Evening of Elegance

Date for Entry: (Unknown/Forgotten; Saturday)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Monday 14th June, 2021)

Dear Diary,

    Today was the Annual Tea Party and Fashion Show that Aunty Hermie had designed for at the Belmont Secondary School. It was in the School’s Gym and I had set up my Pan and Keyboard at the front to perform. In the beginning, I had to play the National Anthem and Mom had to be their Master of Ceremonies. 

The songs that I played were:

• The National Anthem of Trinidad & Tobago
• Besame Mucho
• Jesu Joys of Man’s Desiring
• Sound of Silence
• Human Nature
• Titanic

 

Link(s):

1. "Evening of Elegance" Program.

Daryl Zion M. Ali

Farewells to Grandma Grace

 Date for Entry: (Friday 4th October, 2013)

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

 Dear Diary,

    Today was the funeral for Grandma Grace. I also missed my 40% Spanish Exam. The day was cool and gradually began to increase in temperature. I had to play for Grama when she arrived in her Casket. I sat down first. I didn’t look at her because I was nervous to play in front of people. My hand began to start shaking. Either two or three pieces were played. I had packed back the pan in the case and then I went over to see her with mom. before sitting again.

    I’m not going to forget her because the imagination to which Jesus had taught me to manipulate certainly helps me to bring her back whenever I may need her. But she’s always there somewhere with the others looking around.

    During the Church Service, Aunty Hermie and Aunty Macky from Mt. Hope came. I was happy to see them since a long time had passed since I didn’t see them. Then Dad and Andrew came and sat. Mom and I were in the front seat of the second row as usual. 

    Aunty Annmarie gave the Eulogy and it was touching and inspiring at the same time. It told me that education is a very important thing and that it is hard to get an education even though it is so important to have. But the part that she said how Grama Grace’s Husband found her was touching to my heart. I wished that could happen in an experience for me. 

    At Belgrove's Aunty Sharmine brought Papa, Aja and Aje to the cremation service. Mom took the four of them to see her and the others watched. Towards the end,  Dad and Andrew left they wanted to carry me up Curepe with them but I didn’t want to go. So then mom had to step in to help me with the fight.

    Uncle Cristy and Uncle Shane had enjoyed me laying the pan in the family home living room. I could remember before I played Suhanni Raat for Uncle Cristy, he didn’t believe me and then he said again that if I can play Suhani Raat, I can play anything. Then Trudy came in and said, “Like yuh real know yuh Indian songs, boy?” 

    Then Mark’s wife had found out from mom that I was going to ask to play at their wedding. She said that she "had wanted pan at her wedding but she didn’t know I could play". Later that evening, I fell asleep from about five o'clock to eight o’clock in the backroom by Grama House. Then I woke up to go home and the twins had helped me up away from the pan. I felt really tired I could walk properly.

Link(s): 

1. Grama Grace Funeral Programme.

 

Daryl Zion M. Ali

World Breastfeeding Week (2013) - TIBS Walk

 Date for Entry: (Saturday 24th August, 2013)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Monday 14th July, 2013)

Dear Diary,

    Today was the Annual World Breastfeeding Week in Trinidad of Port-of-Spain. I was the first person on the agenda because I had to start the walk. Mrs. Hassanali was there and she took out a picture with mom and me. Aunty Jereline from BTOFF came to march around the Savannah with the other walkers. 

    Along the way, they took off and left me behind. I didn't rush the walk like in previous years. I got back later than the rest of the walkers at the Girls' Guide Headquarters.

    During breakfast, mom had to perform her monologue. I guess the show was a hit because of how mom and I were there to perform unlike in Tobago. They didn’t get that and it was our seventh year. And seven was the perfect year. 

