Palau Chessmate: Let It Be

Showing posts with label Let It Be. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

(1552) MUSIC AND ME -322 (June 28, 2018) A GROUP OF JAPANESE ENJOYED MY MUSIC FOR 2 NIGHTS

A GROUP OF JAPANESE ENJOYED MY MUSIC FOR 2 NIGHTS

On June 04, 2018, there is a group of Japanese musicians that requested a lot of songs to me. One is a drummer, the other one is singer, no keyboard player but with bass guitar player, who gave me $10.00 tip. They enjoyed that night with singing and requesting songs including "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire; Songs of Billy Joel, Japanese song "Tsunami", etc.

The next night, they all sit at the very far end of Breeze Bar but I still played their requested songs but instrumental only. Unlike in their first night, I always sing their requested songs.

I am surprised that they are leaving so early. But they have Japanese friends near the swimming pool and they go back and sit at the table very close to me.

At first, they are just talking so I played songs that I wanted to play without expression.

Then comes the older Japanese guy with hat (the guy at the left of the first photo.)

He started singing with some unfamiliar song among Japanese like "Days of Wine and Roses".

He gave me $10.00 tips and that's the start of their singing. I gave them my songbooks (American and Japanese) for them to look and more Japanese joined their group including the middle aged Japanese lady who always dance when the song that they are singing has fast tempo. She danced when I sing/play the Hawaiian medley of Baby Blue, Pearly Shells, Blue Hawaii and Tiny Bubbles.

She later gave me another $10.00 tip. She is the lady 2nd from left in the first photo

I took a selfie with the guy (with hat) and another guy that gave me another $10.00 tip (right). He cannot speak much English and requesting Japanese songs by just humming the melody.

I can't let go not to take photo of the dancing and generous lady (right), with the group of musicians except the other younger lady.

The next day, June 06, they are back at the same table. The generous and dancing lady came late and no tip from her this time. I saw the guy in the middle at Waves Restaurant when I playing instrumental music there, borrowing umbrella from the Palau Royal Resort staff because it's raining hard. When I come there, the rain stopped.

They enjoyed more singing but no dancing this time. The guy at right is drunk already since borrowing umbrella at Waves Restaurant.

The guy with hat sang another unfamiliar song to Japanese "All of Me".

Before I stopped playing at 11 pm, he asked the 'umbrella' guy if he gave me tip (chipu) already. He said "kinoo" (yesterday). The guy with hat specify "kyo" (today?). When he didn't answer, the guy with hat gave me $20.00 tip.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
December 29, 2002 -- August 05, 2018

Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
Soon to be published as a book

Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 25, 2013 -- August 05, 2018

The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- August 05, 2018

Monday, September 14, 2020

(1540) MUSIC AND ME (May 17, 2018) INSTALLMENT TIPS

I have never had an experience of having tips by installment! The Japanese guy here gave me a total of $5.00 tips for requesting 3 American songs at the Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort on April 30, 2018.

TIPS BY INSTALLMENT

I've got a $10.00 tip at Waves Restaurant on the night of April 30, 2018. Then I proceed at Breeze Bar to play another 2 hours of keyboard music.

Two young Japanese ladies came and sit near the keyboard. Later they were joined by their father? and I started to play Japanese songs starting with Yume No Tochu.

THEN THE INSTALLMENT TIPS BEGUN...

The father gave me $3.00 tip to play "Yesterday" by the Beatles. I sang the song as I know it by heart and it's the most recorded songs in the world. Being recorded by different artists/singers around the world by about 2,000 versions!

His next request is "Let it Be", another Beatles song. I sang it as well. He gave me a dollar this time. Then "Imagine" by John Lennon follows without tip. Imagine is very popular among Japanese even though it is sung by John Lennon when the Beatles broke up.

The two ladies sang with me to the songs by Southern All Stars "Tsunami" and "Itoshino Elly".

Then he requested again "Hotel California" by Eagles. I sang it as well with the key lowered by 3 steps to fit my range/key.
He gave me another dollar.

The last song of the ladies is "Nada Sou Sou", a very popular Japanese songs among middle aged generation.

Benny Billones wants to be in the photo also with the Japanese ladies so the last shot was a selfie.

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
December 29, 2002 -- July 05, 2018

Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
Soon to be published as book

Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 25, 2013 -- July 05, 2018

The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- July 05, 2018

Sunday, September 13, 2020

(1508) MUSIC AND ME (March 01, 2018) YUSUKE NAKAMURA--A FELLOW MUSICIAN (PERCUSSION) ENJOYED MY MUSIC

In March 02, 2018, as I am playing keyboard instrumental music at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort, a young Japanese couple is watching me playing. I know that they had dinner earlier at Waves Restaurant where I played 2 hours of piano music earlier from 7-9 pm.

