It is always tough losing someone.
I am in awe of what Roy Ernst has created. When he founded the first New Horizons Band at the Eastman School of Music in the late 1980s, his mission was to give adults the opportunity to live. Roy understands that life is about passion. It is about never-ending education, connecting with others and being creative. That is the genius of New Horizons Band. Give adults the opportunity to bring music into their lives and see what happens.
Roy targets senior citizens. He knows that after retirement, life can lose meaning for some people. Children have grown up and begun their independent lives. Your profession carries on without you. Roy's mission was to bring interactive music - ensemble music - into the lives of retirees. Those who played music in their youth and had stopped as adults. Those with a desire to return to their youthful pasttime. And those who never had the opportunity to play. Teach them - it doesn't matter if a person is 9 or 90, they can learn to interact musically with others.
I shared a week with Roy and 200 senior citizens this past September in Chatauqua, NY at the International New Horizons Band Camp. Everyone there was living proof that playing music late in life brings joy and meaning into one's life.
Dave came to us about five years ago, picking up the trombone for the first time since the sixth grade. Having just retired, he had the time to return to a favorite childhood activity. He picked the instrument back up quickly. He practiced like a madman - to the point that he would give my mother, who played euphonium beside him in the band, a hard time for not practicing enough. He dove right in and became a core member of the band.
Dave never stopped learning. It was his goal to constantly explore new musical ideas and improve his skills. He recorded rehearsals on a mini tape recorder so he could practice with the recording at home. He joined the PMAC adult blues band to learn to improvise, and played in our summer big band, soloing from the heart without a shred of music to rely on.
Dave lived. He was always the first to volunteer to come help move equipment. Just last month he was carrying timpani and music stands into the church before our winter concert. First to arrive, last to leave. He constructed Christmas parade floats for the band, took out the PMAC trash and recycling every week, and gave a helping hand wherever needed.
We should all be so lucky to live our lives as fully and completely as Dave. And I am honored to have had him as a friend. Losing Dave yesterday came as a shock to me. It shocked us all. Less than two weeks ago he was playing and recording our band rehearsal. It was Dave's last rehearsal, and I'm proud to say it was a damned good one. He played better than ever, and that's the honest truth.
Thank you, Dave. We'll miss you. And I for one will try to live up to your example.
The following video was taken about two years ago. I found it on my hard drive - a short example from a rehearsal - a mere 45 seconds. Dave is playing the trombone, and yes, that's my mother sitting beside him (and my father is on trumpet behind him).
Showing posts with label Chautauqua. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chautauqua. Show all posts
Friday, February 13, 2009
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Scales in thirds
I just received an e-mail from one of my Chautauqua saxophonists - so wonderful to hear from her. In the e-mail she asked about playing scales in thirds, an exercise I introduced to the Chautauqua saxophonists during the camp. Playing thirds in G major is a great warm-up on saxophone. Just remember that the notes are the same as a G major scale:
G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
When you ascend a scale playing in thirds, you skip a note, and then come back down to the note you skipped, then repeat the process, until you descend to the high G:
Starting on low G:
G - B - A - C - B - D - C - E - D - F# - E - G - F# - A - G
(Ending on high G)
Coming back down the scale, you again skip a note, and then come back up to the note you skipped and repeat:
Starting on high G:
G - E - F# - D - E - C - D - B - C - A - B - G - A - F# - G
(Ending on low G)
Practice this slowly, and try to hear the pattern. It is best to learn it well enough to play by memory.
I'll try to post more tips for saxophonists in the future, since I hear some of the Chautauqua saxes have been reading this blog. Let me know what you think in the comments section! Or feel free to e-mail me at russ@pmaconline.org.
G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G
When you ascend a scale playing in thirds, you skip a note, and then come back down to the note you skipped, then repeat the process, until you descend to the high G:
Starting on low G:
G - B - A - C - B - D - C - E - D - F# - E - G - F# - A - G
(Ending on high G)
Coming back down the scale, you again skip a note, and then come back up to the note you skipped and repeat:
Starting on high G:
G - E - F# - D - E - C - D - B - C - A - B - G - A - F# - G
(Ending on low G)
Practice this slowly, and try to hear the pattern. It is best to learn it well enough to play by memory.