Daryl Zion M. Ali

TIBS Walk (Tobago 2013)

 Date for Entry: (Saturday 10th August, 2013)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Sunday 13th June, 2021)

Dear Diary,

    This morning, mom was already starting to spoil my Tobago vacation. This morning I played the National Anthem in Tambarin Square in front of the Church on the end of the Hill. Then the pan went back into the pan casing, into Aunty Maraline's car and I went off to the walk with the others.

    This year was different to me because, at the end of the walk, the Mt. Hope people left me on the Esplanade Steps with six banners, a brittle doll, paper filers mixed up and Andrew forsook me with his disgusting sandwich on the floor. He didn’t even help me with the other pile of things they did to me so I sat there waiting with everything all on the ground. This was not a nice start to the day.

 

Daryl Zion M. Ali

World Breastfeeding Week (2013)

 Date for Entry: (Wednesday 7th August, 2013)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Sunday 13th June, 2013)

Dear Diary,

    Today was the third day of World Breastfeeding Week. I went to the Pregnancy Clinic in Mount Hope to play the National Anthem to start them up. Mom had to play Perriot Grenada there in the lecture for some Judges. There was some type of lecture going on there. I only helped mommy into her costume and waited for her to exit outside so we could get ready to go over to the TIBS office.

    On the way to the TIBS Office, I realized I left a piece for the pan stand in Dad car. Even if we called him, there was nothing that we could have done then. We continued on the journey still.

    We got out of the maxi in Curepe and then took a private taxi. Upon arriving, the rain burst down. The stupid taxi driver had passed the place and started to quarrel with mommy because he didn’t want to turn back or reverse. So, mom opened the door and we both ran out in the middle of the road and ran toward the Office front door dripping wet from head to toe. The man took off in speed down the road.

    Mrs. Anatol opened the door and gave us some tissue napkins to dry off as soon as we took a seat. Not many people were there except for Aunty Rona and a young lady who came for the breastfeeding counselling services that they provided there. It was on that very day that I learned Aunty Rona's name too.

    Time to play, the people expected to attend didn’t come so I played for whoever was there. The children loved it very much. For each playing time, we had to get two people to stand at the sides of the pan stand to hold it. This is what the middle piece does. 

The songs that I played on my Tenor pan were: 

• The National Anthem of Trinidad & Tobago.
• Titanic
• Human Nature
• Besame Mucho
• Sound of Silence
• Short’nin Bread
• A little of Hands like Lightning

 

Aunty Rona was there too and she made all the food. They were good but I didn’t stop and got acid in my stomach by nightfall.

Daryl Zion M. Ali

Music Book Hunt

 Date for Entry: (Friday 26th July, 2013)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Monday 14th June, 2021)

Dear Diary,

    Today I went to Blue Edition to purchase my very first Grade 5 Theory in the Practice book. When I went to look for it, I was surprised that there weren’t any. So I decided to buy the older version and cherish it since they don’t make that older version in that fabulous fashion anymore. 

    I got a Grade 6 “Graded Examinations in Solo Steelpan Performances” book along with a Grade 5 Music Theory Model Answers Booklet. I heard how lovely the song “Waltz for Pain and Pan” sounded when my Steel Ensemble Captain in School played it. 

    I really wanted to get that book to learn the piece just for the sake of having a copy of the score and the whole book. This is a book too that will become rare as time passes along. You may not see copies of it again. 

Link(s):

• Graded Steelpan Exams (2009-2011) Grade 6 - Tenor Pan.

Daryl Zion M. Ali

Double Service (1st Aramalaya & Kelly Services)

Date for Entry: (Sunday 23rd June, 2013)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Monday 14th June, 2021)

Dear Diary,

    Today I had a long task and a long enjoyable day to play for service. I volunteered to play some other hymn inspiration songs during the worship too. The song that I played were:

• Thy Word is a Lamp unto my Feet
• Open the eyes of my heart
• The Lord’s prayer
• Doxology
• Threefold Amen
• Coral Benediction

          

    I also had to do a Scripture reading too. It was long and I was so nervous to do it. In church, it was okay but then I knew that I had to get it out so that I can do it well for when I got to Kelly. This means that I would have to do the reading again along with the other six songs on the pan.

