Life without accompanying

Michael Wall accompanying a dance class with a hand drum and wooden flute.

I have been feeling nostalgic about accompanying dance classes. It has been years since I have had a regular accompanying schedule, and I miss it so much.

I started playing for classes in 1995. By 1999, I was playing 4-6 classes a day, 6-7 days a week in NYC. My daily routine started early at 6 AM. I would check my gear and make sure everything was intact from the day before. I would run down the stairs with two congas on a fold-up dolly, a backpack full of small instruments, and a djembe. All together, everything weighed over 100 pounds. I would stop at my corner deli for a quick breakfast sandwich and a small coffee, which I would eat quickly and head in the direction of my first class.

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