Performances

Zambezi isn't only about practice and learning how to play the marimbas. It's also about discovering the art and excitement of performing. To your left is an optical representation of what it's like to perform marimba music. We usually put on about 4 concerts per year, two of which are the major ones done in conjunction with Kusika, the Dance Company, the Sankofa Step Team, and other marimba/drumming/singing groups outside the Williams community. For a schedule of our performances for fall semester 1997, please click here. Watching from the audience and actually putting together a show are two completely different ways of experiencing a performance. For those of you who are interested, here are a few quotes from my bandmates which I think cover the range of emotions and stresses we undergo immediately before as well as during a performance:

The biggest draw to performing in front of an audience is the performance anxiety. They say the best way to deal with it is to imagine the audience in their underwear. Performing is reeally a good time to just picture people in their underwear which can be a whole lot of fun, although sometimes you forget what you're playing. For the most part I just like jamming with my friends and not having to worry about starting and stopping in a reasonable amount of time. -Aaron "Zarbiff" Weinberg

Performing is fun when you don't screw up... or, I guess, if you screw up only 'minorly'. It worries me whenever we're not always perfectly prepared for a concert (which is true about 101% of the time!) but I guess that adds to the exhilaration when (not if!) we manage to pull it off!! Personally, it's always somewhat nerve-racking to perform in front of an audeince. - Sunny "Relaxed" Wu

I like performing in front of an audience when I am doing something that I really enjoy, and I have to say, marimba is turning out to be one of those things. I enjoy them because of the happy, infectious nature of marimba music, which has a lot to do with the fact that you just have to move to the music. It's very physical (both because of its crazy rhythms and because of the simple fact that in order to get a sound out of the things you have to bang them with sticks)... certainly more outswardly and unabashedly physical than the classical music I've played for most of my life. -Jeremy "la Bamba" Wilmer

Yes the first performance is on Thursday at 7:30 so be there at 5:30. yes, 5:30. We need to learn a new piece and go over what we already know. Actually why don't we meet Wednesday, Tuesday, and Monday as well. What, you have another rehearsal? Then let's meet at 9pm, is that okay with everybody? Be sure to practice! Don't forget to bring your costumes! Don' be late! -Professor Ernest "Groovin" Brown

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Questions or feedback? Email me at 98swl_2@williams.edu.
Created 11.97; sarah leung.