MIGUEL & ME: the story of a late bloomer and her violin May 17, 2012

~

When I want something, I try to do something about it.

So when I was asked what musical instrument do I want to rock out in my next life, I said the violin.

And so as not to waste time, I got meself one and baptized it Miguel.

~

~

So while teaching some kids from the community in Zambales how to make their own documentary,

these kids were also teaching me how to play the violin.

~

JULIAN AT 5 years old
(found this image on the internet, ain’t he a cutie

JULIAN at 12

~

Julian Duque was my first teacher. He was actually the one who let me experience how it is to hold a violin. It was during this moment that I felt this connection with the instrument. Naks! He was also the one who gave in to our request for a concerto. He played so well he made our hearts swell, haha rhyme! But really, he is fun to watch and a joy to listen to. This kid has so much to offer… There’s so much inside of him and he’s just bursting with all this energy that is affecting everybody who watches him. This boy is gonna go places, with a gift like his, I want to be just like him in my next life

~

~

This is Miguel, yep he’s got the same name as my violin  He was the one who taught me how to do the musical scales properly. He also taught me the 4th variation of  twinkle, twinkle little star, the first piece that I learned. I asked him when can I do the vibrato, he said anytime Haha, easy for him to say, he started playing the violin at the age of 3!!!

~

~

This is now my regular teacher, Remed, he is actually more strict compared to them. Some say he’s the bad boy of the group, must be the bangs but to me he is an effective teacher. I mean, I can now properly play the violin, aruruteynkyu to him, and I’m actually on my 8th piece already, so he must be doing something right  I told him I prefer faster pieces to play but he told me that I need to go through the musical scales first and that I need to do it correctly. Yes sir-ee!

I just watched his solo performance last weekend at Casa and boy was he a delightful surprise! I didn’t know he was that good! He gave a heart-wrenching performance, everybody in the theater felt his passion and emotion. I am a proud student, bravo teacher Remed!!!

~

~

These kids (kids because I’m much older than them!) all started out in Casa San Miguel and is part of the Pundaquit Virtuosi. They were all trained by no other than the world-renowned violinist, Coke Bolipata. Now, they play alongside him and in fact headed to Europe (Paris-Rome-Venice) this June  for a concerto. Halukatdat!

~

~

I watched them perform at Casa San Miguel’s theater hall and I was just in awe. Every note they played tugged my heartstrings. It was also my first time to watch Sir Coke perform and I just wanted to cry. I hear what he’s been saying about art exponents in music. During a conversation before their performance, he mentioned that we will hear some movements of impressionism & pointillism and I really saw it painted by his violin…

~

~

I feel that it’s never too late to learn something new…

So here I am at 35 trying to learn how to play the violin from these child prodigies.

Hopefully in my next life, I will be as great as them, but for now I will rock out my version of Twinkle, twinkle…

~

*** performance video of the virtuosi to follow

http://theartofeveryday.wordpress.com/2012/03/20/what-a-weekend-casa-san-miguel/

Featured Artist: VINCENT MOON April 18, 2012

~

PARIS –   I’ve been watching la blogotheque’s take away shows and dreams of not only catching a performance on the streets of Paris or inside private homes but also being part of the crew. So I did what I had to do, I sent them my hopes and dreams, but alas, no news…

~

Flash forward to 2012

~

MANILA  - The dream of working for La Blogotheque did not push through but the hope of meeting one of the creators did happen! I cannot believe that he is here, breathing the same humid air! French Filmmaker VINCENT MOON is in the Philippines, Halukatdat!!! 

~

PARIS TO THE MOON AND BACK!!!

~

Tell us what you are doing now.

Riding a bus in Ethiopia

 

How did you discover your true calling? When was the exact moment you realized that this is what you really want to do?

I never thought of it like that. It happened, one day i look back and realize i have been walking on that path.

 

What did you go through to get it?

Complete and crazy desire to know everything.

~

~

What’s your style and what are your themes?

My style is my style, dont know what else to say about it. You are the one who is supposed to develop on this, not me

 

What differentiates your style from the rest?

I have no idea what is the rest.

 

Where do you get your ideas/concepts/inspiration?

Travelling.

 

Do you have a ritual that you do before you start the creation? .

I stretch my legs.

 

Walk us through your regular day – do you work on one film at a time or do you do things simultaneously? Do you work better during day time or night time? Share with us your process..

It changes everyday but its often complete chaos, mixing everything.

~

~

What are your weapons of choice? What kind of camera and microphone do you use to capture the moment? What gadgets do you bring when you shoot?