They are not satisfied with just watching me and they sit down at the table in front of me so that they can hear and my playing more closely.

In between my playing, we exchange some stories about music, Japan, chess and experiences in Palau.

I gave them my card and took a photo of them together. Later, I asked a PRR staff to take photos of us.

There are some other guests that also requesting Japanese and American songs. I was able to play all the requested songs. I gave the couple my Japanese and American songs songbook.

One of the other guests gave me $10.00 tip and the other $5.00. It seems that the guy, whose name is Yusuke Nakamura, is somehow 'affected' by the generosity of the other guests and he gave me $10.00 tip likewise.

When I sang "Stand By Me" by Ben E. King, I sang "Yusuke, Yusuke, Stand by me, oh oh stand by me." He laughed and enjoyed the song as the others whom I used the same technique have enjoyed, too. Like "Paquito", "Steven" Chen, and his friend...

The next day, March 03, 2018, Yusuke came back by himself. He said his wife is already sleeping. He stayed for another hour and one of the guests gave me $5.00 tip and he gave me another $10.00 tip.

While I am securing the keyboard, sustain pedal and adapter, he showed me photos/videos from his cell phone where he is playing the percussion with a Japanese guy. He can play the guitar and drums, too.

HIS FINAL WORDS--"I HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN WHEN WE COME BACK TO PALAU. WE ARE GOING BACK TO JAPAN IN A FEW HOURS. IT'S VERY NICE MEETING A PERSON LIKE YOU."

Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
December 29, 2002--April 09, 2018

Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
Soon to be published as a book

Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 25, 2013--April 09, 2018

The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002--April 09, 2018

Sunday, January 29, 2017

(1333) MUSIC AND ME (Nov. 24, 2016) THE GOOD THINGS OF KNOWING GUESTS' NAMES

Motoki Hideura, left, and Yoji Hashimoto, right

Remembering their long Japanese names is possible only for me if I will write it as what I did to these 2 young Japanese. They have a good time with my music and we have this photo session. I don't like them to be the same as those other guests that I know only by face so I get a piece of paper and ask for their names. It's the best solution for my forgetful attitude, one of a trait that growing old person has to cope with.                         (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

               THE GOOD THINGS OF
           KNOWING GUESTS' NAMES

AFTER playing 2 hours of piano instrumental music at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort in October 13, 2015, I proceed to Breeze Bar for another 2 hours of instrumental keyboard music.

The place becomes a little busy with Japanese and Taiwanese guests. Later, a couple of Japanese guys sit near the keyboard and they requested a combination of Japanese and American songs.

They have a good time and I asked one staff of the Breeze Bar to take a photo of us. The Miller Lite beer at the background is very visible.

After some more singing and talking, I ask for their names so that I can feature them sometime in my Music and Me posts at http://palau-chess.blogspot.com after I gave them my card.

In order not to forget their names, I wrote it on a small piece of paper and put it in my wallet.

I didn't expect that I would see them again 2 days later. They have 2 lady visitors with them.

After setting the keyboard, I look at that small piece of paper where I wrote their names and memorize it. Then I go to their table and say, "How are you Motoki san?, How are you, Yoji san?"

The 2 ladies were surprised that I mentioned their names correctly. They are thinking that maybe these two have been here at Breeze Bar many times that the musician knows their names.

THAT'S ONE OF THE ADVANTAGE OF KNOWING GUESTS' NAMES.

THE SWEETEST SOUND TO A PERSON IS HEARING PEOPLE CALLING THEM BY NAMES.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

(1294) MUSIC AND ME (Aug. 04, 2016) GENEROUS TAIWANESE COUPLE WITH "Unique" Names

A GUY NAMED "WONDER", A LADY NAMED "BEAUTIFUL"
This Taiwanese couple were guests at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort on July 26, & 27, 2016 and knowing their names is a unique experience as their names will be easily remembered by anybody --Wonder for the guy and Beautiful for the lady. (Photo by Roberto Hernandez)

GENEROUS TAIWANESE COUPLE WITH
"UNIQUE" NAMES

IT'S JUST an ordinary night on July 26, 2016 at Waves Restaurant of Palau Royal Resort.

And it seems like another ordinary night at Breeze Bar of PRR after playing 2 hours of piano instrumental music at Waves before proceeding to Breeze Bar for another 2-hour instrumental keyboard music using Yamaha Portable Grand DGX-205 in which 6 keys are defective already and are not producing a sound.

I already report the problem to PRR General Manager Masayuki Kawaguchi and he asked me to give him quotation after he decided to buy a new one instead of letting a technician fix it for $90.00.

