Asahikawa American English Conversation School
for May 2009
NOTE: The OBJECTIVE of this BLOG is to help my students with their study of English.
AND
For all of you, out there, around the world to;
SEE HOKKAIDO
2009 May 30 Saturday and May 31 Sunday.
Saturday
was a beautiful warm and sunny day. I spent some time sitting outside on
my rather large balcony, soaking up the warm sunshine and drinking a few ice
cold beers.
I even tried out a few new songs on the acoustic guitar including one by The Cure called Friday I'm in Love.
Sunday was a cold and rainy day.
Not a nice day to be outside, if you don't have to go anywhere.
I used most of the day to review the video that I took of my Acoustic Guitar Live performance of Friday night.
In a word, my performance was pretty bad.
Not only did I make at least one guitar playing mistake on every song, but my singing voice was not up to my satisfaction at all.
It's a lot easier to sing well when someone else is playing the music for you.
I wasn't nervous about performing in front of a live audience, not at all. I just didn't get in enough practice time to make it all sound really good.
Despite this fact, I posted the videos of most of the songs I played that night, to my YOU TUBE channel, which you can see by clicking here. By watching my crappy performance from time to time, I will become more motivated to do it better next time.
While I was uploading the videos to YOU TUBE, I was also printing out many more pages of color photographs that will be made into English Language Learning Flash Cards for use in my classroom.
I can't neglect my day time job in order to play live music. It's just another enjoyable hobby for me. I also need to practice playing the ShakuHachi 尺八 again. The summer festival season is starting next week, and it is the perfect time to dress up in a JinBei 甚平 and play the bamboo flute during the festivities.
2009 May 29 Friday.
I
had a full day of classes starting at 9:00 with two 90 minute lessons back to
back, at the DoKan Nursing School 北海道立旭川高等看護学院.
After those two lessons were finished at about 12:10, I took a taxi back to my place and had a big brunch of curry and brown rice.
My next lesson didn't start until 16:00 so I had some time to take a short nap, and recharge my battery for the long night ahead.
I cancelled my last class of the day, so Ikuko and I could get into a taxi and ride on over to GOOD LUCK, which is just opposite SanBanKan 三番館 on 3 Jodori at 15 Chome, here in Asahikawa.
I was scheduled to appear as one act in a set of 4 acts, which would be playing music on the acoustic guitar this evening.
I had prepared 10 to 12 songs for the evening, and the owner of Good Luck allowed me to play all of them. Thank You!!!
The first group to perform was DEN DEN MuShi, and they played a set of about 5 or 6 Japanese Songs form the 1970s. Songs that I love and know very well.
Then it was my turn. I played 5 of my songs and then got off of the stage so that the other 2 acts could play their songs.
Then, after the other musicians were finished, I came back up on stage towards the end of the evening to play 5 more songs, plus one encore.
When I was finished, everybody in the place who could play music, all got together and jammed to some familiar songs.
I joined them for their first number, DESPERADO, by The Eagles.
Usually, I have two private lessons on Saturday mornings, but this week I didn't have any lessons on Saturday, so I was able to stay late and drink as much as I liked during Friday night's Acoustic Guitar Live Event.
Some
of the students who come to my classroom on a regular basis were there as well,
and we all had a wonderful time chatting and listening to the good music.
To see more photos from this evening's event, click here.
I am looking forward to my next opportunity to do this again, and have already purchased a portable guitar amplifier, with a rechargeable battery, so that I can perform anywhere at any time. Including right out on the pedestrian mall areas of downtown Asahikawa.
This type of outdoor live musical performance on the streets is called BUSKING. Click here to read more about it in Wikipedia.
I have fond memories from my childhood when my family and I would go to San Francisco California for my father's dental conventions. At night when we were out on the town walking around, there would be musicians in Ghirardelli Square, playing well known and popular music, of all types.
Nothing like that ever happened in my home town of Spokane Washington.
However, here in Asahikawa, it is not uncommon to see musicians playing out on the streets of the pedestrian malls, during the day and at night.
This year, I will be one of them.
This summer in Asahikawa will be more active than usual, because it marks the 20th Anniversary of the Asahikawa/Suwon Korea Sister City Relationship.