Often people ask me about how i record, film, create those colors etc… it’s all very simple, and here’s my little recipe. I film mostly those days with the Panasonic 171, on which I use a shotgun mic. I record sounds separately using a 4-track recorder, on which I plug from 1 to 4 standard Sennheiser wireless transmitters, using different laveliers, Sanken or Tram. I also use one or two ambient mics if possible on the 4-track , an omni directionnal and an ultra directional being a perfect deal. I often add to all this another isolated small recorder, the Zoom H4N being really good. I then work on final cut pro all of my edits, and even do the color corrections in it. (petitesplanetes.cc)

 

What is it that you want to say through your art?

Something that I can’t say with words.

 

How has your works evolved into what it is now?

Constant curiosity.

 

What fascinates and inspires you? and how does it influence what you do?

Life in general, any elements. Mostly wind and rivers now.

~

~

Where do you want to bring your Art?

Around the planet in my bag.

 

What dream do you still want to fulfill?

No dreams. Just making things.

~

~

What keeps you going? What keeps you doing what you do?

The possibilities of developing some new ancient ways of being together.

 

What is the art of everyday for you?

Every elements.

~

website _ www.vincentmoon.com 

label _ www.petitesplanetes.cc

blog _ www.fiumenights.com 

As of this interview, Vincent Moon is in Ethiopia filming… This feature is created by Jazel Kristin especially for

“The Art of Everyday.“ Colored images from his website, black & white photos shot by JK during Vincent Moon’s talk 

at the UP Film Center last March 12, 2012.

SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW April 3, 2012

LOVIN’ THIS VERSION

ASTIG  JAMMING!!!!

JAMES BLAKE: A Case of You April 3, 2012

James Blake covers Joni Mitchell = genius

KIMBRA April 2, 2012

I LOVE HER SOUND and I LOVE THE WAY SHE MOVES

OH LAND – SUN OF A GUN March 27, 2012

I MISS PERFORMING

Je t’aime a la folie May 30, 2011

 

  

I LOVE FRENCH (A et le langue ;p)… The way the words curl in my mouth. The way it sound especially when whispered in my ear I love how words are feminine and masculine, like the word head (la tete) is feminine and heart (le coeur) is masculine, I mean who decided that?  Arte arte diba

I love how it’s not pronounced the way it is spelled, like parfait (par-fay) et (eh) mignon (mi-nion)…  I like that some french words are exactly the same in english like silence, minute, experience: same spelling but different pronounciation. There are also words that are almost the same but not quite; coleurs = colors, temps = time, enfant = infant, biere = beer, monstre = monster … And some of it are closer to home; bouteille = bote,  savon = sabon, jardin = hardin…

My favorite french word for now is INOUBLIABLE. I love the sound of it and the way it is pronounced: I-NUB-LI-YABL. C’était inoubliable = It was Unforgettable.

 

Bonjour! Je m’apelle Jazel Kristin.

Je suis artiste multimedia, realisatrice et conseiller visuel.

J’ai 34 ans mais ce n’est pas évident

C’est tout, aruruteynkyu…

 

The first french words that I learned…. are meant to be whispered and not written here Hahahaha okay the other words that I learned quickly was related to food, Beh ouais bien sur!!! Poulet, poivre, soja, ail, vinaigre = Adobo! And of course how to say I AM HUNGRY = J’AI FAIM!  Faim na moi, hahaha shushal!

A would draw me images and write its French counterpart for me to learn. I once recorded our first French lesson without him knowing it, which actually became a sound installation for my exhibition [Home Is Where the Art Is at SilverLens].

In the end, A improved his english and I still have a lot to learn in french. The goal now is to be able to crack a joke instinctively and to think automatically in french ;p But as the saying goes, petit à petit, loiseau fait son nid… or in my language-unti-unting mararating, kalangitan at bituin :p

 

If not now, when? May 27, 2011

 

 

If I’m not doing what I’m doing now

I would love to sing songs like her, play funny-looking instruments,

be in a band, perform in somebodys living room

have intimate concertos

. . .

Maybe in the next life

 

EXCUSES by The Morning Benders April 4, 2011

 

 

My theme song every morning in my Paris atelier.

Not so much the lyrics but more the vibe and energy of this musical collaboration.

The feeling here was what I wanted to achieve in my live musical video installation performance

…

Major goosebumps

Giddy feeling

like you’re In Love

…

 

 

 

LIMIT TO YOUR LOVE January 25, 2011

 

 

 

 

A heartfelt song by FEIST, made more powerful by JAMES BLAKE