My favorite quote from Early Strummers, my class at the Old Town School with 4 and 5-year-olds and their parents learning to play the guitar.
4-Year-Old Young Lady: There are three kids and three adults in class today.
Mom: What about Jason? Is Jason a kid or an adult?
4-Year-Old Young Lady: Jason is part kid and part adult.
I can't tell you how happy that makes me.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
I made a flute today.
Hello,
Today's project was the completion of a goal I have had for a very, very long time. I made a flute out of a piece of PVC pipe. I found the plans in a book called Homemade Instruments by Dallas Cline, published by Oak Publications.
I was hoping to have the kids make this, but while I think they could make them, playing them might be another situation. It ain't easy. I like that the book says "Once you have the feel of how to blow across the mouth hole, you will be able to play it happily! I may take a week of practice, but a week is a short time, really, and you will be so glad you stayed with it." I love that it has that bit of encourangement.
So here is day one. I'll make another video next Monday and we'll see how it all went. But for now, I share with you "Hot Cross Buns" on the Plumer's Pipe Cross Flute.
Today's project was the completion of a goal I have had for a very, very long time. I made a flute out of a piece of PVC pipe. I found the plans in a book called Homemade Instruments by Dallas Cline, published by Oak Publications.
I was hoping to have the kids make this, but while I think they could make them, playing them might be another situation. It ain't easy. I like that the book says "Once you have the feel of how to blow across the mouth hole, you will be able to play it happily! I may take a week of practice, but a week is a short time, really, and you will be so glad you stayed with it." I love that it has that bit of encourangement.
So here is day one. I'll make another video next Monday and we'll see how it all went. But for now, I share with you "Hot Cross Buns" on the Plumer's Pipe Cross Flute.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Nonesuch and Other Folk Tunes - Pete Seeger & Frank Hamilton
I spent most of the day doing my best to relax around the house and stay off the computer. I listened to the album Nonesuch and Other Folk Tunes by Pete Seeger and Frank Hamilton a few times. What a great record! Super-musical. From the first notes of Meadowland, these instrumental roar through my stereo. The first song, "Meadowland", is a beautiful demonstation of dynamic tension right out of the gate and the energy never lets up. Then, as if they want to prove just how much fun they are having in the studio, Pete and Frank team for for an incredible vocal rendition of The Battle of New Orleans. The power of their voices on lyric "Well . . . " ,which opens every stanza, practically knocks me over every time.
I always love the liner notes from Folkways. Here are a couple of selections.
Pete writes, "[The album] is influenced by the folk traditions of hte American south, popular music of the air waves, and recordings hear of ethnic music fromAfrica, Russia, Asia, the Caribbean and, and also of the symphony and concert hall . . . The selections together tell, we hope, of our love for many peoples, our neighbors in a small world. May our various languages be better understood."
Frank writes, "We attempted to explore the uses of instruments that were not necessarily related to the culture backgroud of the songs." If you know me, you know that this is a sentament that is very close to my heart.
The liner notes also include this awesome picture of Frank playing the guitarrón. The photo is by David Gehr.
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We also had a very good Young Stracke All-Stars practice today. I'm feeling a bit rejuvinated after a very long week of struggling musically, idealistically, emotionally, etc. It's good to "hit bottom" once and a while. Partily because it gets easier to shake it off each time it happens, and also, once you hit there's no where to go but up. Onward!
I always love the liner notes from Folkways. Here are a couple of selections.
Pete writes, "[The album] is influenced by the folk traditions of hte American south, popular music of the air waves, and recordings hear of ethnic music fromAfrica, Russia, Asia, the Caribbean and, and also of the symphony and concert hall . . . The selections together tell, we hope, of our love for many peoples, our neighbors in a small world. May our various languages be better understood."Frank writes, "We attempted to explore the uses of instruments that were not necessarily related to the culture backgroud of the songs." If you know me, you know that this is a sentament that is very close to my heart.