There will be a lot of people from South Korea visiting Asahikawa this year, and there will be a very festive mood in the city. I too will be here to take part in it and enjoy the good vibrations. See you there. CLICK HERE to view some YOU TUBE videos of me playing some of the songs that I performed tonight.
2009 May 24 Sunday thru May 28 Thursday.
The
weather keeps getting warmer as we approach the Summer Solstice.
Last week I stopped in at a hat store that has been in business since 1937. It might well be the oldest, longest running hat store in Asahikawa.
It is called Dora Neko どら猫 which means Stray Cat. You can visit their website by clicking here.
Most of the hats in the store are the original creations of the owners of the store, but they also have some imports from other countries.
I bought the two hats which you can see in the photo on the left.
They are made from a polyester mesh and are very lightweight.
You can see from the photograph that the wind is able to blow right through them and keep your head cool and comfortable. Everybody I know who has seen me wear these hats has said that they look good on me. I agree.
The string of turquoise stones on the the black hat, is something that I put on by myself. I bought that necklace in Hakodate about 2 years ago. This is the hat I will be wearing when I make my Acoustic Guitar Live debut, tomorrow night at GOOD LUCK, starting at about 20:00.
You can see a SET LIST of the 10 songs that I will be singing and playing by clicking here.
There will also be several other musicians performing during the same evening, and it will be a lot of fun for everyone who comes.
If you have time, please come on over and enjoy the good music while having a drink or two, of your favorite beverage.
The location of GOOD LUCK can be seen by clicking here.
Only one more day to practice my set list. YIKES!!!
2009 May 23 Saturday.
It
is a rather cool day with overcast skies and periods of heavy rains in the early
afternoon.
After my private lessons were finished at about 12:30, I ate some seaweed soup full of brown rice for brunch, and then walked on over to the MokuZouKan 木造館 to listen to the various musicians participating in the Satis Power LIVE! 2009 event.
As you well know, if you have ever been to the MokuZouKan, the acoustics 音響 of the building are excellent.
This made the music sound all that much more clear and beautiful.
Especially in the case of the ShakuHachi 尺八, the Traditional Bamboo Flute, which you can see being played in the photo on the left.
There were a total of 9 musicians who appeared at today's event.
I was only able to see 5 of them, because I had a few other errands to run during the late afternoon.
However,
one musician that I had never seen before and enjoyed very much is the guy whom
you can see in the photo on the left, wearing the orange one piece worker suit,
with the hand towel wrapped around his head.
His name is 篠原昌幸 Shinohara Masayuki and his performance can best be described as "pedal to the metal, full speed ahead, non-stop, high energy, no mistakes music."
I know that is a mouthful to say, but it is the best way I can sum up this guy's excellent performance.
Not only did he play some of his original songs, which were very good, but he also played some famous Japanese songs, and to my surprise, some golden oldies sung in perfect English!
When I say "Golden Oldies" I am talking about songs like; Day Dream Believer by the Monkees, Blue Suede Shoes by Elvis Presley, Rock and Roll by Led Zeppelin, and a few others, the titles of which I can't remember at this time.
It was an awesome performance, and like I said just a moment ago, his English pronunciation was perfect!
Another thing I learned from watching SasaHara perform, was how to completely avoid using "bar chords" when playing the guitar.
For
those of you who don't play the guitar, let me explain what a "bar chord" is.
A bar chord means using your index finger to cover all six guitar strings on one fret (in a straight line), in order to effectively shorten the length of all the strings, when playing various chords up and down the neck of the guitar.
Most guitar players, including myself, use bar chords on a regular basis, when playing the guitar. While there is nothing wrong with this, is does take a few extra micro-seconds to switch to a bar chord, from a non-bar chord, and then back again from a bar chord to a non-bar chord.
What I learned from watching Mr. SasaHara today, was that he never uses bar chords, but instead uses his thumb to cover the upper bass strings on the guitar, allowing him to better manipulate the bass lines and the melody lines, all at the same time.
In fact, in the photo of him above, (the guy in the orange one peice work suit) you can see him playing a "B minor chord", in this manner.
The last performance that I watched, before I left at about 16:35, was KAZZ and YAMA playing a duet together, and then YAMA playing his "Michael Hedges Style" guitar solo instrumentals.
