During the 2013-2014 season, we are offering the following classes:

First Hour Classes

Use these guidelines from our chapter to help determine what class level fits your needs the best. If you have any questions, please contact the instructors. If you're new, you can contact them through our informational email, info@rochars.org 

BEGINNERS

Frank Amato

Do you know someone who might enjoy learning how to play the recorder? We strive to work with beginners in a stress-free environment that can be very rewarding to someone embarking on this new musical adventure. Learn a few fundamental notes and you’ll be playing simple melodies relatively soon. Knowing how to read music is not required, since for those persons who do not read music, we can help them start from step one. You also help our Chapter towards building our membership. Bring a friend!

INTERMEDIATE

Liz Seely

Our goal in this class is to become more comfortable with our recorders and gain more enjoyment from playing. By working on technical exercises we will become more familiar with higher notes and improve fingering fluency, tone production and rhythmic confidence. Playing 3- and 4-part ensemble music will help us learn to listen to ourselves and adjust to others as we make music together. The class also provides an opportunity to learn the second recorder fingering and/or develop skill on a recorder of a different size.

HIGH INTERMEDIATE

DeeDee Heyer

Comfort with Sight reading, alto up, interesting rhythms and good ensemble playing will be some of our goals this year. We’ll be using Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass. We will work on 3-, 4-, and 5-part music to develop increased facility on all recorders as well as the ability to play syncopations and suspensions without losing the beat or your place in the music. Those interested will have plenty of opportunity to work on reading bass clef.

ADVANCED

Pat Hanley

Requirements: For this class playing SATB instruments at an advanced level is required. Switching instruments from one piece to the next is expected, as well the ability to sight read, double tongue and play alto up. 

We will utilize multi-part music, including pieces by Will Ayton, to develop ensemble skills with emphasis on complex articulations, phrasing, and rhythms.

NOTATION CLASS

Marian Henry

Requirements: SATB, knowledge of C-clefs and simple triple mensuration essential.

We will play lovely music of the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries from a wide variety of sources. All of us will be eligible to wear the T-Shirt that says "I play music by composers you've never heard of." 

Some images will come from less-than-pristine codices. There may be interesting puzzle canons. Facility with C-clefs and simple triple mensuration patterns essential. Practice outside of class is expected.

Second Hour Classes

LOW PITCH Plays Rags, Jazz and Blues

Marian Henry, Pat Hanley

Tenor and bass recorders required, lower instruments desirable.

Be ready for chromatics and a wide variety of rhythms.

KLEZMIRTH II

Paul Breese-Garelick

Fun with Klezmer & Folk Music. Based on traditions from Eastern Europe. Music of the people – think gypsy dances or a Jewish Wedding. Music ranges from slow ballads in modal keys to bouncy tunes with a swinging feel. Bring your soul and learn to swing eighth notes. The main book is SAT with bass doubling tenor part, nothing too difficult.

RECORDER TRANSCRIPTIONS

Neil Seely

Music written in the 19th and 20th centuries makes a great vehicle for learning to play musically, in that we have an idea of how it should sound.  Tone production and articulation will be stressed.  Skill in playing SATB required.

MUSIQUE de l’ BIBLIOTHEQUE

Regina Memole, John Heyer

The ensemble will play a wide variety of music from the chapter library and from other personal collections. Come enjoy the experience of group playing. Players of all levels welcome.

Additional Playing Opportunities

SIGHT READING CLASS, OUTREACH PLAYERS

Pat Hanley, Liz Seely

We will be offering Sight Reading Class on the first and third Tuesdays of the month, opposite the regular chapter meetings on the second and fourth Tuesdays. Note that there is no Sight Reading class on fifth Tuesdays unless otherwise notified.

The Outreach Players will sometimes rehearse in this time slot.