Chris Leone

• 30Sep

  Full Rehearsal Day

  Aimachi, Japan 1 Comment

  Today was a full rehearsal day for us. What I like about these days is how much we are able to get done. It’s especially nice that we don’t have to rush through everything we do. We made some really good strides and I felt good by the end of the day.

  This week should be a lot of fun. Later this week I’ll be going to a Japanese baseball game! I’m really excited and will have plenty of pictures to share. I’m also looking forward to visiting Tokyo in about a week to meet up with my good pal Lenny who is performing some shows with the Blue Devils as they do a short tour of Japan.

  In other news I’m considering staying up to follow the Mets game tonight as their entire season has come down to one game. Personally, I feel if they don’t make the playoffs, it serves them right. They have played horrible baseball as of late.

  That’s all for now. Thanks for checking the site!

  -Chris

  

  Tags: Aimachi

• 29Sep

  First Not Hot Day of My Visit

  Aimachi, Japan No Comments

  We woke up this morning to a delightful surprise. COOL WEATHER. Unfortunately, it was also raining, but the change in weather was very refreshing.

  I spent the morning writing some exercises for the drumline. In the early afternoon, Sekine came over and asked if we’d like to go out for a drive. We had no idea where we were going but we didn’t have anything else to do!

  First, we went to this large, crowded place that makes, as best I can describe, fish chips. They were, eh, not so good. But Sekine seemed very excited to buy several bags for us. The result: we now have about 7 bags of fish flavored chips that none of us can stand.

  After that, we drove along the coast some more (it was so great seeing the water) and eventually stopped at a fish market. The highlight of this stop was when a guy behind the counter pulled a fish right out of the tank, threw it down on the counter, and while it was still flopping about, cut his head right off. We all just looked at each other in amazement. Sekine was nodding his head with a smile. I think he enjoyed our reactions.

  The highlight of the evening when we got back was the curry rice dinner. I really, really like curry. This is probably the one meal they serve here that I can completely fill up on.

  Tomorrow is a full rehearsal day so it means plenty of time to get better.

  -Chris

  

  Tags: Aimachi

• 28Sep

  Yard Work and Pottery Path

  Aimachi, Handa City, Japan No Comments

  So the really fun mornings are the ones that begin with a telephone call to our room. When we hear this phone ring, it means our hosts have something special planned for us. By special, I mean they need extra sets of hands to help out around the complex.

  The landscaping around the complex is very, very nice. Of course, this doesn’t happen on its own. This requires lots of upkeep on an, unfortunately, daily basis. Today they had us remove the unsightly crab grass, with a pair of pliers, one root at a time.

  Let me give you a second to absorb what it might feel like to pull out single blades of grass by the root with a pair of pliers in +80 degree weather.

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  Anyway….

  Once we had enough of that, James and I decided to cool off in the pool which hasn’t been cleaned in well over a month. It was only three feet deep, and of course very dirty. But I swim in the Ocean, and that has never been cleaned

  In the afternoon we went into Handa City to walk along the Pottery Path. Pictures can be found here! This was a very nice walk through an old neighborhood that had small, discreet shops along the way. While walking, we came across a British man and his Japanese wife who brought us into their house and showed us their own pottery gallery. It was cool to see both for the artwork and what the houses are like on the inside.

  Tonight some Aimachi members came over and shared some drinks and dinner with us. It was nice getting to socialize (albeit limitedly) with some other people.

  I made a very concerted effort to pick up more Japanese today. I figure if I keep this up, I’ll be in very good shape when my tour comes to an end next April.

  -Chris

  

  Tags: Aimachi

• 27Sep

  Catching up on the past week

  Aimachi, Japan No Comments

  So here’s the plan: I’m going to update you with my doings this past week and then will update this blog much more often so you have something new to read almost every day.

  Last Saturday, we visited the old Imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto. We didn’t get to spend nearly as much time there as I would have liked. Hopefully when Dan comes to visit we’ll take our time seeing more of the sites. Kyoto, simply put, is extraordinary. Besides the beautiful temples and buildings, walking through the streets where it is said Samurai fought violent battles is wild. Pictures of Kyoto are on my website. To check them out, click here!

  Sunday was another full rehearsal day. I wish we had more of these. Yes, they are tiring, but we always get a lot more done. I am able to teach the bassline on my own now that I have established the technique and the more technical stuff. They’re getting better but still nowhere close to where I want us to be come next April.
  Monday was a free day for us so Sekine Sensei’s wife took us out to make pottery. Yes, pottery. I made a bowl of some sort, a bass drum, and a little lizard dog thing with my leftover clay. I hope he makes he through the baking process!

  Tuesday was a day of normality. Nothing special to report

  On Wednesday we picked up the newest American to join the fall Aimachi team. His name is Michael and he marched with the Bluecoats 06-07. We then headed into Nagoya city for a couple hours and then back here in time for rehearsal. There’s a funny story to go with the Nagoya city trip, but saying it now would give away other things I can’t speak of yet. Hopefully when the time passes, I’ll remember to tell you what happened.

  I had a good talk with Michi (my good friend here and the tenor section leader). Having been through some great percussion programs with great instructors, I have a very good idea of what needs to be done to take a program to the next level. With that, we are going to organize and put together a thorough exercise book to work through every rehearsal day so the line can build a better foundation for their playing (something we currently lack). I am very excited about this opportunity as this is my chance to put everything I’ve learned out on the table and help make the entire program better.

  Today, Thursday, was a long day! We began the morning early picking vegetables in the garden. We then took down some large scaffolding we put up a couple days ago. By now it was lunch and we were all pretty beat (I am NOT cut out for farm work). Sekine Sensei was nice enough to take us back into the city while he attended a meeting at the church in the city. On the way there, he gave me a cell phone to help keep in contact with him. I considered it flattering that of the six Americans, he put his trust in me to keep everyone together. I’ve been told he trusts me very much, is appreciative of the extra work I’m doing with the drumline, and likes my attitude in learning and understanding more about the culture and church.

  Tomorrow we don’t have rehearsal but luckily I have an ever growing to-do list to keep my busy

  Stay tuned for more (frequent) updates!

  -Chris

  

  Tags: Aimachi

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