This morning I went to the Music Department of the University of Kabul for my third visit. The first was on Monday for our initial introductory meeting. On my second visit we went to a large classroom on the third floor with an old grand piano. Chairs were set in a semi-circle and over the next three hours the class grew to about 21 students. There are 50 students in the music school, 500 in Fine Arts altogether. The group that day was a mix of all 4 years, studying piano, voice, guitar, violin, tabla (traditional Afghan drums) and rebab (traditional Afghan guitar). They gave me a seat at the front of the class and wanted me to teach! Anyone who knows me well, knows that I prefer to tutor than teach, so after having them introduce themselves, I asked for questions. One piano student asked how to resolve the Dominant 7th - I wasn't sure if he was asking from a compositional standpoint or what. Another asked how to use solfeggio to learn pronunciation. After a while, our session became more productive. We talked about learning Italian as the best language to get proper vowels, steps to harmonization of a melody, what kind of music is most popular in the US, what their career goals were, on and on. There was only one female in the group, a guitar student.
A graduate piano student Ghafar played Schubert's Serenade, a piano student Fawad with the most enviable long fingers played a piece I didn't know, a violin student played a couple of pieces along with Fawad. Then another piano student Arash left the room with keys and came back with a keyboard which he placed on the desk. Dr. Faroz began rearranging how the students were seated and then I was informed that they were going to sing a composition written by Dr. Faroz. It was in the Afghan style, two part harmony, with a pathos rivalling that of gospel music, very moving. Then they wanted criticism! They didn't get any.
About 11:30 it was time for a break and we went to another room on the third floor, about one-third the size, with a beautiful Yamaha grand piano. After having tea with Dr. Faroz and another faculty member, the violin teacher, Ghafar and the other piano students remained along with the violinist and we had a bit of a master class. Each played a piece and I gave a bit of coaching. They asked again when I was coming back. When I said "In March", Arash said, "No, you are in Kabul for five more days. When are you coming back?" We had plans to go to Jegdalek the next day, but I said I would try to come back on Thursday.
Early Wednesday morning, I sent Dr. Faroz an email saying I expected to be quite tired but could make it by 10:00 am and where should I meet him? Our office manager Akram drove me there today at 10:00 - he talked the police at the gate into letting him drive me right up to the Fine Arts Building - and Dr. Faroz was waiting at the entrance to meet me. He took me up to the Piano Room, with the nice Yamaha, and I met with nine students. Mostly piano, but also a singing student who had not been there on Tuesday, a different violinist, and a couple of tabla players - one of whom is a ringer for Ryan Gosling, the Canadian actor. Dr. Faroz went off to teach a flute lesson. The rest of us settled down to a good discussion and demonstration of piano technique, especially pedalling, how to learn to sight read, basics of good vocal technique, and a myriad of other questions. I learned that they have only 3 pianos at the U and the one keyboard. I encouraged the vocal students to find themselves some cheap keyboards to use to rehearse their technique so they could learn good pitches.
At 11:00, several students had to leave for private lessons so I quick got a picture of them which I will post here after I get back to the states. Then Dr. Faroz came back and he and I and Ghafar went down to his office for tea (that makes my third tea session, which according to Greg Mortenson, has great significance in this culture). Dr. Faroz got my email address and said a letter of invitation would be coming shortly. School begins after the Afghan New Year's celebration, so will start next year on March 20. I'm hoping to put this together with other work here.
Ghafar then walked me to the Puli Sorkh where Akram picked me up. Ghafar promised to work on improving his English. I invited him to consider taking the Institute for Leadership Development next year. All in all, a very delightful and profitable adventure.
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