HER love for music started at primary school when she was just six.
Better known as Pu Qalo, the 77-year-old, a well-known composer, music teacher and choir conductor with the Methodist Church, believes God has called her to her role with the church.
Asked about her gift of composing hymns, Qalo Bale Baleidrokadroka Rokotakale said: “Just me and God, we write songs together.”
A primary school student at Nabua Primary School in Suva, Qalo had moved from Ono-i-Lau with her parents as they found employment in the city.
“Back then, not many buildings were in Nabua and on Mead Rd. It was the 1940s,” she said.
“Suva was not as developed. We had some big buildings which remain today although the place was not as crowded as it is today.
“We lived in Tacirua and I remain there at our family place.”
Her love for music started at Nabua Primary School where she used to sing hymns from classes one to three.
She remembers her teacher Tulia Koroi who “taught us well about music and its importance”.
“Today, some singers don’t pronounce the words well. When I listen to songs on the radio, I always pick this out.
“I always feel sad when I hear it because I am very particular about the pronunciation of words; we need to speak or sing them right.
“This is what I stress with choir members and those I train in music classes.”
She said the pronunciation of the lyrics should be done right with every song whether it be English, iTaukei, Hindi or any other language.
Pu Qalo has also composed and altered some hymns sung by the Methodist Church congregation.
“For some hymns I’ve altered, it’s basically the melody, although before I do this, I pray and ask God to help me.
“I usually go through the whole song, sing it, and pray about it before God leads me to making changes.
“That is very important. Whatever we do, we should ask God first. He has been my coach in this music field. Without him, I am nothing.”
Her popularity has reached other musicians and Methodist Church followers who live overseas.
“They’d pay for my recharge cards so that we can do video calls, allowing me to teach them about notes, melody and the different parts of music.
“Many of us sing, we can all sing, but knowing the different characteristics is a different thing. For example, in a melody, things such as range, scale or contour, many don’t know about this.
“That is why people call me to ask me about these issues because it helps them better recognise music, not just as a song but a blessing from God because it contains deeper characters.
“Once you recognise these parts of a song, you will appreciate music.”
She said translating English songs to iTaukei, including gospel songs, should be done carefully.
“You don’t just directly translate word by word from English to iTaukei. A lot of people do that today, but I don’t agree because English words are specific compared to iTaukei words which generally describe a few things.
“What I usually do is sing the whole song like my tutors used to tell me, go through the words and when you do this, you can somehow feel the atmosphere and the reason the composer wrote that song.
“When this happens, you are in a much better position to translate the song. It tells you the mood of the composer, sometimes heartbroken, hurt, happy or just glad about situations.”
Pu Qalo is not just a music teacher, conductor, coach or singer, she is a serious musician who means business when it comes to sharing her knowledge of music to others.
She has four children and many other children who lived under her roof for the love of music.
“Until today, they have always come back home to help me. One of them, whom I see as my daughter, lives in America. Every year during the church conference, she pays for my hotel in town and provides a rental car to transport me to the conference venue.
“They know that the church conference usually locks me down with a busy schedule as I deal with the choirs and that is why they help me with hotel and transport.
“Another daughter of mine lives in England while three are here with me and they have always been there for me.”