The liner notes also include this awesome picture of Frank playing the guitarrón. The photo is by David Gehr.
-------------
We also had a very good Young Stracke All-Stars practice today. I'm feeling a bit rejuvinated after a very long week of struggling musically, idealistically, emotionally, etc. It's good to "hit bottom" once and a while. Partily because it gets easier to shake it off each time it happens, and also, once you hit there's no where to go but up. Onward!
"Wilson Wants it All", Maria's Birthday, various teachin', etc.
I just got home from Maria's birthday party. She had it in the basement of the Chopin Theater after the House Theater performance of Wilson Wants it All, which is great! It closes next week. Go see it!
Yes, so then Maria had her birthday party. Miki played for a while and then another gentleman played and then the picking session began. It was really fun. Mike Alberts on guitar, Hillary on fiddle, Darrell on piano, Mark (Lou) on mandolin (and Judy played some mandolin also), Maria on fiddle and I played banjo. This Land was Your Land was the highlight for me. So many people sang! Great food. Great friends. Great music. Great show. I am so lucky.
More Old Joe Clark, This Land is Your Land and My Dog Treed a Rabbit in my classes, today. Super fun. My Saturday Kids Guitar 2 really want it. I love teaching, but that is a particularly strong group of students.
Yes, so then Maria had her birthday party. Miki played for a while and then another gentleman played and then the picking session began. It was really fun. Mike Alberts on guitar, Hillary on fiddle, Darrell on piano, Mark (Lou) on mandolin (and Judy played some mandolin also), Maria on fiddle and I played banjo. This Land was Your Land was the highlight for me. So many people sang! Great food. Great friends. Great music. Great show. I am so lucky.
More Old Joe Clark, This Land is Your Land and My Dog Treed a Rabbit in my classes, today. Super fun. My Saturday Kids Guitar 2 really want it. I love teaching, but that is a particularly strong group of students.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Slide Whistles, E Huli, and the Barehand Jugband
Another full day of teaching. I love passing the tune Old Joe Clark on to young people. What is it about that tune? Also, Skip came and played harmonica with my Kids Guitar 1 class. We worked on This Land is Your Land. I want to have Skip visit all my classes now. He was great! They really loved the kazoo and slide whistle demonstrations.
I was teaching so I only caught the last 5 minutes of the Old Town School "Town Hall Meeting" to discuss the new strategic plan. I was there just long enough to help everyone sing "E Huli". I was quite honored. Lani, you are an inspiration. Ann Maria, so are you. "You've got to sing when the spirit says SING!"
Then Lindsay and I headed down to the Hideout to hear a happy hour set by the Barehand Jugband. They were great as always. I was honored to play a couple of tunes with them. Pamela's washboard sounds great and Clay, as always, was a master jug player. I like how he's started teaching some post-gig jug lessons on the empty beer bottles.
I was teaching so I only caught the last 5 minutes of the Old Town School "Town Hall Meeting" to discuss the new strategic plan. I was there just long enough to help everyone sing "E Huli". I was quite honored. Lani, you are an inspiration. Ann Maria, so are you. "You've got to sing when the spirit says SING!"
Then Lindsay and I headed down to the Hideout to hear a happy hour set by the Barehand Jugband. They were great as always. I was honored to play a couple of tunes with them. Pamela's washboard sounds great and Clay, as always, was a master jug player. I like how he's started teaching some post-gig jug lessons on the empty beer bottles.
Irish Tunes & Technique Workshop at the Old Town School of Folk Music
Tonight I took a workshop with Sean Cleland, director of the Irish Music School of Chicago, all about learning Irish tunes. It was pretty cool. One of the best workshops I've had at the school. I'm not sure how many specifics I learned, but I got to play a lot, I felt like he listened to my questions, and he left me curious to learn more, in a proactive way. Very inspiring.
