Date: Sat Mar 24, 2001
Subject: Back to Brisbane May 3

Hi folks,

Just a quick note to say I've just set my return date to Brisbane - I'll be arriving back on the night of May 3, in time to play with Vijaya at the Sacred Music Festival on May 6.

Maybe now's a good time to request some help from my friends, to help me get back into the Brisbane vibe. Here's some favours I'm putting out for :

ROOM - I'm going to have to find a place to stay, etc, so if anyone hears of a good room for a tabla player who likes to practise all day and give lessons and have rehearsals and generally make lots of sound (I also have a piano and quite a bit of furniture.), please keep me in mind. Plus of course I wouldn't mind a couch to sleep on for a few nights I'm sure..

GIGS - I need money! And I want to play music with nice folks, so if there's any opportunities for gigs coming up, eg Bhakti, tabla solo, sitar-tabla duos, percussion jams, etc. think Shen!

STUDENTS - I hope you guys are practising. I think you'll notice a few changes in how I'm playing (and Liz too when she gets back), so this means work for YOU! Get ready!

It's so strange that my time here is coming to an end. Unlike previous trips to India, I'm not feeling so desperate to come home. I could happily keep on taking lessons and practising and hanging out with international folks for a while yet Any way, I'm ready to come home; there's a right time for everything so here I come.

As my time comes to a close here I've been getting more and more busy. Lately I've started singing lessons and tabla repair lessons two nights a week, and on other nights I'm practising with various Indian and Japanese sitar players or doing my own practice. Naturally, daily tabla lessons and practice continue (about 5 hours a day average lately, but I want to raise that for the last month). On Monday, Navratri starts - "Nine Nights of the Goddess". I had been intending to practise all night for the nine nights, something hard-core devoted musicians do around here, but I've lately decided that for my first time I won't put myself under too much pressure to practise until sunrise every night. But I will be doing what I can for these nine nights, may Durga bless me!

Love to all
Shen
Aum Mani Padme Hum