I'll try to post more tips for saxophonists in the future, since I hear some of the Chautauqua saxes have been reading this blog. Let me know what you think in the comments section! Or feel free to e-mail me at russ@pmaconline.org.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Chautauqua - part four
This is part four in a multi-part post. To read from the beginning, click here.
On the final day, the three bands, chorus and orchestra play for each other in a "concert." Roy Ernst, founder of New Horizons and the camp, tells everyone that it is not really a "concert" but more of a "show-and-tell" opportunity. The philosophy of New Horizons supports the enjoyment of music making, and the pressure to perform can often detract from that enjoyment, so performance is never the focus. Music is.
The "concert" went swimmingly and everyone had a fabulous time. The beautiful concert hall was a great setting for the culmination of five days work. Here are some photos from that morning:
After the concert, it was time to say our goodbyes and head home. I really enjoyed meeting and working with everyone. I do have to say it was quite special to work with the Band 1 woodwind section - I ended up spending 3 - 4 hours each day playing music with them. Here we are, together after the final concert:
The final aspect of the week for me was to be interviewed by a film crew that is working on a documentary about New Horizons Band. It really has become quite a special organization, led by a very special man who had a vision. His belief that adults can come into music later in life, particularly ensemble playing, was more groundbreaking than it probably should have been. It's one of those ideas that comes along and eveyone thinks, "why haven't we been doing this all along?" Whatever the reasons, Roy has made it happen, and many lives are the better for it. Just before leaving, Roy's wife took the picture below of Roy and I. Thanks, Roy, for everything. It was a glorious week.
On the final day, the three bands, chorus and orchestra play for each other in a "concert." Roy Ernst, founder of New Horizons and the camp, tells everyone that it is not really a "concert" but more of a "show-and-tell" opportunity. The philosophy of New Horizons supports the enjoyment of music making, and the pressure to perform can often detract from that enjoyment, so performance is never the focus. Music is.
The "concert" went swimmingly and everyone had a fabulous time. The beautiful concert hall was a great setting for the culmination of five days work. Here are some photos from that morning:
After the concert, it was time to say our goodbyes and head home. I really enjoyed meeting and working with everyone. I do have to say it was quite special to work with the Band 1 woodwind section - I ended up spending 3 - 4 hours each day playing music with them. Here we are, together after the final concert:
The final aspect of the week for me was to be interviewed by a film crew that is working on a documentary about New Horizons Band. It really has become quite a special organization, led by a very special man who had a vision. His belief that adults can come into music later in life, particularly ensemble playing, was more groundbreaking than it probably should have been. It's one of those ideas that comes along and eveyone thinks, "why haven't we been doing this all along?" Whatever the reasons, Roy has made it happen, and many lives are the better for it. Just before leaving, Roy's wife took the picture below of Roy and I. Thanks, Roy, for everything. It was a glorious week.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Chautauqua - part three
This is part three in a multi-part post. To read from the beginning, click here.
My evenings (after the first night of tropical storm craziness) were spent at the Bellinger dining hall playing jazz with the camp faculty and some campers. The dining hall would begin to fill around 9 p.m. and we'd play jazz as people danced, or sat and listened. The audience was friendly, and it was nice to finish each day playing.
On the next to last day, Wednesday, many of the small ensembles performed in the dining room. Ensembles played during lunch, dinner and in the evening. My saxophone ensembles played in the evening. It was wonderful to hear everything come together after such a short time. And the variety of ensembles was amazing. Beginner harmonica players, musical theater, dixieland, jazz lab, clarinet choirs, french horn choir, cello choir, Mexican mariachi band, German band, and much more. The campers were up for anything. Here are a few photos from the Wednesday performances:
During the Wednesday evening performances, beer and wine was served as well as hors d'oeuvres. A true party atmosphere. It eased some of the tension as everyone anticipated the large ensemble concert that would take place on the last day of camp.