    The ride to Kelly Presbyterian Church was good. It helped me to get rid of the nervousness. The church was very small. It was the size of mama living room. There were only about fifteen people apart from us in the congregation that day. 

    At the time I was to play the Threefold Amen, they had already started and I didn’t want to spoil it. Then when Ria told me to start, it was already late. But I had to do the Choral Benediction after. Johan and Joshua played with me. There were no programs for this particular service. No photographs were taken.

Daryl Zion M. Ali

Father's Day (2013)

 Date for Entry: (Sunday 16th June, 2013)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Monday 14th June, 2021)

Dear Diary,

    Today was Father’s Day in Trinidad and Tobago. I had to play with the Youth Group on the pan. Not many of us are in the pan group. Just about four to five people. WE had to go and play “Oh my Papa.” Then the Golden Years came up to play for the rest of the service. I wanted to play with them because I only needed to get the music. Their music sounded easy enough to sight-read on the spot.

    I was truly impressed because I didn’t know that they could read music like me too. And they were led by Zara for each of their presentations. Nice music filled the church. 

    At the end of the church service when I went to pack up my pan, I was looking into their music folders and there were only letters written in them. Then I realized that they didn’t know how to read music. But I didn’t blame them. I still appreciated their playing. 

    Later, Vijay and his son came up to Tunapuna to Visit Papa for a short period. They left just before Andrew and Dad came up to visit.

Link(s):

1. Aramalaya Father’s Day Program
   
2. "Oh My Papa" (Lead Sheet) Score
   

 

Daryl Zion M. Ali

ABRSM Theory Examination (Grade 4) - Season 2

Date for Entry: (Saturday 15th June, 2013)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Monday 14th June, 2021)

Dear Diary,

    Today was my Music Theory Examination with the ABRSM for Grade 4 Theory. It was held in St. Georges College. It took me entire an hour and a half and a half to complete the paper. 

    Sadly, I knew that the distinction AGAIN was not coming out for me because there were several questions I didn’t know how to answer. Soon after that evening, I had to leave home to go to a Youth Group meeting. We had to do a Pan piece for Father’s Day Tomorrow. 

(Update)

    When I got the results sheet I felt glad that it was not a fail. Even knowing that the distinction would not be coming to be, I decided to take the merit in hurt. I still cannot believe that it was just six points away from the distinction.

    During pan practice that evening, Zara was there with some others already going through the piece. When I got to church and set up my pan (Stanley), Zara gave me a copy of the music. 

    I could see that she might have been glad that she did not have to write out the names of the pitches or me. I too was surprised because it was a piece that she had given me previous to learn, which was "Oh My Papa." The only difference was that this piece was in Bb Major. The one she gave was in D Major. I did not mind the key.

    I can also recall that during the lesson she was finding trouble teaching Joshua and Johan. I was looking on at it too and then she came by the pan next to me and said, "Let's play the whole thing top to bottom, Nah?" I agreed and after she counted her preferred tempo we played out the whole score. I also recall that her mom was sitting very close to us and looking. 

    It was fun for me to play out the whole thing. For me, I was sight-reading the whole thing alright. I'm not sure if she had used it before. While playing it with Zara I was wondering how she was going to arrange this or if she was just going to let the three of us boys play the melody. 

    Some long years after this day, I took the same copy of the "Oh My Papa" score I found on Wikipedia scores and arranged it for steelpan. I believe it was in a summer vacation of UWI during the Degree and mommy was in Eric Williams ward. I was deciding to do the arrangement. It was actually in the car that I was turning on the laptop and beginning to create the score template.

Link(s): 

• "Oh My Papa" Score.

• Results & Certificate of  ABRSM Grade 4 (2nd Season).
• "Oh My Papa" Steelpan Arrangement.

Daryl Zion M. Ali