Practice Makes Perfect

Worked out a little time to get into the RCW space before my class on Tuesday nights to practice. I think practice is so important, no matter what it is you're working on--diddles, rolls, doro tsu ku's. I practice them at home in my closet (the chasm) on a practice pad, but nothing really compares to actually getting some time on a real drum. Janet gave me the go-ahead to make noise in the performance space, and let me tell you--it was such a luxury and gift to be able to practice on my own. I almost didn't know what to do with myself, but pulled out my snare drum work book and did some diddles, and then worked on some Chikara timing issues and then I played Kai to Ryu five times in a row just to see if I could! I did (!) and after the fifth time I collapsed, but it was good. Last Sunday they made me play it over and over and laughed and said they were torturing me, but eh, I say I'm better and stronger on Kai now. Ha on them! And now I have this little bit of pre-class time that I will savor every minute of.

We have our next show coming up really, really soon. Our shows always seem so far away, but I think I'm just doing a mental psych-out to myself so that the nerves don't flare up. Ghosts and Girls with Brenda Wong Aoki and Mark Izu, yo. It should be a good show. I know it will be a good show. I say it over and over, but it really is wonderful to work with those folks. It's like magic every time they come by. Things always seem to come together and when they do you just get the goosebumps. RCW is way smaller than our venue at the JACC, but that just makes it more intimate. Think of it as your own personal command-performance. Get your tickets soon though.

Taught my class tonight. I am so happy with my students. They've dwindled down to 7 or 8, but they're all really great players and I hope they all continue. New sessions start in less than a month.