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Fong Naam and “The Life of Pi”

Posted by Bruce Gaston on 3rd December 2007

Fong NaamPreparing our opera always involves smiles. Not that happiness is the goal of our work, but it is the modus operandi. Too often, music is thought of as a leisure activity and that only leads to re-creative results.

“No proper music education?” I hear you ask. Well, I admit that I do require the children to memorize aspects of musical theory which is so basic to Thai classical music. However, it is only one part of the overall approach which is centered on creative music making, and placing the children in situations where they learn for themselves.

By the way Fong Naam, my Contemporary Thai Music Ensemble, is celebrating our twenty fifth anniversary this year, and the production of this opera with the children is part of our celebrations. They have been enjoying working with the children over the last months. They were rather surprised the other day when I had our first rehearsal alone without the children. Up until now they have only been playing along with the kids to encourage their rhythmic skills. But during the rehearsal I gave them some fairly difficult tasks which were quite independent from what the children were doing. They suddenly realized that this children’s opera was going to require more of them than they had first thought. They did not complain because they know that you cannot ask your students to strive to go beyond themselves if the teacher is not also ready to do the same.


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2 Responses to “Fong Naam and “The Life of Pi””

  1. Mark Says:
    December 9th, 2007 at 10:34 pm

    Looking forward to hearing some more stories about the concerts

  2. Pamela Beaird Hensley Says:
    August 1st, 2008 at 3:23 am

    Please help me find Bruce Gaston,
    I am an old friend of Bruce Gaston’s. The last time I saw Bruce was in 1971 in the mountains of Chang Mai. I am an American who was over there for a short time working with missionaries in Bangkok. I would like to email him and update him and hear more about his work.
    My email once again is pamspraise8@yahoo.com.
    Thank you for any help you might give me so that I can say hello to my old friend.
    Sincerely, Pam Beaird Hensley

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