“Under an out-of-control situation, what will you do in the first place❓”
I will focus on His encouragement to take control of myself first.
……
12/06/2024 (Wed) 2100 Hong Kong International Institute of Music, Room 510
Jingo’s Rehearsal
I started conducting and everyone played their instruments.
I said, “Stop, something wrong with the drum. Let me show you how.”
I started conducting and everyone played their instruments.
I said, “Stop, something wrong with the saxophone. Let me show you how.”
I started conducting and everyone played their instruments.
I said, “Stop, something wrong with the piano. Let me show you how.”
I started conducting and everyone played their instruments.
I said, “Stop, something wrong with the winds. Let me show you how.”
I started conducting and everyone played their instruments.
I said, “Stop, something wrong with the guitar. Let me show you how.”
I started conducting and everyone played their instruments.
I said, “Stop, something wrong with the violins. Let me show you how.”
I started conducting and everyone played their instruments.
……
Player A said, “Conductor, actually, you’re somehow dragged by us. You conduct slower and slower.”
I said, “Really?”
Player A said, “Yes. Let’s conduct with the metronome.”
I said, “Good suggestion.”
I switched on the metronome and conducted with it. The music started flowing like what I heard in my original orchestration.
Player A said, “Right?”
I said, “Wow, thank you. The biggest mistake lied in nothing else but me.”
Player A said, “Actually, your tempo got slower when the time signature changes from 4/4 to 2/4 and back to 4/4.”
I said, “I got it. I got to pay attention.”
Player A smiled.
I said, “Only 2 days left before the performance. I got to start counting the rhythm with the metronome and recordings to maintain a steady tempo. This is what I can do so far. I have to leave others in the Lord’s hands.”
Player A said, “Keep it up.”
…….
Another me said, “Resign please.”
I said, “Some players requested my conducting. They said they wouldn’t play without a conductor.”
Another me said, “They said so because they had never expected how badly you could have conducted. You can’t even hold the basic tempo.”
I said, “I’m going to re-practise it now.”
Another me said, “You’re too thick-skinned. Resign please.”
I said, “None of my players have asked me to resign.”
Another me said, “You orchestrated the piece. You formed the group. You signed up for the performance. They just didn’t want to embarrass you.”
I said, “But one player told me to keep it up.”
Another me said, “But all other players shut up.”
I said, “Doesn’t it simply mean that they have nothing to say?”
Another me said, “No, it means they’re so fed up with you that they can hardly describe.”
I said, “I’m not going to take care of that.”
Another me said, “What are you going to do?”
I said, “I’m going to take the encouragement the Lord left me through player A.”
I started the conducting practice that night. I did it on the MTR, during my walk and while waiting for others, until I could conduct without score at a steady tempo of 85 beats per minute.
I kept my practice, left all others to Him and prayed for good show tonight.
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