Just a quick video clip that I took back on the 18 of this month. It was recess time, and the Cotton Candy Man was ready to go. And being a windy day, it was more fun than usual.
(It was one of our friends, a boy named Olaf, who first got the enterprising idea of using a hula hoop, though that’s not him in the video)
Tonight we made it through the first keyboard (piano) class without any deaths or major injuries. There were a handful of students, and a few added lookers-on… it was fun.
We only have 9 weeks. Today was mostly theory; next week we’ll be getting more into actually playing.
I played a few examples of different kinds of music – different types of scales – even some microtonal music. Some music from the UK, some Canadian music, and a whole lotta Mexican music. 😉
Here’s some piano playing for you – one of the songs I used this afternoon as an example. I expect all my students to be doing this after 9 weeks. All right, maybe not quite….
This is a song played by the composer. The composer is Mexican Consuelo Velázquez Torres, and the song is Bésame Mucho….
And now – Hannah’s Christmas program! Once again, I’ll play you clips from the whole program so you can get an idea what it’s like.
This program was in many ways very typical, except that the teachers performed the Christmas drama. But the drama itself (clips are included) was typical because it included pilgrims (aka shepherds) in traditional Mexican garb going to see baby Jesus, and demons playing tricks on them to stop them (although one demon apparently got converted in the end… perhaps it’s not best to derive any theology from this program!).
You’ll also hear many traditional Christmas songs. And there were some speeches about the true meaning of Christmas (apparently happiness and smiles)… I included one clip at the very end.
It’s unfortunately virtually impossible to see Hannah in the video. She’s generally in the back, because she’s tall – but not tall enough to tower over everyone else. 🙂 And, of course, it was pretty dark. However, you can get a glimpse of her starting around 2 minutes 10 seconds, I believe, jumping up and down in the back. She’s got looooong braids (not all real, mind you!).
Take our word for it, she did a great job. 🙂
Here it is in living colour – some clips from the Christmas program at Nathanael’s school. There are clips here from the whole evening, not just the parts Nathanael had. You’ll even see what happened to the piñata – oops.
Nathanael is a part of the baton team this year. Unfortunately, someone else ended up with his baton through unknown means, but he bravely continued baton-less. Way to persevere, Nathanael!
You’ll see him in the back left during that performance, and then later in a white robe… I’ll let you try to find him.
Have fun!
Oh, and sorry about the chipmunks clip…
Last night was the big Christmas event in Jesús Marí. It was a crazy time, but a good time for making new friends, making our presence known in the area, and sharing about the coming of the Messiah.
The evening included three English Christmas songs from many in the English classes, Christmas carols in Spanish led by the Sendero de Vida band, a Christmas song from Shari and I, a Christmas drama in English from some of the students, some presentations from the Amigas del Alma (Mayra, Aurora and Sheri) baking class, and a short devotional from Rod.
Oh, and ponche, a favourite Mexican Christmas drink.
Everyone worked hard in a short period of time, and pulled off a fun evening. Good work!
Since I was involved in a lot of what was going on, I took limited video. But I do have about 5.5 minutes here to give you an idea what the evening was like, including some pictures members of my family and others took with our camera. The lighting was interesting, so you’ll see some brightness and darkness in interesting places…
We’re hoping to be able to go to the 2009 edition of Coro Unido this year in Puebla. The Coro Unido is a combination of choirs, actors, and an orchestra, not to mention all the others that go into such a huge production.
The director is Terry Vanderwerf. I got to hear a little about the production while staying at the Vanderwerf’s house while I took my course, and Terry gave us another update at the recent CAMex Conference.
It is unbelievable how this event has grown in just a few years. We’ve heard the choir while they were still in the early weeks of practice, and we’ve also heard so many good reports of past years. The choir continues to be invited to do other performances, though their main ones are two days in December.
We’re especially excited this year because two people from our church will be in the choir – Allan and Melanie!
If you’re in the area, be sure to make it a point to come if you can. And pray that this group will clearly share the message of the coming of the Messiah to many people again this year.
Take a look at the video for more, and see the official site of Coro Unido here.