Oct 20 2007

Year 2 at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music

Published under Getting started with a new life, How's school?

At Rimon, people register for classes in the order in which they registered for school. Thus, the first person to sign up for school gets to be the fist person to register for classes. I was that person this year (unlike last year when I registered relatively late and a lot of classes were already filled) and so I had my choice of teachers, subjects and times. In addition to required subjects, I chose fun things that I’ve been dreaming of taking for ages. They include guitar, piano (second year) and drumming! Not only will it be fun, but each will help with all the other classes - ear training, rhythm development, counterpoint, composition basics - the list goes on (I am so looking forward to it all!) At least one of my teachers is a Julliard graduate so I’ll really have to be on my toes (my ballet background should help).

My first year as a songwriting major - the audition

This year also marks my official first as a songwriting major (along with the other two: composition and general performance). I had to audition before being allowed to take even the prerequisite courses. The audition consisted of performing an original song…IN HEBREW! Aach, I barely read Hebrew, but I allowed myself a few moments of doubt as to whether I would be able to do it. Others do it, so I can and I did. Besides, I figured that, since it’s an audition for a class, I’m not really expected to be able to write yet, I just need to show that I have the basic ability needed to enable me to learn. Remember, the audition is only to be allowed to take the prerequisit course - next year, I’ll have to apply again to be allowed to continue with the major. Below is the translation of the lyrics to the song I wrote (in Hebrew, it has cadence and some of it actually rhymes :-) ). You may think it’s about a love that left. In a way, it is - it’s about the soldiers who were snatched just prior to the most recent (unfortunately I can’t say the last) Lebanon war, written from the perspective of a wife or mother.

You’re not here

Again, dishes pile up in the sink
Again, the kids are playing the violin
Again, the dinner I prepared
Alone
You’re not here.

In the street, teenagers laugh loudly
They’re preparing for army life
And they all take that one-year trip
You’re not here.

Again, in vain, a haircut in autumn
A letter on the pillow
A left-wing demonstration 
Again, in vain, we sit on the balcony
Waiting for word
But you’re not here

Again the night turns to light and hope
And the day to a week and then to a year
Birthdays pass and a son becomes a grandfather
You’re not here.
Still, you’re not here.

Well, it may not sound so good in English, but I got in to the course! Wish me luck!

2 Responses to “Year 2 at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music”

  1. # Davidon 27 Oct 2007 at 5:59 am

    I was very moved by the lyrics to your song. I could deeply feel your sense of loss and it also helped me to feel my own sense of loss, particularly of my father who died a couple years ago, but also of love relations I have had.

    Thank you for opening yourself up and for reaching me.

  2. # Joannaon 27 Oct 2007 at 9:15 am

    Thank you David. I’m so sorry to hear about your father.

    I’ll be posting more lyrics as time goes by. I hope you’ll check back often.

    Joanna

Trackback URI | Comments RSS

Leave a Reply