Kikaha Street Trio

November 29, 2005 at 8:21 AM

The good life has taken a slight toll on my practice routine. This evening, while the rest of the gang settled in for football, and rain settled in for the night, I retreated to the guest room and made an attempt at practicing.

After changing out the stale strings and washing the sticky off my hands three times, I spent the next two hours tuning and retuning as I constructed scales and arpeggios. I couldn't find the notes. Rather, I knew where they were--where they needed to be--but I just couldn't get there. I never really made it into anything else. Sometimes, I wonder if I'll be sticking to scales and etudes the rest of my days.

The window was open; the sounds from the street below mixed with the rain-scented air and wafted up through the screen. Across the street, a fellow musician joined me as I played, strumming chords on the ukulele. During the rests, a little yellow gecko chirped from behind the bookshelf, as though requesting an encore. And so it went, up and down the scales in the balmy upstairs guest room, accompanied by anonymous ukulele plunking and happy gecko interludes. Perhaps the three of us might make a good trio, busking on the street corners in Waikiki. Now, there's an idea.

From Patrick Hu
Posted on November 29, 2005 at 9:18 AM

Hey Emily! My name is Patrick, and I was just wondering from your post...Are you currently in Oahu right now? Cause I live here in Hawaii...just thought it would be cool to tell you that. okay bye!

From Emily Grossman
Posted on November 29, 2005 at 9:20 AM

I'm in Makakilo, currently, in the rain, with Auntie Sue and Uncle Mark.

Any good concerts in the next two weeks I could catch?

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on November 29, 2005 at 11:31 AM

You were one weekend late to see a violin chick with the wire choir. She was appearing at the same time I was one weekend late to see violin goddess Janine Jansen with the Cincinnati wire choir. Carla's own Renee Fleming is appearing in Honolulu in March. The reasons to stay there are becoming overwhelming aren't they?

From Carley Anderson
Posted on November 29, 2005 at 1:34 PM

COMPLETELY AGREE: "Sometimes, I wonder if I'll be sticking to scales and etudes the rest of my days."

From Wanda Jenkins
Posted on November 30, 2005 at 5:30 AM

Hi Emily,

Your fiddle is pitching a fit from beginning in a pressurized cabin, enduring a cliimate change to the warm, humid tropics, and it's jealous of your divided attention.

Enjoy Hawaii!

From Wanda Jenkins
Posted on November 30, 2005 at 5:30 AM

Hi Emily,

Your fiddle is pitching a fit from being in a pressurized cabin, enduring a cliimate change to the warm, humid tropics, and it's jealous of your divided attention.

Enjoy Hawaii!

From Wanda Jenkins
Posted on November 30, 2005 at 5:34 AM

oops! that's one way to realize responses to blogs can't be editted.

red faced... off to eat humble pie.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on November 30, 2005 at 11:38 AM

Ah, don't worry about the double posts, Wanda.

My poor fiddle has seen 100 degrees to -30 degrees, and 10-90% humidity. It really does a number on the sound, doesn't it? I hope the seams don't come unglued this time.

Jim, I know a few great reasons not to live here.

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on November 30, 2005 at 5:40 PM

Well I do know for a fact you aren't bored.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on November 30, 2005 at 8:26 PM

Basking in the sun on a sandy beach, watching the crabs scuttle is so boring.

Ha!

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