The technician, Roger, already fixed the 2 defective keys 2 years ago for $60.00.

That Yamaha DGX-205 was bought at Surangel's Department Store 5 years ago for $468.95 with 5% discount.

While teaching Yoko Tomita keyboard, I'm using that keyboard because the one I lend her (Yamaha PSR400) has 9 defective keys. But when the other speaker of this keyboard produce an annoying hissing sound, I always looked at Surangel's for new keyboard of the same model.

One day, I saw there's the same brand (DGX-220) for sale at $329.95. I informed Yoko that there is a keyboard for sale and her dad bought it as an early birthday gift for her. It has also a stand so I don't need to bring my keyboard and stand, and use elevator to bring it to her for piano lessons. At the elevator, you need to put on a quarter to operate it. Yoko is giving me an additional 2 quarters every session for elevator aside from $10.00/hour rate for twice a week lessons.

When I asked the staff at Surangel's if there is another one keyboard the same as Yoko bought, they said it's coming in 2 weeks. When it comes, I asked for quotation -- $1,995.00 for one and the other -- $2,249.95.

I know that PRR can't afford it so I surf the internet and found this:

Yamaha DGX230 76-Key Portable Keyboard, New

Perfect for beginners, this Yamaha Portable Grand delivers rich stereo piano sounds -- plus hundreds more sounds and styles, a built-in recorder, and more. (59) Read 14 reviews for this product | Rate and review this product

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Overview Specs Warranties and Docs Yamaha's Description Reviews

Yamaha's Most Portable Grand!

If you're looking for a portable electric keyboard with authentic-feeling semi-weighted action, the Yamaha DGX230 should be a serious contender for your attention! With Yamaha's Graded Soft Touch keyboard, which offers more resistance on the lower notes just like a real acoustic piano, you'll be to cultivate a finer technique. The 76-key DGX230 comes with a vast database of different sounds for you to explore, and it's also preloaded with numerous accompaniment tracks, so you can practice your ensemble playing even when you're alone. The DGX230 may be the least expensive model in the Yamaha Portable Grand series, but it sacrifices little by way of functionality compared to instruments costing many times more.

A Weighted Action Cultivates More Subtle Technique

Yamaha's Graded Soft Touch design gives your playing experience depth and subtlety. The action is weighted more heavily on the bass end, just as on a real piano. On the higher end the action is slightly lighter, allowing your fast runs and chording to move effortlessly.

Rich Stereo Sound

The DGX230 offers true 2-way stereo sound with a separate woofer and treble cone in each 6-watt speaker, helping Yamaha's rich grand piano sound to come through. And when you need more low-end, the onboard Bass Boost is there for you. The DSP onboard is Yamaha quality through and through, allowing all onboard sounds to be tweaked with the included Master EQ, Reverb, and Chorus functions. Want to practice in silence? Just plug in to the 1/4" headphone jack.

A Feast of Sounds and Backing Tracks

The DGX230 improves upon Yamaha's popular DGX220 with the expansion to 489 sounds and 160 musical accompaniment tracks. And if that's not enough, you can connect it to your computer via the USB port and download new sounds and tracks from Yamaha's internet Music Finder Service. The included software interface makes it easy! Want to get back to Yamaha's rich grand piano sound fast? Just press the Portable Grand button.

It's Also a Recording Device

In addition to the 30 included songs for you to play with or enjoy, the DGX230 also includes a sequencer with enough onboard memory to record 5 songs of your choice with up to six tracks of overdubs! It's not uncommon for musicians new to the keyboard to discover an inner composer they never knew they had -- so it's definitely a good to have a dependable way to record your ideas while you play!

Happy At Home, Happy At The Park

The functionality of this instrument doesn't trade off one bit on its portability. You can either plug in a standard 12V DC 2A wall adapter, or power it on-the-go with six D sized batteries. And with its 76-key size, the DGX230 is Yamaha's most portable Portable Grand keyboard.

Really A Perfect Instrument For the Beginner

All musicians learn differently, but the included Yamaha Education Suite software is a great way for beginners to study at their own pace. The Y.E.S. steps you through songs on the DGX230's big, bright LCD screen, displaying notes and chords to help you learn.

Features:

- 76 piano-style keys with Graded Soft Touch action
- 6-track onboard recorder for up to 5 user-created songs
- USB port for computer connectivity
- Master EQ, Reverb, and Chorus
- 489 high-quality tones
- 160 accompaniment tracks
- 2 x 6 watt true 2-way stereo speakers
- Powered via DC adapter (not included) or 6 x D size batteries
- Headphone jack
- Durable silver plastic case
- Yamaha Education Suite v.5 software included

zZounds is an authorized dealer of Yamaha products.

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