I'm here!

I've been back in Ghana for less than 3 days, but already it feels like I've never been away, just picking up from where I left off! Takoradi is as busy and colourful and friendly as ever, and I'm amazed that so many people remember me. I've lost count of the times that I've heard 'Obruni, you are most welcome'. I've been feasting on my favourite foods - red red, kelewele, jollof rice, fresh octopus, pineapple and had my first taste of Star again last night - Ghana's favourite lager (which is now comes in an even bigger bottle than before... with a strength of 5% it's pretty potent, but essential after a hot tiring day!) The music school is thriving, and its great to see my friends Kokobush, Kweisi, Baaba and Quayson again, who are all improving and developing as musicians. After I took them through Grade 3 theory last year (which they all passed with flying colours!), they are keen for me to teach them Grade 5 & continue with orchestra as before. Apparently, we are playing with orchestra on Sunday for the ordination of a bishop at Fiifi's church, quite a big engagement! But it's good to see that they have continued to play as an group since I left, and still enjoying the music I brought over ('Canon' is their favourite piece at the moment!)

I have also made a start on my own lessons in Ghanaian music, which are going well. Kokobush (my good friend and trumpet teacher) is teaching me various parade brass band tunes, which are upbeat, catchy and pretty simple with lots of room for improvisation. They are all in the same key too! He is teaching a few each day, and then next Tuesday I have been invited to rehearse with his band in New Takoradi, where we will rehearse for an hour and then record all the tunes he has taught me, which will be fab.

Yesterday I had my first session with Podzo, a master drummer in Takoradi, who is currently working with orphans and street children to form a traditional dance group. He took me to their rehearsal space - a derelect theatre with no roof, with a stage at one end where a whole host of percussion instruments were ready. He systematically taught me the different rhythms for each instrument, and his group played the other instruments, so I got a good feel for the music. He is a very good teacher, breaking a rhythm down if I didn't get it first time. I am really beginnig to listen more, because there are a number of different 'calls' which envoke a different 'response', and the differences between them are subtle! Anyway, I think I am going to learn a lot from him over the next 10 days or so, and I'm glad that the money I will be paying him will help towards his dance group, who are very needy children.

So, my plan is to stay in Takoradi until next Monday (14th) when I will head to Green Turtle Lodge for a couple of relaxing days on the beach. I will upodate my blog when I can!

James x