パプリカ。こんなコロナの時代の前に書かれた一輪の素晴らしい楽曲です。しかしながら、この曲この曲のどこがどういう風に「応援ソング」なのかは、ちょっと解説が必要に思います。アスリートをイメージさせるような描写は一つもありません。この曲は「他の誰かを応援し、背中を押す歌」ではないのです。では、誰を応援する歌なのでしょうか？それは、自分自身。「大人になり虚しさに襲われたときに自分自身を励まし奮い立たせてくれる」幸せだったこども時代の記憶を呼び覚ます歌でのです。また今日改めて確認した「パプリカの花」は白くて美しい花でしたが、その花言葉は「君を忘れない」という言葉なのです。今日はさまざまな楽器にチャレンジしながら、英語で歌おうとしたものですから、なかなかそんな深い意味をお伝えする時間もありませんでしたが、今一度保護者のみなさんも日本語の歌詞を味わってみてください。そしてぜひ子どもたちと一緒に英語で歌うことにもチャレンジして欲しいと思っています。今日こどもたちは本当に楽しそうでした。やはり音楽のチカラを素晴らしい。コロナの時代の渦中だからこそ、どうすれば大切なことや時間を失わないようにするか、そんな大人の背中をこどもたちに見て欲しいと考えています。
An experience of Okayama Media Support
The purpose of today’s activity was to experience in making music in OMS musical workshop. A song called paprika(パプリカ) was chosen for the kids due to its popularity. After normal greetings to each other, we headed for the singing practice process. Due to the fast speed and difficult English words, kids found it hard to keep up with the rhythm initially. Especially where to stress the words and how to pronounce the intonation with its change in different places of one sentence. For example, in the lyrics「put the seeds into your hands and throw them in the sky」, “and “will be pronounced like the sound “an” instead of the whole sound, and “into” will be pronounced fast. After numerous times practice, they finally completed the song by themselves. At around 11:00 o’clock, we moved to the OMS music workshop to have the real experience in making a song. There are numerous musical instruments which include drums, guitar, piano and violin. Kids were soon attracted by the musical instruments and found out their favorite ones. Even some of them had no experience in playing the instruments before, they soon discovered the secret of doing it. For example, sixth-grade-kouhei chose to play the drums and soon discovered rhythm. Also, second-grade kanato and Karin also found their favorite musical instrument. Because yuki and koharu have already learned how to play the piano, it was simple for them to do it. I was asked to play the violin which I hadn’t practiced several years, however, I had no confidence to play it in front of everyone. At that time , what I was thinking was that there was only one chance in human life where too much regretted things could not be allowed. After some time practice, we held the formal practice and made it successful. Despite kids were afraid to try the English lyrics at first, they finally did it in miracle. Numerous potentials are hidden in their bodies. As long as they work hard enough, they will break out amazing energy out of their body. After 1 hour staying in musical workshop, we moved back to the YMCA and have meal. At around 1:00 o’clock , we had a report to the parents by singing and dancing the paprika(パプリカ).
OMSに足を踏み入れた瞬間は、みな恐る恐るでした。しかし、シュガーさんとかねやんがピアノとドラムで演奏を始めたことをきっかけに、次第に積極性が発揮され、自らさまざまな楽器に挑戦し始めました。その後は、日本語・英語という両方の言語でパプリカを大きな歌い、果ては振りまでつけることができました。１学期のさまざまな活動を通して、ひとりひとりが育ち、度胸がついてきたことを感じています。保護者のみなさんに向けてのプレゼンにも今後は活かしていくことができるはずです。
いずみん