Continue reading with part four here.
My evenings (after the first night of tropical storm craziness) were spent at the Bellinger dining hall playing jazz with the camp faculty and some campers. The dining hall would begin to fill around 9 p.m. and we'd play jazz as people danced, or sat and listened. The audience was friendly, and it was nice to finish each day playing.
On the next to last day, Wednesday, many of the small ensembles performed in the dining room. Ensembles played during lunch, dinner and in the evening. My saxophone ensembles played in the evening. It was wonderful to hear everything come together after such a short time. And the variety of ensembles was amazing. Beginner harmonica players, musical theater, dixieland, jazz lab, clarinet choirs, french horn choir, cello choir, Mexican mariachi band, German band, and much more. The campers were up for anything. Here are a few photos from the Wednesday performances:
During the Wednesday evening performances, beer and wine was served as well as hors d'oeuvres. A true party atmosphere. It eased some of the tension as everyone anticipated the large ensemble concert that would take place on the last day of camp.
Continue reading with part four here.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Chautauqua - part two
This is part two in a multi-part post. To read from the beginning, click here.
After the balmy 80s of the tropical storm on Sunday, the weather returned to a much more seasonable 60s-70s for the remainder of the week. On Monday I began working with the saxophone ensembles and in sectionals with the Band 1 woodwinds. I took a chamber music approach to the ensembles, and opted to keep everyone together. In retrospect, some of the music may have been a bit too challenging for three consecutive days of rehearsal followed by one performance, but I made a conscious decision to challenge the players, rather than pick repertoire that was sight-readable. There is probably a happy-medium that I missed, but I think that if I erred, it was on the right side - adventurous rather than cautious.
The repertoire we played included:
Basin Street Blues
To Yonder Lovely Grove
a Brahms Chorale
Fly Me to the Moon
Vignette
I'll post details on how to obtain this music in a later post, for those interested in ordering copies and trying them out.
One of my goals for the week, which we did acheive, was to combine as many saxophones from all of the ensembles into one monster sax ensemble. I think we ended up with 22 or 23 saxes all in one group performing To Yonder Lovely Grove. Here are some rehearsal photos of the monseter group, taken during our only full rehearsal on Wednesday:
Working with the saxophones was my primary responsibility for the week, and I divided my time between sax ensembles and Band 1. I really enjoyed getting to know the New Horizons players. They were truly excited about playing sax and making music, with wonderful questions about embouchure, fingering, and other technical aspects of playing. The word to describe their interest in music is PASSION. They love it. They are there to make music. Sure, socializing is a major component of the camp. But it is an outgrowth of the music-making.
Over the course of the three days, the ensembles came a long way. Musicianship improved. Music was made. It was all so fast - a whirlwind. It is hard to digest, being used to 18-week semesters, with week-long breaks between rehearsals or lessons. The idea of cramming everything into five total days is strange, if born of necessity. And the sax ensembles really only had three days - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday rehearsals with a Wednesday performance.
I wonder if I'm too intense for this type of environment. I enjoyed it, and would go back if invited, but I think I need to learn to be more laid back. Those who know me outside of music consider me very laid back. But they haven't rehearsed with me. I try not to create stress in rehearsals. But I am intense, with a lot to accomplish in a short period of time. The New Horizons musicians rose to the challenge. I just hope it was a positive experience for everyone involved. It certainly was for me.
To continue reading with part three, click here.
After the balmy 80s of the tropical storm on Sunday, the weather returned to a much more seasonable 60s-70s for the remainder of the week. On Monday I began working with the saxophone ensembles and in sectionals with the Band 1 woodwinds. I took a chamber music approach to the ensembles, and opted to keep everyone together. In retrospect, some of the music may have been a bit too challenging for three consecutive days of rehearsal followed by one performance, but I made a conscious decision to challenge the players, rather than pick repertoire that was sight-readable. There is probably a happy-medium that I missed, but I think that if I erred, it was on the right side - adventurous rather than cautious.
