March 2010Spring Recorder WorkshopAs a finale to Play-the-Recorder month, we welcome Eric Haas to lead our annual spring workshop on March 27, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (registration starting at 8:30). Using his collection of chansons, madrigals, canzonas, Myth Conceptions, Eric will not only lead us in playing delightful music but also enlighten us about mythological figures and events portrayed in the pieces. The cost is $45 for the full day and $30 for a half day. Included in the fee is the spiral-bound volume of music we will use. Participants should have fluency on at least two sizes of recorders. Check out his website: http://www.vonhuene.com/Play-the-Recorder MonthMarch is the time to talk up the recorder! Let your friends, acquaintances, co-workers, relatives know how much pleasure the recorder brings you. Encourage them to attend our programs this month. (See below.) Maybe a little push from you might even provide the incentive for them to want to give the recorder a try when we start our classes in the fall. By the way, the national organization is offering a reduced membership rate for new or lapsed memberships during March. Join at www.americanrecorder.org. Advertising helps!The flyer announcing our 2009-10 season brought unexpected results. Laura Morrissey saw it and decided to donate her father’s practically unused bass recorder to our chapter. Liz accepted it with the idea that it could be borrowed by chapter members who are bassless and would like to learn to play the bass or try one out for a set period of time. This is a Moeck wooden bass from the 1980’s. Presently it resides at the Seelys’ home. Bargain Membership in National ARSThrough March 31, ARS offers a $10 discount on membership fees. For $35 you can receive the magazine including some music for recorders plus support our parent organization! Go to: www.AmericanRecorder.org. Season FinaleSunday, May 16 at 4:30 is our all-chapter public concert. Held in the sanctuary of the church, the program will feature offerings by each class and also groups that meet outside of the regular Tuesday schedule. Mark your calendars and invite your friends and relatives to enjoy our year’s accomplishments. Summer Musical PlansNow is the time to start thinking about summer musical activities. There are many workshops all over the country that feature recorder and, often, other instruments. They are led by expert teachers and accept students at all skill levels. You can find these in the ARS magazine or online at: www.AmericanRecorder.org. There are also many workshops available abroad. You can combine a vacation trip with a musical learning experience. Again, check out the listings above. Also available at: www.earlymusic.org. An e-mail arrived asking that this workshop be announced: Master Class for Recorder and Chamber Music. Directed by Antonio Carrilho, in cooperation with Patrizia Giliberti (harpsichord). Evoramonte, Portugal. 17 – 24 October 2010. Info: obrasart@hotmail.com, www.AntonioCarrilho.com. Ornaments
January 2010Gardenscape CallsA preview of spring awaits us! Members of our chapter have an opportunity to provide 45 minutes of musical background at this year’s Gardenscape. The program organizers indicate that they can accommodate up to 20 players, so let’s show them what recorders en masse can sound like! The summer outreach group as well as outside groups and classes could also play a number or two. The date is March 13; our time is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Dome Arena. Please let Liz know of your interest.Play-the-Recorder MonthThe national ARS is once again encouraging chapters to “plan and carry out creative ways to showcase the recorder in their communities ” during March. Gardenscape would be one venue for us, but can you think of more? Do you have other ideas?Japan—Anyone?It’s very interesting that the January issue of American Recorder highlights the history of the recorder in Japan. Last summer a few of us met Momo Kusaka, a recorder player living in New Jersey, but originally from Japan! In fact, she was born in Hamamatsu, Rochester’s sister city. Through casual conversation with her, the idea evolved of a recorder group from Rochester visiting Hamamatsu at the time of their Recorder Festival in June. While Momo was in Japan recently, she spoke with recorder friends, who enthusiastically welcomed this idea. Hamamatsu is also the home of the Yamaha recorder factory and boasts a museum of musical instruments. In addition to tours of these sights, a visiting group could participate in the Recorder Festival. This trip is barely past the initial talking stage, but if there’s interest, we’ll pursue it with the Sister Cities Committee and with Momo and her friends. What an opportunity!Ornaments
November 2009Workshop and Drawing: November 14Do you have your calendars marked for 9-12 a.m. on Saturday, November 14? That’s the day the chapter will march, swing, and play rags and jazz. It’s also the day of the raffle DRAWING for the Also available for browsing and buying will be 1, 2, and 3-part music from our library. Holiday Gathering on December 8Instead of our regular meeting format on December 8, our final session for 2009 will be our annual all-chapter gathering, a time for classes to share pieces they’ve been working on and outside groups to Join our National OrganizationWe are a chapter of the American Recorder Society, and our parent organization encourages local members to become part of the larger group. In fact, in order to be a chapter we need a certain number of national members. There are benefits, as detailed here on our website, or see the national website at www.americanrecorder.org. The most recent issue of the organization’s informative magazine features an article about recorder maestro LaNoue Davenport plus an account of our chapter’s activities of last year. Ornaments
October 2009Upcoming RaffleAs our prize for tying in second place for the Play-the-Recorder-Month activities, the Chapter was awarded a $50-dollar gift certificate from Lazar’s Early Music. The Board has decided that we should hold a raffle and let the lucky winner pick his or her prize. The winner may also choose an item that is higher in value and make up the difference. At our next two meetings we will be offering one raffle ticket at $2.00 and three for $5.00. The drawing will be held at our workshop on November 14. So-- what’s in your future--a music stand, a metronome, music for the holidays? Check them out at www.LazarsEarlyMusic.com and enjoy browsing.(See the latest issue of American Recorder to find out how we earned this recognition.) Workshop on November 14For the past four years we have offered a half-day in-house workshop for all our members on a Saturday morning. Our volunteer teachers will once again lead us, this year in playing accessible swing, rag, jazz, and other music of the 20th century. It will be a fun-filled morning and a chance for the whole chapter to enjoy playing together. Mark your calendars and join us on Saturday, November 14, from 9-12 in Hubbel Hall at the church. Refreshments will be provided. The workshop is free, but we may ask for a small copying fee.Disk of May ConcertStan Gross has volunteered his time and technical expertise to make disks for all of us of the May concert. He views our ability to hear our playing not only as a chance to remember but also as a learning opportunity. Disks will be available again next week. If you wish, you may make a donation to the chapter for your disk. Thanks to Stan and also Neil Seely, who did the insert.Ornaments
September 2009This year is the Rochester Chapter’s 45th Season! Watch for the history of the chapter to appear here soon. Board NewsThe Board met twice this summer to plan this year’s activities. Kudos especially to Katy Mulvey, our webmaster, who did major work in revamping the website and to Jessica Brennan, our new publicity chair. She sent the usual announcements to the media but also designed flyers and business cards for posting and use at our outreach programs. Outreach GroupThe Outreach Group played a variety of musical numbers at five farmers’ markets in late August and early September. People seemed to appreciate the sound of the recorder, and we have several new members as a result of this outreach effort. Participating in the core group were: Courtney Richards, Pat Hanley, Liz and Neil Seely, Susan Hollis, Mary Jones and Edie Prest. They were joined on several occasions by: Ellen Brannin, Katy Mulvey, and Jeff Pratt. Dolci Venti played a few numbers at the Brighton market, after which members Frank Amato and DeeDee and John Heyer took part in the core group. We had some weather issues, but we weren’t rained out, and it was fun playing together. Oh—and the tip jar brought in $35.00 for the chapter! Ornaments
|
Archive >