I was sitting right next to an amplified speaker, and together with the excellent acoustics of the MokuZouKan itself, was able to enjoy a wonderful performance of a truly magical guitarist, YAMA chan, once again.
I plan to attend this event again, next year.
2009 May 18 Monday thru May 22 Friday.
The
weather got better and it warmed up considerably this week. So warm in
fact, that I had to turn on the Air Conditioner in my classroom on Thursday.
Coming up tomorrow, May 23 Saturday, is a FREE musical event called Satis Power LIVE! 2009.
It will start at 12:00 noon and finish at about 18:40. It will be held at the MokuZou Kan 木造館 Which is right next door to the Kagura Public Library, not far from my classroom.
And remember ADMISSION IS FREE!!!
There will be 9 local artists performing their original music, as well as other famous songs that most people will be familiar with.
To see the schedule for this free musical event click here and download the PDF file that explains everything you need to know about this show.
I have two private lessons on Saturday mornings so I won't be able to arrive at this event until after 13:00, but I will be there.
If you are like me, and love to listen to LIVE MUSIC, you should take the time and come on over to Kagura for an afternoon of REAL PEOPLE playing HONEST MUSIC.
It won't cost you a thing.
2009 May 16 Saturday and 17 Sunday.
During
the previous week, there were some rather cold days and very cold nights.
I even saw sleet (snow mixed with rain) falling down out of the night sky on
Thursday.
Of course, all of the cherry blossoms have fallen from the trees and now look like pink confetti, laying on the streets and sidewalks.
Life is a lot like the cherry blossoms. Here today, gone tomorrow. Extremely beautiful for a very short time, then returning once again to the ground from which they came.
The average human being only lives about 70 or 80 years, and that seems like a long time to us, but in the big picture of things, it is but a wrinkle in time.
The insects have it much worse off.
The ones that live in Hokkaido only get a few months of life, if they are lucky, and aren't eaten by some bird or other animal.
Once in a while, I will find a lady bug, or a stink bug or even a spider, walking around in my classroom during the mid winter.
Somehow, they have managed to hide in my house and survive much longer than their brethren.
But all in all a bug's life is less than one year. People are much more fortunate. No matter how long they live.
2009 May 11 Monday thru May 15 Friday.
Another
full week of teaching folks how to speak American English in an enjoyable
manner.
Last week I received a surprise email, written in the worst English I have ever seen in my entire life.
It was sent to me by a man who was a student at Washington State University during the same time period when I was also a student there. He wrote the email in horrible English, on purpose, as a joke.
We lived very close to each other during our days at WSU. He is married to a Japanese woman and they have a daughter, who was only about 3 or 4 years old when they were at WSU.
Along with his email in ridiculous English, he also attached 2 photographs of himself, his wife, and his now grown up daughter.
Wow! What a blast from the past. His daughter now looks like an international super model.
They will be coming to Hokkaido in June, and will be passing through Asahikawa on June 15 while on their way to the Shiretoko Peninsula World Heritage Site.
I will get to meet with them again, for about two hours, while they are waiting for a JR train to leave for Abashiri.
I haven't seen these people in more than 20 something years, so there will be a lot to talk about. They now live in Phoenix Arizona, which is one of my favorite places in the USA. It is always warm there, and the natural desert scenery is stunningly beautiful. Plus, they have great Mexican Food and lots of silver and turquoise jewelry made by Native Americans who live there.
On another topic. On May 6, Ikuko and I went for a drive thru Biei, Kamifurano, Shirogane Onsen and up to the Tokachi Dake Observation Area 十勝岳望岳台. The weather was perfect as you can see from the photos in today's blog.
This
year there is a new attraction at the Miyama Mountain Pass 深山峠 in KamiFurano
上富良野. It is a big Ferris Wheel.
A lot of people were opposed to its placement there, but they put it up anyway. I was happy to see that they painted it a light beige color so that it does not clash with the scenery so much.
Of course Ikuko and I had to try it out for the first time to see what there was to see.
In a word, there was not much to see at all, that you could not see from just standing on the ground itself.
I suppose it might be fun for young couples on a date, or for young kids who have never ridden in a Ferris Wheel before, but for us, it was no big deal.
Also, they charge 600 yen for adults and I think it was 400 or 300 yen for children.
In my opinion, this is overpriced, especially from the psychological view of potential customers.