The repertoire we played included:
Basin Street Blues
To Yonder Lovely Grove
a Brahms Chorale
Fly Me to the Moon
Vignette
I'll post details on how to obtain this music in a later post, for those interested in ordering copies and trying them out.
One of my goals for the week, which we did acheive, was to combine as many saxophones from all of the ensembles into one monster sax ensemble. I think we ended up with 22 or 23 saxes all in one group performing To Yonder Lovely Grove. Here are some rehearsal photos of the monseter group, taken during our only full rehearsal on Wednesday:
Working with the saxophones was my primary responsibility for the week, and I divided my time between sax ensembles and Band 1. I really enjoyed getting to know the New Horizons players. They were truly excited about playing sax and making music, with wonderful questions about embouchure, fingering, and other technical aspects of playing. The word to describe their interest in music is PASSION. They love it. They are there to make music. Sure, socializing is a major component of the camp. But it is an outgrowth of the music-making.
Over the course of the three days, the ensembles came a long way. Musicianship improved. Music was made. It was all so fast - a whirlwind. It is hard to digest, being used to 18-week semesters, with week-long breaks between rehearsals or lessons. The idea of cramming everything into five total days is strange, if born of necessity. And the sax ensembles really only had three days - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday rehearsals with a Wednesday performance.
I wonder if I'm too intense for this type of environment. I enjoyed it, and would go back if invited, but I think I need to learn to be more laid back. Those who know me outside of music consider me very laid back. But they haven't rehearsed with me. I try not to create stress in rehearsals. But I am intense, with a lot to accomplish in a short period of time. The New Horizons musicians rose to the challenge. I just hope it was a positive experience for everyone involved. It certainly was for me.
To continue reading with part three, click here.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Chautauqua - part one
I am home, sitting at my laptop in my kitchen, finally finding time to write about my Chautauqua adventure. I'll have to do this in parts, since there is so much to convey.
In the spring I was invited to teach saxophone at the International New Horizons Band Camp at the Chautauqua Institute in NY. I quickly accepted the invite, knowing that this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity - though I really hope to be invited back after having an amazing week.
The New Horizons Band is a program created in 1989 by Roy Ernst, now professer emeritus at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. The concept is to give adults, particularly those over the age of 50, an entry point into ensemble music. In American culture, the opportunity to join a band and play as you learn your instrument stops after elementary school. At least it did until Roy created this program. New Horizons is like a "fifth grade band" for adults. You can pick up an instrument and play in a concert band as you learn the instrument. It is an inspiring program. Roy began with about 40 adults in one band in Rochester, NY. There are now well over 100 bands world wide. I haven't counted lately, but I'd bet it's over 200 bands by this point. I've been conducting the Portsmouth New Horizons Band since it was founded in 2003. But more on that later - back to the camp.
Tom and I arrived at Chautauqua on Sunday afternoon. It was essentially a 10 hour drive from Portsmouth that we spread out over two days. Upon arrival, I was suprised to find a densely populated colony at the Institute. Houses are built very close together and the streets are very narrow. Here are some examples of the streetscapes:
After checking in, we were sent to our first rehearsals of the camp. The camp offers a wide variety of music classes for the campers - everything from chamber music ensembles to blues or dixeland bands to musical theater or Dalcroze movement. But all participants fall into one of five large ensembles: Band 1, 2, or 3, Orchestra, or Chorus. I would be spending a majority of my time working with Band 1. These are the musicians who are new to their instrument - most of whom had be playing for less than a year. They were an enthusiastic group and really fun to work with. We rehearsed in McKnight Hall, a beautiful small theater with an audience capacity of approx. 100. Here are some photos from a rehearsal break:
The Band 1 woodwind section was a trio - Holly on flute, Barb on clarinet and Fran on alto saxophone. Here's a great shot of the honorary fourth member of the woodwind section, Barb's assistant Abby:
Band 1 was a small group - only 8 musicians. This is a scenario I (and many other New Horizons Band directors) am familiar with. There initially was a great deal of apprehension about the lack of doubling - pretty much only one player per part. But the instrumentation was well balanced for such a small group: flute, clarinet, alto sax, four trumpets, trombone. I knew from the start that it would work. But with only four days to rehearse, work would be the key word.
