Music & Words

 Date for Entry: (Monday 20th January, 2014)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Tuesday 15th June, 2021)

Dear Diary,

    Today I went up to the Staffroom to look for Miss Saunders, to ask her for some help with a past paper question. I even went to ask her if it was possible to still do music. She said that she will have to ask the principal first. It was only then that Miss Saunders had asked me to wait for her because she had something to give me. I was excited because I just knew that it was going to be something about music.

    She came outside of the Staffroom and gave me a piece of paper about a Secondary School Music Lyrics Competition. The first prize is what we both wanted and that was a new and improved computerized music lab for the school. God if we could only win that, it would be a dream come true.

    Just then the bell had wrung and we had to cut the chat and get to class. So I kept the paper close to my heart and walked onwards with a bright smile on my face. J Tonight is another night down at Starlift. I hope I learn the melody in time so I can get good practice.

(Update)

    For the writing of the lyrics for this music competition, writing lyrics was not something that I was used to. I was unfortunately forced by my own self to stop.

 

Link(s):

1. Songwriting Competition Instructions Sheets.

Daryl Zion M. Ali

Steelpan to Visitors

 Date for Entry: (Unknown/Forgotten; 2014-Form 4)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Tuesday 15th June, 2021)

 Dear Diary,

    Today in Form 4 West during the last three periods of school, the Principle had come to ask all of the students in the Steel Ensemble to gather in the Hall. He didn’t say why but it was of course for something musical and fun, I supposed. Hehehehehe J. I walked over with the other six boys in the pan Ensemble over to the hall.

    On arriving at the Hall, there were over two dozen tourists from another country who came to visit the school. The principal came onto the stage and gave a short speech and then gave us the rest of the show. We were the only gathering of people while school continued as normal. Some of the songs we played were:  

• Besame Mucho
• 21 Guns
• Hillview’s School Anthem
• Bluesette
• Girl from Ipanema 

    

    They enjoyed it. There was one regret for me. Because when one of the white men in the group came over, he asked if any of us had known how to play “The Little Mermaid” Theme Song. All the time I knew that song but I couldn’t put it to the pan from my mind. Shortly after they exit the Auditorium at the front and the principal smiled and gave each of us a handshake. We were then allowed to go back to our separate classes.

 

Daryl Zion M. Ali

Hillview College's Anniversary (2014)

 Date for Entry: (Friday 17th January, 2014)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Tuesday 15th June, 2021)

 Dear Diary,

    Today was Hillview College’s Founder’s Day and I had to play with the School Ensemble. The songs that we played were:

• Besame Mucho – (Processional)
• National Anthem of Trinidad & Tobago
• Fairest Lord Jesus  
• Hillview’s College Anthem

It was quite exciting. Reverend Adrian’s brother Damien did the sermon and after school, they gave us a small bottle of Busta Soft drink and a large muffin like the ones from price mart. I took an apple Busta because that was the best kind I fine.

A while had passed by and then I returned to the Hall after eating the big muffin in class. I had assisted in taking back some of the soft padded chairs up to the Staffroom. Inside the staff, the room was small and cosy but not so packed up as I was expecting it to be.

While walking out, I had a short chat with Ria there and she told me that she didn’t know my mom was in the hospital again. On exiting the room, Mr. Ramsingh found it surprising to hear that I could talk, lolz. I walked back to class with this hard-beating headache. This was the cause of me not getting to go down to Starlift with Mr. Lewis that same evening.

Link(s): 

1. Hillview Anniversary Service Programme.

 

Daryl Zion M. Ali

Trip to Starlift - (Second Panorama Season)

 Date for Entry: (Wednesday 15th January 2014)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Tuesday 15th June, 2021)

 Dear Diary,

    Tonight, I went down to Starlift with a nice Lady who teaches at Mr. Lewis’ school, Ms. Evan Francis. This was the first time she was going to be in a pan group or even play for Panorama. We chat for a long while until we arrived at the panyard. It was looking the same but at the top of the house, it had the White Oak Logo. The yellow colours around had a good look. 

    As I got out of the car, I went to the pan room and tried to find a Low C Tenor Pan. I got back the same one I used from Form 2 and it still had the name “Albino” in it. I saw a lot of familiar faces from my previous visit. I didn’t see Uncle Desmond as the last time. There was a new Arranger for this year.

(Update)

    It was very interesting for me to see a grassroots arranger beginning to distribute music to the section leaders in the band. I had a funny experience with Mr. Lewis when I asked him if they were going to be sending us a score of the piece anytime soon. He then told me that there wouldn't be music sheets because the arranger will come up with the music on the spot and then tell the other sections what to play.

Link(s):

1. Starlift - Panorama Semi-Finals (2014). "Happiest Man Alive" Arr. Keith Salcedo.

Daryl Zion M. Ali

Music Class Beginning

 Date for Entry: (Monday 13th January, 2013)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Tuesday 15th June, 2021)

Dear Diary,

    Today I went to Music Lessons by Mr. Lewis. I practised the new scales and arpeggios from the new “Graded Performances for Solo Steelpan Examinations” in the Grade 3 Booklet. 

    At the end of the class, sir gave me the results for the pan examination I did in January. I got ninety-three (93) so this was my Distinction. I didn’t get the certificate but only the score sheet. I also got back my ABRSM Grade 4 results and it was a Merit of eighty-two (82) points. Just a little more to make the Distinction. 

    Later at home, I got dressed at around seven to go down to Starlift Steel Orchestra with Mr. Lewis. Unfortunately, he said that he had fallen asleep so we couldn’t get to go after all.   

Link(s):

1. DCFA Grade 2 Steelpan Examination Results & Certificate. 
2. ABRSM Grade 4 Theory Examination Results & Certificate. 

Daryl Zion M. Ali