- Tue Nov 03, 2009 4:27 pm
#7743
In other words, no shortage of things I can do for TTM.
For myself, my dream is to eventually devote more time to the drumming and to create some sort of community centre around a drum and dance school. It will be years before I get there. In the mean time, the community that has formed around our classes is a good start. Two of our students are off to Africa in January, and quite a few are signing up to workshops such as Epizo's. All that helps to grow the community and to keep the Mandingue culture alive.
Cheers,
Michi.
Yes, same for me. A well-defined goal helps me to stay on track and keep working.Carl wrote:It is also easy to focus on that when talking about the test, and talking about the "motivation" for taking the test. There is a well defined moment in time where you know exactly what will be asked of you. This makes it a lot easier to focus on what you are working for.
I'm pretty sure that there is plenty of scope for staying involved. For one, you can start a TTM school at some point. You can also help to organize workshops for Mamady when he is travelling, promote the workshops, organize venue, accommodation, handle registrations, etc. All that is a lot of work and, without volunteer work, the workshops would be unaffordable. Then there are Mamady's camps in Guinea. I've been encouraging my students all along to go to Africa if at all possible to experience the culture first hand, and to get a month's worth of intensive drumming. It's a great way to learn both musically and culturally. So, I'll be encouraging them to go Mamady's tour (when it happens again), and to Mamady's workshops. I can also help sell Mamady's instructional and performance CDs and DVDs, etc. etc. And, of course, I can do my bit to keep the culture alive, to explain what life in Africa is like, explain the significance of the music and dance in its wider context, and share the joy of it all.However, and this is a big however, the "test" is really just a door that lets you in on a much larger process. Mamady started TTM for a reason, and he expects people involved with TTM to understand that and to be behind it. Mahiri and I have talked about Mamady's frustrations with TTM certificate holders who are not actively involved with TTM. You have to ask "why did you even take the test?" after that.
In other words, no shortage of things I can do for TTM.
You can take only one step at a time. I'm sure there will be times in your life when the drumming will have to take second seat. But, as long as the passion for the music remains, I think you will always find scope to continue carrying the torch.On a personal note, I am concerned with how I am going to balance my responsibilities to TTM after the test. I just got married and bought a house in the last 2 years. I can barely afford to keep the studio open as it is (actually things are starting to get better on that front). At the moment, I have no idea how I am going to pay for getting to Guinea! I'm sure something will work out, I just don't know what that will be. Fortunately Mahiri understands this, and we are working on how to make things work for everyone. A big one is time, there is a good chance that I will take the test before going to Guinea, and I will not get the certificate until I do so. But that will not change my relationship with Mahiri or what I am doing for my community through Mahiri (and hopefully Mamady in the not too distant future).
For myself, my dream is to eventually devote more time to the drumming and to create some sort of community centre around a drum and dance school. It will be years before I get there. In the mean time, the community that has formed around our classes is a good start. Two of our students are off to Africa in January, and quite a few are signing up to workshops such as Epizo's. All that helps to grow the community and to keep the Mandingue culture alive.
Cheers,
Michi.