On that first day, Sunday, we rehearsed in the afternoon, had dinner together in Bellinger Hall with the entire camp, and then rehearsed again in the evening. The camp was off to a great start.
I stayed at the Carey Cottage Inn during the camp, a nice, fairly large inn in the center of the Institute. On the first night, hurricane Ike ripped through the campus, downgraded to a tropical storm by that point, but still intense. It had pushed tropical air all the way to New York, and when I returned to the Inn at 9 p.m. it was extremely windy and near 90 degrees - way hotter than typical for a mid-September night.
When I got to my room, the sirens started going off. I immediately thought they were tornado warnings, and it didn't suprise me the was the wind was howling outside my window. I got into bed and then at one point the entire room shook. It was so quick and violent I was ready for a tornado to rip the roof off the inn. But then things began to calm down.
The next morning I learned that a 75 foot tall tree had fallen on the inn. That was why the building shook. It fell on the opposite side of the building from where I was staying, so I was not alerted. But the guests on that side of the inn were relocated to other rooms. The tree was precariously perched against the building and the innkeepers were worried that another gust could bring it crashing through the walls. Here are some pictures from the next morning:
They came to cut down the tree that day, but I was able to get before and after pictures. Quite a way to start the week!
Continue reading with part two here.
In the spring I was invited to teach saxophone at the International New Horizons Band Camp at the Chautauqua Institute in NY. I quickly accepted the invite, knowing that this could be a once in a lifetime opportunity - though I really hope to be invited back after having an amazing week.
The New Horizons Band is a program created in 1989 by Roy Ernst, now professer emeritus at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY. The concept is to give adults, particularly those over the age of 50, an entry point into ensemble music. In American culture, the opportunity to join a band and play as you learn your instrument stops after elementary school. At least it did until Roy created this program. New Horizons is like a "fifth grade band" for adults. You can pick up an instrument and play in a concert band as you learn the instrument. It is an inspiring program. Roy began with about 40 adults in one band in Rochester, NY. There are now well over 100 bands world wide. I haven't counted lately, but I'd bet it's over 200 bands by this point. I've been conducting the Portsmouth New Horizons Band since it was founded in 2003. But more on that later - back to the camp.
Tom and I arrived at Chautauqua on Sunday afternoon. It was essentially a 10 hour drive from Portsmouth that we spread out over two days. Upon arrival, I was suprised to find a densely populated colony at the Institute. Houses are built very close together and the streets are very narrow. Here are some examples of the streetscapes:
After checking in, we were sent to our first rehearsals of the camp. The camp offers a wide variety of music classes for the campers - everything from chamber music ensembles to blues or dixeland bands to musical theater or Dalcroze movement. But all participants fall into one of five large ensembles: Band 1, 2, or 3, Orchestra, or Chorus. I would be spending a majority of my time working with Band 1. These are the musicians who are new to their instrument - most of whom had be playing for less than a year. They were an enthusiastic group and really fun to work with. We rehearsed in McKnight Hall, a beautiful small theater with an audience capacity of approx. 100. Here are some photos from a rehearsal break:
The Band 1 woodwind section was a trio - Holly on flute, Barb on clarinet and Fran on alto saxophone. Here's a great shot of the honorary fourth member of the woodwind section, Barb's assistant Abby:
Band 1 was a small group - only 8 musicians. This is a scenario I (and many other New Horizons Band directors) am familiar with. There initially was a great deal of apprehension about the lack of doubling - pretty much only one player per part. But the instrumentation was well balanced for such a small group: flute, clarinet, alto sax, four trumpets, trombone. I knew from the start that it would work. But with only four days to rehearse, work would be the key word.
On that first day, Sunday, we rehearsed in the afternoon, had dinner together in Bellinger Hall with the entire camp, and then rehearsed again in the evening. The camp was off to a great start.
