Sights and Sounds

Fiddlin'

2012-02-26T19:22:00.001-05:00

I just wanted to clarify something. I play the viola and the violin. I don't play the fiddle. I can't tell you how many people have asked me if I have a fiddle in my case, or if I would fiddle for them.

Really a fiddle is a violin, but there's a little more to it than that. Officially the definition of fiddle according to my Harvard's Concise Dictionary of Music and Musicians is any bowed instrument, but I'm pretty sure when I'm asked to fiddle, this is what they mean:

It is a specialized style of music too, just like jazz, and not everyone is trained in those styles.

Common distinctions between violins and fiddles reflect the differences in the instruments used to play classical and folk music. However, it is not uncommon for classically trained violinists to play folk music, and today many fiddle players have some classical training. A lot of traditional (folk) styles are aural traditions, so are taught 'by ear' rather than with written music.

Folk Music: Music in oral tradition, often in relatively simple style, primarily of rural provenance, normally performed by nonprofessionals, used and understood by broad segments of a population and espeically by the lower socioeconomic classes, characteristic of a nation, society, or ethnic group, and claimed by one of these as its own. (pg 236 of Harvard's Concise Dictionary of Music and Musicians.)

Unfortunately for me, I wasn't trained in jazz or fiddling. I can't swing beats or improvise very well... I can play a glissando (a continuous or sliding movement from one pitch to another) which you can hear in fiddle music a lot.

Fiddling is also stereo typically associated with Appalachia, country folk, and bluegrass but it goes deeper. You can hear irish and scottish fiddling in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada.

It's making some headway in pop culture, I'm sure you've heard of Celtic Woman, well they have they're own minstrel, Máiréad Nesbitt. In fact, they'll be at the Oakdale Theater in Wallingford on March 17th and the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville on March 18th.

I'll leave you with a video of her playing and dancing like a crazy person haha.

Read this and other entries at my blog: http://watercolorhalfnotes.blogspot.com

Exciting Opportunity

2012-02-22T20:57:00.000-05:00

On Friday, March 9th at 6:30pm, Park Church will be hosting the Destiny Africa Children's Choir from Uganda. They will be performing a concert featuring African singing, dancing, drumming, and story-telling. They are an internationally known group who have performed all over the world-- including for the Queen and Prime Minister of Britain!

Here is a little more about the group:

Destiny Africa is a children's choir from Uganda that will be touring New England from March to June 2012. Destiny Africa choir members are 10 to 16 year old boys and girls who are orphans from Uganda and their choir has performed in the USA, UK, and Europe. They began performing publicly in 2007 and have since performed for the Prime Minister of the UK, and for the Queen’s birthday!

The children are dynamic singers and dancers that love sharing their talents with others. Despite the trauma in these children's lives from surviving in a country torn apart by civil wars and losing their parents to violence, diseases, and poverty - the children want to share their talents and hope for a better world. Destiny Africa will be performing throughout New England (providing 150 performances). Children and their families attending the performances will learn about the culture and life in Uganda, and will be directly impacted by the choir members' inspiration and hope. Please visit www.DestinyAfrica.org for more information.

Park Congregational Church
United Church of Christ

283 Broadway
Norwich, CT 06360

(860) 887-3747
Visit them on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/ParkChurchNorwich

Just put it on the bed, I hope it's nice and hot.

2012-02-20T20:12:00.000-05:00

No, it's not what you think. It's a line from Sir Evelyn Oakleigh, a character in Anything Goes, referring to his cup of tea.

Yesterday afternoon was the closing performance of Anything Goes by the Colchester Community Theater at Bacon Academy, and it was excellent! Congratulations to the entire cast and crew for a wonderful production.

Despite it feeling very spring-like lately, it is still in fact winter, which means the Willimantic Orchestra (or Willy Philly as we like to call it) is having their annual winter concert soon. How soon? Sunday, March 4th at 3pm, to be exact.

If you enjoyed our New London Community Orchestra concert a few weeks back, you'll love the Willy Philly! They have the added bonus of being a full orchestra (that mean's they have winds (which means trumpets and flutes and things)) AAANNDD will be playing some fantastic pieces!

The program includes Britten, Soirées Musicales op. 9 (after Rossini); Mozart, Concerto for Horn and Orchestra No. 3 in E-flat (David W. Vaughan, horn); Handel, Overture to the Royal Fireworks Music; Mendelssohn, Symphony 3 in a minor (“Scotch”)

The Willimantic Orchestra holds its concerts in the Shafer Auditorium of Eastern Connecticut State University. The auditorium is on the intersection of Windham and Valley street, with parking on the backside of the building which faces High street.

courtesy of willimanticorchestra.org

additonal upcoming chamber events

2012-02-17T20:56:00.000-05:00

this just in: I was alerted to another chamber ensemble performing in the area in the near future.

CHAMBER MUSIC @ CHRIST CHURCH

Presents:

The Genesius Piano Quartet

"Romance a la Carte"

A Savory Menu of Classic and Romantic Works from Haydn to Vaughan Williams

Sunday, February 26th

3:00 pm

Free and Open to the Public

Handicap Accessible

Champagne Reception to Follow

Christ Episcopal Church

78 Washington Street

Norwich, CT 0660

Please call 860.425.0663 or visit www.ccsarts.org for more info.

Join us on FACEBOOK !

