......by Marimba group students in Room 21....

🎹 Recollections of Marimba Festival 2019 ~ By Fuyuka 🎹

This was one of the best days of my life. Oh right. Let me start from the start. My name is Fuyuka and I joined the Marimba festival group for Konini Primary School. When I arrived at the stadium, I saw my friend Callum. When we entered the stadium I saw my teacher Ms Rowllings setting up our Marimba so Callum and I went to help. After we helped we had a little practise. Our songs were Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, End of the day, Matariki Waiata, Clouds, Thunderstruck and Kanon 19 and the last song Firework. For my opinion, I liked the last song Firework. For the last bit, Jeremy (the conductor) asked Bjorn if he wanted to play the gong, but Bjorn declined so Jeremy picked a boy with a silver hat and he played the DONG! I really enjoy playing the Marimba because my Marimba has a really unique sound and I enjoy playing with my friends. And thanks to Mrs Rowllings.

🎹 Recollections of Marimba Festival 2019 ~ By Tatyana 🎹

On Saturday 31st of August the Marimba group went to the Barfoot & Thompson stadium in Kohimarama. Once we got inside and had our T-shirts on, we started practising with Jeremy the conductor.  We played eight songs.  When the audience came in I was really nervous because there were a couple hundred people! After we had finished all of the songs I felt really good! The songs we played were Kanon 19, Twinkle Twinkle, Matariki Waiata, Clouds, End of the day, Firework and Thunderstruck. The festival was super fun because there were fifteen other schools doing it! So that was my experience!

🎹 Recollections of Marimba Festival 2019 ~ by Callum 🎹

IT WAS SO COOL.  I would definitely do it again. My favourite song was Albatross Rock and ACDC's Thunderstruck.  Me and my parents were listening to the real song on the way back home.  We love that song, especially my Mum.  Every now and then people will give me a comment like, "Nice one Callum"... it gets annoying.

🎹 Recollections of Marimba Festival 2019 ~ by Robyn-Leigh 🎹

On Saturday 31st of August the Marimba group went to the Barfoot & Thompson stadium in Kohimarama. We arrived there at 2.50pm and the rehearsals started at 3.00pm.  We rushed into the stadium and put on our T-shirts.  At 3.00pm we started practising all of our 10 Marimba songs.  To be honest, the practise went really fast and 1 hour later there were about 200 people in the audience.  I was pretty happy and pretty scared.  There were 15 different schools playing different parts of the songs.  It sounded MAGNIFICENT!!!!!   In two of the songs, Thunderstruck and Firework, there were two solo singers singing.  They were really amazing and I bet you they would have had to practise a lot.  There were two songs that we didn't learn how to play and so we got to sit and watch the other schools.  The conductor was really nice and his name was Jeremy.  In the end I thought that the Marimba festival was a success and it felt incredible to be a part of it.  If Mrs Rowllings wasn't here, we would not have been able to take part in the Marimba festival.  Thanks Mrs Rowllings!!!!! 

🎹 Recollections of the 2019 Marimba Festival ~ By Bjorn 🎹

Are we there yet?  It was the day of the Marimba festival and I was bored out of my mind.  It took 40 minutes to get there. 40 MINUTES!!! You're probably thinking, why didn't I bring a book?  Well thing is my parents told me it would be 20 minutes.  Anyway, everything changed when we got to the Barfoot and Thompson Stadium.  When I got inside I went over to the bass marimba and found Jamie.  Jamie and I have been playing the bass marimba ever since we learned End of the Day.  Anyway, fast forward like 50 minutes were about to start practising Firework when the conductor - Jeremy - offers me the chance to ring the gong.  I deny it.  Don't say, be happy you were asked, because it isn't that unusual when the conductor is a family friend.  Fast forward another 10 minutes.  The show is on.  We begin with Kanon 19 kicking off the show.  A lot of schools did their own songs like Suburban Sunset.  Fast forward to the end of the show.  "BANG!"  The show ended with the loud sound of the gong.  So in conclusion, I advise anyone who is going to be here next year to join the Marimba band.