I stayed at the Carey Cottage Inn during the camp, a nice, fairly large inn in the center of the Institute. On the first night, hurricane Ike ripped through the campus, downgraded to a tropical storm by that point, but still intense. It had pushed tropical air all the way to New York, and when I returned to the Inn at 9 p.m. it was extremely windy and near 90 degrees - way hotter than typical for a mid-September night.
When I got to my room, the sirens started going off. I immediately thought they were tornado warnings, and it didn't suprise me the was the wind was howling outside my window. I got into bed and then at one point the entire room shook. It was so quick and violent I was ready for a tornado to rip the roof off the inn. But then things began to calm down.
The next morning I learned that a 75 foot tall tree had fallen on the inn. That was why the building shook. It fell on the opposite side of the building from where I was staying, so I was not alerted. But the guests on that side of the inn were relocated to other rooms. The tree was precariously perched against the building and the innkeepers were worried that another gust could bring it crashing through the walls. Here are some pictures from the next morning:
They came to cut down the tree that day, but I was able to get before and after pictures. Quite a way to start the week!
Continue reading with part two here.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Monster Saxophone Ensemble
My saxophone "students" at the 2008 New Horizons Band Camp at Chautauqua in New York. The photo was taken after a rehearsal of "To Yonder Lovely Grove". The 22 piece ensemble gave a wonderful performance that evening. Bravo.
My Chautauqua adventure has come to an end. I plan to write a series of reflections here in the coming days. I just had to post this photo because I kept saying I would post photos and never managed to find the time to do it while at the camp. They really keep you running. But I'm happy to report that I'm returning home with many photos which I WILL post in the coming days.
Tonight I stay in Corning, NY and tomorrow I return home. Looking very much forward to seeing Katie and the boys - I've been missing them!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
First Final Day
I think of this camp as having two "final" days, and today is the first. I only get to meet with my classes for three days - Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (today). Tonight, my students will perform the music they worked on with me. The band 1 & 2 saxes are combined and will play a couple of pieces, and the Band 3 saxes will play a couple as well. And, hopefully, we might take our monster piece with everyone and find a time to play it for an audience. It's going to be a long, but rewarding day.
Tomorrow will be the second and actual "final" day of the camp. At 9 a.m., all of the camp's large ensembles will perform for each other. I've been rehearsing with Band 1 and will sit in with them. They have done a wonderful job - most of the players have played their instruments for less than a year and I think all logged less than two years playing time!
I highly recommend this camp for any adult who plays a band or orchestral instrument. It is primarily populated by New Horizons Band members from throughout the country and Canada, most of whom are over 55 and retired. But I don't think membership in a band is a requirement. (Though if there is a New Horizons Band near you, that is definitely the place to start.) It is an amazing opportunity to make music with others. And I can tell you that the most advanced band is playing wonderfully challenging repertoire - nothing to sneeze at if you have quite a bit of playing experience. One of their pieces I last performed in my college wind ensemble at The Boston Conservatory. So even if you're quite advanced and have played for years, there is something here for you. And if you've only played a few months - come join us in the "green" band. You'll have the time of your life.
Tomorrow will be the second and actual "final" day of the camp. At 9 a.m., all of the camp's large ensembles will perform for each other. I've been rehearsing with Band 1 and will sit in with them. They have done a wonderful job - most of the players have played their instruments for less than a year and I think all logged less than two years playing time!
I highly recommend this camp for any adult who plays a band or orchestral instrument. It is primarily populated by New Horizons Band members from throughout the country and Canada, most of whom are over 55 and retired. But I don't think membership in a band is a requirement. (Though if there is a New Horizons Band near you, that is definitely the place to start.) It is an amazing opportunity to make music with others. And I can tell you that the most advanced band is playing wonderfully challenging repertoire - nothing to sneeze at if you have quite a bit of playing experience. One of their pieces I last performed in my college wind ensemble at The Boston Conservatory. So even if you're quite advanced and have played for years, there is something here for you. And if you've only played a few months - come join us in the "green" band. You'll have the time of your life.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
More fun than you can shake a stick at
OK. This has been an EXHAUSTING three days. Two to go. I wouldn't trade it for the world.