I can't remember the name of the tune that we learned, but we spent an hour and a half learning it from beginning to end. I was the only banjo player. There was one fiddle player, one concertina player and one uke player.
OK. Onward to more Irish fiddle tunes.
Later,
J
I can't remember the name of the tune that we learned, but we spent an hour and a half learning it from beginning to end. I was the only banjo player. There was one fiddle player, one concertina player and one uke player.
OK. Onward to more Irish fiddle tunes.
Later,
J
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
"That's Irish music - Chicago Style." - The Irish Music School of Chicago at the Old Town School of Folk Music
Just got home from the World Music Wednesday concert at the Old Town School. This week's performer was the The Irish Music School of Chicago, directed by Sean Cleland. I only stayed for the first set, but I loved it.
The beginning was all teen-agers. There were (as I remember) four fiddles, flute, bodhran, and octave mandolin. They played with great energy. They said that they were nervous, but you wouldn't know it. They played into the mics, called out the names and stories about some stories about the tunes, and counted the tunes off with a lot of power. Then they sounded great when they played. Very impressive.
About half way through the first set, Sean invited "The Irish Music School of Chicago community" onto stage. That was awesome. There where about five rows of ten people per row on the Old Town stage. I knew a bunch of the adults, which was very cool. They played a bunch of tunes, together. Sean said some of the people had only been studying for a short period of time. But obviously a bunch of the musicians had more training. Great to see a moment of "everyone together" to get such a prime spot in the set instead of the end of the second set.
As for my life, it was a good day of teaching. RPMS and Strummers and Kids Guitar at the Old Town School. My Wednesday kids guitar class is particularly hungary, and they did a great job today when we split into smaller groups to work on the chorus of This Land is Your Land.
The beginning was all teen-agers. There were (as I remember) four fiddles, flute, bodhran, and octave mandolin. They played with great energy. They said that they were nervous, but you wouldn't know it. They played into the mics, called out the names and stories about some stories about the tunes, and counted the tunes off with a lot of power. Then they sounded great when they played. Very impressive.
About half way through the first set, Sean invited "The Irish Music School of Chicago community" onto stage. That was awesome. There where about five rows of ten people per row on the Old Town stage. I knew a bunch of the adults, which was very cool. They played a bunch of tunes, together. Sean said some of the people had only been studying for a short period of time. But obviously a bunch of the musicians had more training. Great to see a moment of "everyone together" to get such a prime spot in the set instead of the end of the second set.
As for my life, it was a good day of teaching. RPMS and Strummers and Kids Guitar at the Old Town School. My Wednesday kids guitar class is particularly hungary, and they did a great job today when we split into smaller groups to work on the chorus of This Land is Your Land.
Folk Club recap - Tuesday, March 16
I played the Whyte Lady banjo tonight. I lead Erie Canal. I forgot the beginning, but once I got some help to get it off the ground it was cookin'. Another favorite that we played was I'll Fly Away. Lisa led it. Everyone sounded great.
The after-jam was lively and fun and I got to know a couple people a little more. That is always fun. $4.50 Kronenbourgs. It's French. Who knew?
Tomorrow back to RPMS and the Old Town School. Wednesday is a full day.
The after-jam was lively and fun and I got to know a couple people a little more. That is always fun. $4.50 Kronenbourgs. It's French. Who knew?
Tomorrow back to RPMS and the Old Town School. Wednesday is a full day.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Announcing My New Blog about Music, Education and a Musical Podcast from Radio Lab
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Hello,
This is my initial post for my new blog experience!
If you know me, you know how important my teaching is to me and how much time I spend making, listening to and reading about music and education.
This podcast from Radiolab has been on my mind since I listened last week. It's called Musical Language. I've studied music for most of my life, and over the past couple of years I've been studying Spanish. Both experiences have informed each other in ways that have been very exciting. So it's great to hear some other people making comparisons between music and spoken language. It's quite validating. I can't recommend listening to it highly enough.
OK! First post done. Onward!
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