Sunday, July 7, 2013

Gamelan.

"Zafira, saya dah letak nama awak untuk belajar Gamelan.
6 dan 7 Jun, hari Sabtu dan Ahad. Cakap dengan ibu ayah awak, jangan pergi mana-mana.
- Teacher Noorhayati Jais.

Gamelan?! Oh my god, you have no idea how much I miss Gamelan. How much I miss to play Saron Demong. It had been weeks I have not played Gamelan. This is an irresistible offer! Nevertheless, my excitement was then perfectly ruinned by Rabiatul Aqillah when she said she could not go as she would be as busy as the bee during the weekend. Her schedule was as packed as sardines. She had to make one choice, only one. Bulan Sabit Merah Malaysia or Gamelan? If she choose Bulan Sabit Merah Malaysia she would have to attend a Bulan Sabit Merah Malaysia's leadership programme on Saturday and a Mangrove trees event on Sunday. 

I would be very very very lucky if she choose Gamelan over Bulan Sabit Merah Malaysia. Unfortunately, she betrayed me. - Ugh - I hate her but never mind, I still had a few more days to find someone to replace her. I thought of replacing Rabiatul Aqillah with Syazwani Afza until Teacher Noorhayati said the list for Gamelan players had full. In fact, there was no Rabiatul Aqillah on the Gamelan's list, hers was on Pengurusan Seni. Mhm-hm. I tried to accept the fact that she would not be joining us. Moreover, I have Khairina Nabila to accompany me those days even though her name is on Pengurusan Seni list. 

On 6th June 2013, I woke up with a negative thought. I did not know why but I judged this programme, it would be a very boring and dull programme. I kept on telling Khairina Nabila that that programme must be boring but Khairina Nabila is always Khairina Nabila. She asked me to be positive and have fun during this programme. Uh-huh, let's wait and see how dull this programme would be. 

"Expect for the worst, hope for the best." 

All of the participants were divided to four different scopes.

1. Pengurusan Seni.
2. Gendang Perpaduan.
3. Theatre.
4. Gamelan.

I was, obviously, in Gamelan. By the way, Gamelan teachers came a little bit late compared to other scopes teachers so we had to wait for them at Foyer B, the place where the Gamelan practice was conducted. As soon as they arrived, we were instructed to bring Gamelan instruments at the canteen to Foyer B. The instruments are Bonang, Saron's family: Saron Peking, Saron Baron, Saron Demong and Gambang. Then, ice-breaking session. It was no ordinary ice-breaking session this time. We were asked to make a style by using our body parts, for instance our hands, we could make peace symbol or wave symbol or whatever symbol we want to do to represent ourselves. Then, we had to mention our name three times. The rest would have to follow our styles and mention our name three times so that we could recognize each other. 

"Zafira, Zafira, Zafira." *Say this while waving your right hand*

Next, we learned Anak Kampung's notes and played Gamelan together. During recess, Khairina Nabila told me that we would be going to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia tomorrow morning. At first I thought we would continue our learning there but my prediction was wrong. We actually have to do a performance together with students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Baru Bangi and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jalan Tiga in conjuction to Majlis Penutupan Khidmat Seni Masyarakat. Oh, wow. A performance with only a one day practice? You got to be kidding me?! Feelings like a mixture of overwhelmed, nervous and excited.

Then we practice and practice and practice to improve our skills for hours until 4 o'clock in the evening. 

Sunday, 7th of June 2013.

- We went to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia by a bus.
- Practice and practice and practice for hours.

- Rehearsal at 12 o'clock in the afternoon.
Our performance was awful back then. :'(

- The show began at 3.00 p.m. and ended at 6.00 p.m.


This was the uniform we were asked to wear during the show.
The Baju Kurung was sponsored by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
... Much obliged students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia!

Performances made by students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bandar Baru Bangi,

1. Nasyid.
2. Theatre.
3. Dancing.

Perfomances made by students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jalan Tiga,

1. Nasyid 
Only Nasyid, I suppose. I could hardly remember. (?)

Performances made by students from Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jalan Empat,

1. Gendang Perpaduan.
2. Theatre.
3. Gamelan.


My Gamelan mates and I when we were preparing ourselves for the show!
... There were Form 1, Form 2, Form 3 and Form 4 students.


With Wan Yusreena.


No, I did not play Bonang, I played Saron Demong. ^^

Gamelan was the fifth performance right after Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jalan Empat's theatre. By the way, Gendang Perpaduan and Gamelan players were given privileges to be on the stage from the beginning of the show until it was over. I was nervous back then yet I still felt excited because it was my first time experience doing Gamelan performance. I really hope the audiences like it! However, my waist ache as I needed to sit cross-legged on the stage for hours Theatres both  from my school and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Jalan Tiga were fun, indeed very fun. They managed to make us laugh out loud even though we were supposed to cry or feel sad. I really enjoyed watching both theatre, especially theatre present by my school mates. By the way, I wished, I really wished I played Gendang Perpaduan back then. Gendang Perpaduan was the best among the others! Jealousy strikes as I watched Gendang Perpaduan players made their performance. Oh, be loyal Nurzafira Sabrina.

(... Psst! I had a crush on one of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia students who sang Nasyid song).


After the show!
... I looked fat and I knew it.








Introducing to you, one of my team mates, Barizah. She played Gendang by the way. 




That is Saron Demong, the Gamelan instrument I played throughout the performance. 

As soon as the show had over, I knew I am going to miss every single thing I had done within this two days. My Gamelan mates, my teachers who are students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, the practice we did for hours and caused my legs and waist aching. Every single thing. I just could not describe all the experiences I had gotten throughout this programme, there are beyond words. I felt like crying back then. I really did. I am going to miss them, all of them and I hope they will miss me too.

"Some moments are nice, some are nicer, some are even worth writing about."


With Teacher Mu'min.
(... We do not call them Teacher actually. We used Abang, Kakak).






From left, Teacher Salmah. She is actually a Japanese girl who come to Malaysia to learn Bahasa Melayu. Her Japanese name is Naoko or something which had the same pronounciation like that name. I do not know how to spell her name. Beside her was me, Nurzafira Sabrina. Next was Teacher Faizin. Then Teacher Mu'min, Teacher Nur Amni and Achik! Oh my god, Achik was the one who taught and lead us during the show. He is a nice guy. Very friendly. Often made jokes when we were practicing for the performances. The one who is wearing the light-green Baju Melayu is Teacher Fazli. He sang the Anak Kampung's song when we were playing Gamelan. He has a very sweet smile. Yes, I truly miss the way he smiled when he wanted to persuade us smiling when we did our performance. I really miss that smile! The squat girl is Dayah (?) if I am not mistaken.


Captured a picture as a memory with my juniors also known as my team mates.


Khairina Nabila and I. :3

I started to miss everything again after I made this post. I really wish I could meet them again. :'<

Lots of Love, Nurzafira Sabrina.

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