My saxophone ensembles are wonderful. We are having a blast getting together and playing in the mornings. I'm combining all of my students from all three bands into a monster sax ensemble tomorrow. It's going to be a blast.
The band 1 students are an inspiration. They remind me why I need to start another beginner group as soon as I get back to Portsmouth. I need to do it this winter! If you want to join, let me know!
Tonight we combined bands 1 & 2 for rehearsal and the band 1 students got to play two of of the band 2 pieces. Then band 1 played for Band 2. The Band 2 members who were sitting next to Band 1 members read along and augmented the group. It was a great time and we will do this in Thursday's concert.
Tonight I played an hour of jazz with the faculty and some students in the dining hall. Some great tunes: Ain't Misbehavin', Blue Monk, Stella By Starlight, Night Train, The Lady is a Tramp, and more. The students all gather in the dining room for this performance and they are a fantastic audience.
Then I finished my evening with a walk back to the inn, where I sit writing this. I listened to some of the new Amanda Palmer CD on my MP3 player on the way back as I walked in the dark. Thanks again to Amanda's crew for making it available for download last week. The CD was released today and I'd be seriously bummed if I didn't already have my copy here.
Again exhausted. I PROMISE to take some photos and post them. I'll probably be writing about this for weeks, when I finally have some time and energy. For now, they keep me running here. And don't even ask me about having to carry the baritone sax around in its "lead" case today.
Good night!
My saxophone ensembles are wonderful. We are having a blast getting together and playing in the mornings. I'm combining all of my students from all three bands into a monster sax ensemble tomorrow. It's going to be a blast.
The band 1 students are an inspiration. They remind me why I need to start another beginner group as soon as I get back to Portsmouth. I need to do it this winter! If you want to join, let me know!
Tonight we combined bands 1 & 2 for rehearsal and the band 1 students got to play two of of the band 2 pieces. Then band 1 played for Band 2. The Band 2 members who were sitting next to Band 1 members read along and augmented the group. It was a great time and we will do this in Thursday's concert.
Tonight I played an hour of jazz with the faculty and some students in the dining hall. Some great tunes: Ain't Misbehavin', Blue Monk, Stella By Starlight, Night Train, The Lady is a Tramp, and more. The students all gather in the dining room for this performance and they are a fantastic audience.
Then I finished my evening with a walk back to the inn, where I sit writing this. I listened to some of the new Amanda Palmer CD on my MP3 player on the way back as I walked in the dark. Thanks again to Amanda's crew for making it available for download last week. The CD was released today and I'd be seriously bummed if I didn't already have my copy here.
Again exhausted. I PROMISE to take some photos and post them. I'll probably be writing about this for weeks, when I finally have some time and energy. For now, they keep me running here. And don't even ask me about having to carry the baritone sax around in its "lead" case today.
Good night!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Wind Storm, and music
Huge wind storm last night. Shook the house. In fact, at one point the entire building moved, swaying back and forth violently. There were sirens going off, so I imagined the tornado had reached me. I was ready to hop in the tub as I duck and cover, but then things calmed down. This morning I learned that a 75 foot tall tree was blown over onto the Inn. Luckily (for me) it was on the opposite side of the buidling, so I did not need to be relocated to another room. Others were less fortunate. But, the tree was cut down today, and it seems the damage to the building was minimal. Photos to follow, but I'm too exhausted to upload them today.
My day began early. My fist class was at 9 a.m. - the Band 2 sax ensemble. Then the band 3 sax ensemble, Band 1 sectionals, Band 1 woodwind ensemble and lastly Band 1 rehearsal. Fit into all of that was lunch and dinner. No significant breaks, so I remained on campus for most of the day.
The bands range in ability from 1 (beginner) to 3 (advanced). All of the musicians are wonderful. They've welcomed me with open arms and we had a brilliant first day of small ensembles.
I do the same for the next two days. I'm hoping to have the sax ensembles combine to perform as a MONSTER SAX GROUP. Will be working on coordinating this all day tomorrow.
