Grade 2 Pan Examination (Rehearsal)

 Date for Entry: (Friday 22nd November, 2013)

Actual Date of Online Entry: (Monday 4th June, 2021)

 Dear Diary,

    Today I had to walk down the hill from school as soon as it was over because I was going to Trinity East with mom. Rameez had given us a ride to the school and I sipped on some nice icy cold Apple J. He was playing the song “Radioactive” at the time. It sounded better to me because the doors were all closed.

    On arriving at the school at the front building, mom and I walked down to the main entrance of the school. It looked exactly like in Trincity Mall. I met Elizabeth from Mr Lewis’ lessons. She helped us get a Tenor pan to go to the Music classroom. Along the way, I saw Denesia and Jeremiah from when I played at Starlift Steel Orchestra.

    I practised my pieces well with Dr Remy. She didn’t find I had any problems. The only problem I personally worried about was the timing because she was there to accompany me. She said that she was only going to play the Bass staff instead of both on the Piano. I had to listen up and pay attention to how she did and fit in everything I had to do. 

    In one of the pieces “Improvisation II,” Dr Remy had taught me how to swing on the notes. I appreciated this private lesson and tip very much. The piece had said to 'swing' and all the time in practice with Mr Lexis, we were playing it as normal (without swing). It was sounding more Jazzy style than before. Today was also the day that dad had retired from his job.

Link(s):

1. Grade 2 Tenor Pan Examination Booklet (2012-2014).

 

Daryl Zion M. Ali

New Books to Collection

 Date for Entry: (Wednesday 9th October, 2013)

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

Dear Diary,

    Today dad went to Simon’s Music World to purchase three Grade 4 Past Papers. Mr. Lewis sent him because he had run out of his bunch of past papers to quiz me. I got a sad ‘pass’ of sixty-seven (67) in the Grade 4 exam I did at St. Georges. So, this is my "Season 2" of Grade 4 . Let’s hope two brings the distinction. 

 

Daryl Zion M. Ali

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