‘I miss it with all my heart’

Percussionist, band leader and teacher Monette Marino, 52, is the founder of San Diego’s 7-year-old Mo’rhythm School of Percussion. Her most recent recording is the 2020 single “Sira.” monettemarino.com

My last gig before the lockdown was, eerily, on Friday, March 13, 2020. I was playing with guitarist Bruno Serrano and my 13year-old daughter, Nasira Keita — she’s a budding percussionist — at Hacienda de Vega, a Mexican restaurant in Encinitas. This was our third time playing there, and it was noticeably less full than usual.

People who came in that night were not concerned about spreading germs. They danced, laughed, sang, hugged and did not seem worried for their health or safety. And the band was all about creating that party vibe for the audience. By the end of our gig, we had almost everyone in the restaurant dancing, singing and clapping their hands to the Gipsy Kings song “Bamboleo.”

The best part of the gig was that I got to play music with my daughter and watch her immerse herself in music, playing the congas, cajon and bongos. She experienced how music brings joy to the world and brings people together. This was just the beginning of our family musical adventures, and we were looking forward to playing together more often.

But that was not in the cards for 2020. We were all aware the coronavirus was present in the U.S., but it was still quite removed from our personal experiences, so it was more of a distant concern. I remember doing a shot of tequila at the end of the gig with the guitarist, and we jokingly said that at least the drink would kill any germs in our system.

On average, I would usually play 12 to 16 gigs per month, pre-pandemic. All of those were lost due to the pandemic. The shutdown not only halted our musical momentum, it stifled our motivation, caused doubts about whether or not music was a viable career choice, and most of all caused me to lose a large portion of my income. I had to quickly figure out an alternative.

I am only a percussionist, which is not really conducive for solo live performances online. I decided to focus on teaching instead of performing. My daughter and I did a series of Youtube videos that we called “Djembe & Dunun

Challenges,” and asked for donations, but that didn’t generate much income. So, I jumped onto the Zoom platform and revamped my classes to function virtually.

As a result, I have extended my student base

beyond San Diego and gained students from across the U.S. and internationally. Pre-pandemic, I taught one in-person class weekly in Encinitas which had eight to 10 students on average. Online, I now teach two weekly classes with an average of 12 to 16 students, plus six to 10 private lessons with students all across the globe.

Beyond that, the shutdown has helped me rebalance and reprioritize my life. It really made apparent was how much I ran around town filling up every second of my day hustling

to and from gigs, teaching, rehearsing, etc. Not having to do that has allowed me to focus on my personal health and happiness and spending family time with my daughter. For that I am grateful.

There is no substitute for performing live, and I miss it with all my heart. I mostly miss the connections and the exchange of energy that takes place among the musicians, and between the musicians and the audience. I miss making people smile and feeling that warmth of sharing my joy when I’m playing.

“The shutdown has helped me rebalance and reprioritize my life.”

COURTESY PHOTO