students. Our crowd control skills would now be good enough to calm a riot, and we can report that no one got injured. After our last lesson, we got in the car to go to Ballanta, telling all our stories on the journey there. It was a great day and everyone said they really enjoyed it and felt they had relaxed into the teaching and had therefore delivered better lessons.
Meanwhile in the Ballanta Academy of Music, Maddie was hard at work teaching singing alongside various other musicians. With 6 singers waiting, it was difficult to figure out how to manage everyone. We try to give one on one lessons but sometimes the keenness of the students is overpowering so it turns into a sort of masterclass. Being right on the street, it does become a battle of 'who can play the loudest'. With James on drums, Eliza on trumpets and Quentin on piano, teaching singing isn't ideal but the passion the students show makes up for it. Nevertheless, from 930 until 1230, the time races by as we try to squeeze in as many lessons as possible. It's fair to say that whilst all of us are pretty high standards in our respective instruments, we have all learnt so much from all of our students, whether beginners or amateurs. So, after yet another successful day at the office, we all hopped on the 'Mussa Mobile' to the location of our next outreach concert.
The musicians played another short recital for the chattering children, which was received with cheering. After we all got up (even the tone-deaf non-musicians) and sang our token song Africa, the children performed a traditional dance with hula skirts and rhythmic drums. It showed us the routine that rice farmers when preparing rice. But basically, it was boys in hula skirts showing their 'derrières'. Still, very entertaining and very much appreciated by all of us. It didn't stop them from swarming us afterwards with little hands begging for our autographs. Feeling like the celebrities we all are, we obviously only charged them 1000 Leones each. We wished them luck and went on our merry way back to LACS for dinner, SHOWER then bed. Nighty night, don't let the bed bugs bite!
Eloquently scribed by Maddie & the Ranga (Molly)
