I turned up on
Monday morning. I did not know what to expect. There were several instruments
around the room: drums, harps, trumpets, violins, xylophones, maracas and
guitars. We started by clapping to our own individual beat, making sure it did
not match anyone else’s. It was then discussed if the sound was synchronised or
not. The next exercise, the conductor
started a beat and we all joined in as one. The difference was very clear to
hear. To work as a team and to listen to each other sounded as if we had created
a tune, achieving synchronisation.
We then looked at 14
different pictures, picked our four favourites, with which we would then create
the music and lyrics for a 10 minute piece of music. We had one week to create
and learn the piece ready for two performances at the end. The pictures we
chose came from a Mexican revolution
exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts (http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/). The four most
popular were the four pictures we would work from.
The first picture was of 4 men sat at the very
front of the train holding up their guns. We discussed why they were sat on the
train: their moods, and their characters, to get an idea of the type of music
we could create. Then we chose an instrument. We decided that the 739 was
important to these men; so we decided to include that in the piece we were creating.
So we started the time signature (the beat) with people getting used to playing
in a 7, 3, and then 9, while choosing what chords to use.
After the first day, we started to get the
basic feel of the music and the shape of the piece as well as getting used to
each other. The orchestra were brilliant at encouraging us to try different
instruments, while we found our place for this piece. The conductor then needed
singers to come up with words. I decided to join the singers. We discussed
words, feelings, thoughts as a way to truly incarnate the 4 men in the picture.
Then we would meet up with the orchestra to put our words with their music. The
days went fast and didn’t seem as long as they were.
I missed one day because of other
commitments. On the last day, we had to
rehearse everything. We had being rehearsing in small sections all week however
this was to be the first time we put the whole piece together. Even then,
alterations were still being made; for all the pieces had to flow effortlessly into one big piece
of music. The first performance would
be at the end of the day.
“Some part of me can't wait to see what life's going to
come up with next! Anticipation without the usual anxiety. And underneath it
all is the feeling that we both belong here, just as we are, right now.”
Alexander Shulgin
The performance seemed to take ages to come
around. The buzz, anticipation and nerves flicked around the room like lightening.
The performance itself was over just as it began, and there was applause. I
know the piece was 9 minutes long but that isn’t how it felt.
Then I don’t know how long it was before we met for
our next rehearsal in preparation for our second performance. But when we did
the conductor had made a few changes that we went over. Every time we have
played the music it has always changed a little. It was like being home from
home. Then we met for the final performance, we had a sound check. Then it came
to performing. Again, it was over all too quickly. The young boy in the picture above, so well
expresses the anticipation. It was a very exciting time, inspirational,
invigorating, motivating and exhausting all the same time.
My thanks to everyone involved and to everyone
who encouraged me to go for this amazing experience.
I really would like
as many people, adults and children, who may not have the chance or the belief
in themselves that they can be creative and that creativity is a process open
to all regardless of background . 
“it is an adventure which can permeate ones whole being.
Self confidence can grow and a longing for excitement can be satisfied without
external means within oneself for creating is the most intense excitement one
can come to know." 
