Wednesday, October 15, 2008 Metro Music House By Luis A. Quibranza III
IT was drizzling. And as if nature’s way of cooling wasn’t enough, the house’s air-conditioning system fogged up the double-layered glass window of the studio. I was tempted to approach it and scribble my vandal version of “I was here” with my pinky but held back such an immature tendency. Seated right outside instead, I tapped my feet to the beat of the band now practicing Paramore hits.
And like a mother in charge of her household, Alice Daniel, co-owner of Casa Musika, offered me a cup of coffee paired with a chocolate cupcake to help me fight the cold weather. The cup and her warmth made me feel at home.
Indeed Casa Musika lives up to its name. This house of music is a family-run business led by husband and parent of four kids, Danie Daniel. This place features a band rehearsal studio located right along Escario street.
A wide-enough room with decent acoustics, a Sonor drum set with Zildian cymbals, Dean guitars, a keyboard and a couple of Sennheiser microphones. This may be dismissible as alien language to some but, rest assured, inviting treats for amateur and professional musicians alike.
With a standard rate of P150 per hour, a band can expect a good deal.
While Danie gets busy with the technicalities of maintaining and setting up the instruments and equipment, Alice, on the other hand, takes care of the “hospitality” aspect of Casa Musika as in any other Filipino home. Alice has set up a little Chinese food stall up front as a little side project she handles, so as to further add to the home atmosphere of the rehearsal studio.
So when a band is rehearsing, the next (hungry) band, while waiting for their turn, can just hang out by the parking lot and order quick-to-munch treats ranging from dimsum to junk food.
But more than solid equipment and good food, Casa Musika boasts primarily in their central location in the metro. Musicians from the city can now enjoy a no-hassle, not-so-distant place to enjoy and master their craft. Besides, the place is just near malls and schools. If your band is bringing a car, then parking is no-brainer. There is a wide lot just in front of the studio made available by the tenants.
“The market here mostly consists of young people. Especially on weekends,” explains Alice.
I quickly consumed my cupcake as I noticed the funky rock band going out of the room. There goes my live background music. All I hear now is the falling of rain against the concrete outside. But I’m pretty sure that the house won’t be silent for long. Behind me is a whiteboard filled with reservations for the rest of the day.
