As a trained
concert pianist and qualified music teacher I have been performing at Casa
Labia, Muizenberg, South Africa for some time now.
I perform on
a Kawai Grand Piano model RX-7 in the splendid and wonderfully ornate ballroom,
home to many concerts and soirees. For more information on these events, please
visit the Casa Labia website www.casalabia.co.za
The piano is
a delight to play on. The action is responsive and the tone really superb for
this venue.
I perform
from 12 noon until 3pm every Saturday and Sunday. My repertoire includes
classical and a diverse style of popular, standard jazz as well as some original
material.
The venue
hosts weddings, high teas, corporate functions, anniversaries and birthdays and
I am available to play for all these events. Other than my extensive
repertoire, I am only too happy to play guests favourites provided I am given
advance warning.
I would also
like to take this opportunity to thank those patrons who kindly supported me
with generous gratuities. It’s really not expected and it gives me a tremendous
feeling of satisfaction to know that my art is appreciated.
I chose this career from very early in life. I began playing at the age of 5, continued at
school and then studied music at university. Being a performer takes years of
dedication and hard work - hours of technical exercises, preparing for exams,
practicing “note perfect” performing. Another
skill which takes some mastering is the ability to read music for both right
and left hands simultaneously.
Many passers-by at Cavendish Square where I
promote the Kawai Grand Piano for Ian Burgess-Simpson Pianos, twice a week on
Thursday and Fridays are flabbergasted by this ability. It’s really not that
astounding thinking about it. It’s like any form of vocation where you become
skilled in your particular workplace; the typist can rapidly type a letter
within a few minutes without looking at the QWERTY keyboard. They know through
practise which finger to use for each letter of the alphabet; the same applies
to being a musician (you know which key to play without glancing down from the
sheet music you have in front of you).
Being a
musician is sometimes difficult in our present economic climate. Musicians are
everywhere: subways, street corners, inside restaurants, outside restaurants,
and of course in front of sidewalk cafés (even now in trains, especially here
in the Western Cape). I've learned to ignore the bad ones and reward, whatever
I can afford, the good ones.
I know how
is it to struggle to make ends meet and when a gratuity is presented (for
waitrons or musicians) it really is very much appreciated.
Many people
do not know what the protocol is for is for entertainers. They know they should
tip their waitresses and waiters but not everyone knows if it’s ok to tip the
entertainment. Of course a gratuity is always welcome for the musician,
depending on the patron’s appreciation of the music and the overall contribution
it makes to the ambience, relaxation and the opulence of the venue.
The money I receive
in the form of gratuities is primarily used to purchase new repertoire material.
In my
opinion, requests from the public must be honoured and I normally make it my
business to obtain and practise a requested song on their next visit to the
venue. Thus, makes the patron happy and they would in turn frequent the place
more often.
Jean-Paul
Grimaldi-Lasserre
Kenilworth,
Wednesday, 15 May 2013
