First Day Exploring Miami

Day 1 in Miami has been eventful. I had breakfast at a neighborhood Cuban restaurant (eggs and hashbrowns...not really much different than an American breakfast). Then, I proceeded to the University of Miami to explore the campus and get acclimated with the music facilities and research library. I received permission to access the Music Building whenever I would like in order to use the pianos for practicing. As I was leaving, I decided to walk to the Campus Library and see what the University's Cuban Research Center looked like. It was a good thing that I stopped in. I introduced myself to the staff, and before I knew it, I had spent 2 hours conversing with the staff about my project, about what the Research Center had to offer, and different venues for live music. I was also put in contact with a prominent radio/television producer in the Miami area who interviews Cuban Musicians (we are meeting Friday morning). I was able to begin to do a little research in the Library and I requested the archive for Osvaldo Farrés. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this man, he was a Cuban composer who is best known for "Quizas, Quizas, Quizas." This is is one of my favorite Cuban standards and it was very intriguing to see what information and materials the library had about him. Of course, they had the regular things that you would expect to find in a library: pictures, biographical readings, etc. What was most exciting was the amount of musical manuscripts of his music. I have not been able to find much sheet music of his music and I hit the jackpot with this archive. I copied/photographed countless pieces of sheet music (mostly Bolero's and Cha Cha Cha's) in spanish as well as many different languages. I am eager to play through this music tomorrow. Now I am back in my hotel room unwinding a bit. I will probably head out to the local Ritz Carlton this evening to hear a Cuban Band perform Cuban music of the past. Supposedly, the Bar within the Ritz Carlton is supposed to make you feel like you are in Havana during the 1950's. I will give this bar a try and see what the music is like. Tomorrow, I meet with a few different Cuban musicians and faculty members at the University of Miami who I am sure will guide me as to where to go to hear Cuban music in the area. In the meantime, I can only go where I know of. Hopefully the music will be good! Before I stop writing, I should also mention that I spoke with Paquito Hechavaría today (a Cuban piano player who performed with Gloria Estefan for a number of years) and we will be setting up some Cuban Piano Lessons (hopefully starting next week).

So..Things are going very well. I am settled into my hotel room and have a general understanding of how to navigate around the immediate vicinity of where I am staying. I am having a great time and definitely am keeping busy!

More to come tomorrow (or even later tonight!)

A Picture of the University of Miami's Beautiful campus with a Lake in the middle of it!