Tonight I sat in with some of the faculty, playing some jazz for the "students" in the caffeteria. Had much fun. Looking forward to another great day tomorrow.
I have so much to say about this experience. Too bad I can't keep my eyes open right now...off to bed!
My day began early. My fist class was at 9 a.m. - the Band 2 sax ensemble. Then the band 3 sax ensemble, Band 1 sectionals, Band 1 woodwind ensemble and lastly Band 1 rehearsal. Fit into all of that was lunch and dinner. No significant breaks, so I remained on campus for most of the day.
The bands range in ability from 1 (beginner) to 3 (advanced). All of the musicians are wonderful. They've welcomed me with open arms and we had a brilliant first day of small ensembles.
I do the same for the next two days. I'm hoping to have the sax ensembles combine to perform as a MONSTER SAX GROUP. Will be working on coordinating this all day tomorrow.
Tonight I sat in with some of the faculty, playing some jazz for the "students" in the caffeteria. Had much fun. Looking forward to another great day tomorrow.
I have so much to say about this experience. Too bad I can't keep my eyes open right now...off to bed!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Exhausting First Day
Not going to write much now. It is only 9 p.m., but the past 12 hours have been non-stop and pretty exhausting. Looking very much forward to a great day tomorrow. Today we launched the band camp with back to back large ensemble rehearsals. I sat in with Band 1 (the beginner band) most of the day, though I had a chance to sit in with Band 2 for a few minutes as well. Everyone is very friendly, excited to be here. It truly has the feel of the "first day of summer camp." It's amazing that it will be done in four days.
Tomorrow I get to work with the saxophones. I'm looking very much forward to this. My first class is at 9 a.m. I hope to have photos and detailed info about the experience tomorrow. So far, I'll say the Chautauqua grounds are pretty amazing - not at all what I expected.
More later...good night!
Tomorrow I get to work with the saxophones. I'm looking very much forward to this. My first class is at 9 a.m. I hope to have photos and detailed info about the experience tomorrow. So far, I'll say the Chautauqua grounds are pretty amazing - not at all what I expected.
More later...good night!
Arrival
I've just arrived at Chautauqua, ready to teach at the International New Horizons Band Camp. The place is beginning to buzz with students. I've checked into my room, at the Carey Cottage Inn. My camera is there, so don't expect photos until tomorrow. I don't know if the Inn has internet access - I doubt it. So I'll be blogging from the dining hall, where I now sit amidst the excitement. I have a busy schedule - several saxophone ensembles, some mixed groups, and I'll play some with the beginner band to help out the students. The average age is somewhere around 65 - a vibrant 65. I'm looking forward to a great week.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Heading to Chautauqua
For the next five days, Sunday through Thursday, I'll be teaching saxophone at the Chautauqua Institue in New York. Right now I am in Corning New York, at a Days Inn, where I'll be staying before making the final leg of the trip tomorrow. I'll be teaching at the International New Horizons Band Camp, a camp for adults who play band or string instruments. I'll have several ensembles and sectionals that I'll teach each day, and I'll even sit in and play with the beginner band to help out the "young" musicians. This is the first time I've ever taught at this camp and I'm honored to have been invited by New Horizons founder Roy Ernst.
My plan is to post to the blog once or twice a day, including photos from the camp. I'm hoping for at least a little sun, to enjoy the outdoors and get some great photos of the grounds. But at the moment it is raining, and we may be feeling the effects of hurricane Ike later this week. Regardless, I've been told I'll have internet access, so you'll be hearing from me one way or another.
Eight hours of the drive down, two and a half to go. For now, some R&R.
My plan is to post to the blog once or twice a day, including photos from the camp. I'm hoping for at least a little sun, to enjoy the outdoors and get some great photos of the grounds. But at the moment it is raining, and we may be feeling the effects of hurricane Ike later this week. Regardless, I've been told I'll have internet access, so you'll be hearing from me one way or another.
Eight hours of the drive down, two and a half to go. For now, some R&R.
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