If it was priced at 500 yen for adults, then one adult could easily pay with one coin, and two adults could easily pay with just one piece of paper money. Also, if kids were charged only 250 yen, it would be much easier to pay using either coins or paper money.
In other words, I think they will get more customers if they lower the price a bit and make it psychologically easier for the customers to pay the fee.
What do you think?
2009 May 7 Thursday thru May 10 Sunday.
The
wonderful weather continues with the exception of some rain on Sunday.
One of my musician friends suggested that I play not only Gordon Lightfoot songs, but also play well known folk songs from the 1950s thru the 1990s.
That got me to thinking about what songs from the good old days I can remember, so I started looking around on the internet and found a website called Chordie dot com.
This website has the lyrics and guitar chords for millions of songs on it, so I started looking around and came up with an additional 100 songs by various artists, that I know well and can play on the acoustic guitar.
I spent the entire weekend of Saturday afternoon and all day Sunday looking around this website for songs and then watching live performances of those songs by the original artists on YOU TUBE.
I found stuff by, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Charlie Pride, Bob Dylan, The Doobie Brothers, The Eagles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Eric Clapton, Jerry Reed, Simon and Garfunkel, The Rolling Stones, Jim Croce, John Denver, Dobie Gray, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty, The Youngbloods, The Turtles, Neil Young, Hank Williams, Jim Croce, Al Stewart, Jerry Jeff Walker, etc. etc.
It was like a walk down memory lane. So many good songs I had almost forgotten about, but no more. Music never dies, and Asahikawa is going to start reliving the Golden Oldies of Folk, Country and Rock starting on May 29 of this year.
2009 May 1 Friday thru May 6 Wednesday.
It
was a wonderful Golden Week in every way possible. The weather was
warm and sunny, the cherry blossoms bloomed just in time and everyone had good
rest while enjoying their hobbies.
I can remember years when the cherry blossoms in Asahikawa didn't bloom until after the middle of May. In fact I made a photo slideshow on May 18, 2000 when the cherry blossoms finally bloomed in that year. Click here to see that photo slideshow.
Here in Japan, they have what they call the Sakura ZenSen Report 桜前線レポート in the daily news during springtime.
As you can easily surmise, cherry blossoms bloom the earliest in the southern regions of Japan and then move north until they start blooming in Wakkanai City 稚内市 Hokkaido Japan, the Northernmost City in the Japanese Archipelago.
In autumn, the pattern is reversed with the northern regions getting the brightly colored autumn leaves first, as the 紅葉前線 moves south in a timely manner.
Anyway, living in Asahikawa where there is snow on the ground for about 5 months out of every year, the blooming of the cherry blossoms, whenever it happens, is a huge cause for celebration, and people get out and about having outdoor BBQ parties and the like at every possible opportunity.
One such opportunity for me was on May 5, at Kagura Oka Park 神楽岡公園.
Not only were the cherry blossoms at their peak, according to the news reports, but the people who invited me to attend, are also blooming musicians.
Yeah, you guessed it.
It was the annual HanaMi Party 花見パーティ for all of the good folks who play live music at the Music Cafe/Bar: Good Luck.
For
only 2,000 yen, anyone who wanted to attend this BBQ party at KaguraOka Park,
could do so.
Not only was there plenty of good food and drink, there was also a lot of good live music, played by the various members who attend the party.
As you can see from the photograph on the left, one of the members even brought a gasoline powered electrical generator, which supplied electricity to the two guitar amplifiers that two of the musicians are sitting upon.
The gasoline powered electrical generator was very quiet and nobody even noticed that it was there, as the good sounds of the guitars spilled out into the general public.
I didn't bring any of my own musical instruments to this party, but I was allowed to, No, urged to pick up the acoustic/electrical guitar and play a few songs.
And so, I did.
I played a couple of Gordon Lightfoot songs, namely; Sundown, Cotton Jenny, The Watchman's Out, and one more that I can't remember the title of right now.
Then the guy who was playing the electric bass guitar, pulled out his folder of songs, and suggested that we play some EAGLES songs.
Right on! I love the EAGLES and can play some of their most popular songs, as well as sing them. So, that is what we did for the next 30 minutes or so.
Tomorrow it is back to my regular teaching schedule. I hope the beautiful weather continues.
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