Chamber Music Upcoming Events

2012-02-17T19:52:00.000-05:00

Announcing two Chamber Events in New London:

Wednesday February 22 at noon – The MetaFour String Quartet will perform selections by Alexander Borodin, Rami Levin, and Claude Debussy at the “Music and Soup for the Soul Concert Series” at the Second Congregational Church, 45 Broad Street, New London. Donations will be accepted, and a selection of homemade soups will be available after the concert. Further information, call 860-501-5551 Members of the MetaFour String Quartet are Julia Pettersson and Lisa Gray, violins; Irene Mrose Rissi, viola; and Barbara Metz, cello.

Sunday, March 25 at 2 PM – The MetaFour String Quartet and Friends presents a chamber program at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 19 Jay Street. Suggested donation $20 to benefit the New London Homeless Hospitality Center. The MetaFour String Quartet will perform Mozart’s “Dissonant Quartet,” and will be joined by Charlie Suriyakham for the Brahms clarinet quintet. Members Julia Pettersson and Barbara Metz will be joined by pianist John Metz for the Beethoven Trio Op. 1 No. 1.

For more information please call 860-437-7170

Mark another date in your calendar: Sunday, April 22nd at 4 PM, also at All Souls, pianist Sarah Masterson in a solo recital.

Duration

2012-02-12T21:43:00.000-05:00

Well now that we've had our own duration between posts (yeah I know that was awful), I'll tell you about musical duration.

Notation of Duration
The notation of duration is illustrated in the following chart:

The Tie
The tie is a curved line that connects two adjacent notes of the same pitch into a single sound with a duration equal to the sum of both note values. In other words, it will make the note sound longer.

The Dot

placed to the right of a note head, the dot lengthens the value of the note by half again its value. A second dot (yes they do that sometimes just to mess with us) lengthens the dotted value by half the length of the first dot. Dots may also be used with rests and affect them the same way.

Irregular Division of Notes

A note value may be divided and subdivided into any number or equal parts, as shown in the chart below. Those divisions and subdivisions that require added numbers are called irregular divisions and subdivisions.

Rhythm

Rhythm is a general term used to describe the motion of music in time. The fundamental unit of rhythm is the pulse or beat. Even a person untrained in music generally senses the pulse and might tap their foot or clap their hands.

Meter Signatures

Meter can be defined as a regular, recurring pattern of strong and weak beats. This recurring pattern of durations is identified at the beginning of a composition by a meter signature (time signature). This may also change throughout a composition, and is identified at every change.

The upper number indicates the number of beats per measure, and the lower digit indicates which note gets the beat (2 signifies a half note, 4 refers to a quarter note, 8 for the an either note, etc.).

For instance:

3 beats per measure, and quarter note gets the beat

Forgive my crooked pictures, I haven't perfected the art of scanning yet haha. I'll pick up next time with simple and compound meter, they require more room and attention that I really should force into this one entry.

Read this and other blog entries at my blog: http://watercolorhalfnotes.blogspot.com

Anything Goes

2012-02-09T10:44:00.000-05:00

When I was in high school, a friend of mine talked me into going with them to a rehearsal for the school play. They were working on the stage crew and asked me if I wanted to help too. My options were crew or go home, and well at that point I would do anything to keep from having to go home. I sat and watched the rehearsal for the first play (of quite a few) that I would love working on. Anything Goes.

You've never seen it? Lordy are you missing out. First of all, its music and lyrics are written by Cole Porter.

Cole Porter is an Indiana-born composer and American songwriter who's great success was in the 1920s and 30s with musicals including: Paris, The New Yorkers, Jubilee, Anything Goes, Kiss me Kate, Can-Can, and Silk Stockings.

Still not sure who I'm talking about. Ok, maybe you've never heard of these plays, perhaps you've only heard songs from them and never knew they were from a play.

Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)
keep in mind his work was from the 20s and 30s so it's not all exactly P.C.
Anything Goes
I Get a Kick Out of You
Don't Fence Me In
It's De-lovely
Let's Misbehave

Anywho, as I was saying, Anything Goes... The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London. Billy Crocker is a stowaway in love with heiress Hope Harcourt, who is engaged to Lord Evelyn Oakleigh. Nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and Public Enemy #13 Moonface Martin aid Billy in his quest to win Hope.

Sound exciting? Not sure why I'm rambling on about it?

Well if you'd like to see this musical, you have your chance. The Colchester Community Theater is putting on Anything Goes at Bacon Academy High School Friday, Feb 17 at 7pm, Saturday, Feb 18 at 2pm & 7pm, and Sunday, Feb 19 at 2pm.
Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for seniors and children 12 and under.
Tickets are available at Colchester Parks & Recreation Dept in the Town Hall or at the Wild Geese Gift Shop (191 Broadway, Colchester, 860-537-4010)
Tickets are available at the door on performance days, however audience members are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance.

Now if my co-worker's brother was not in the cast, I never would have known about such an event. But I'm glad she told me, I hope to see a packed house for the performance I will thoroughly enjoy.

Whistlin Dixie to All that Jazz

2012-02-06T11:08:00.000-05:00

On February 15th, at 7pm in Shafer Auditorium at Eastern Connecticut State University, the U.S. Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band will hold a free concert as part of ECSU's Arts and Lecture Series.

The United States Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band was organized in 1970 to perform classic jazz, blues, and rags with a “New Orleans” flavor. The Dixieland Jazz Band has entertained audiences across America, in the former Soviet Union and in England. Notable venues include the open-air theater in Disney World, the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, at the “Galaxy Jazz Festival” in Milwaukee, the Embarcadero in San Francisco, the John F. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage in Washington, D.C., and at Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The five member group has also performed on numerous radio and television broadcasts across the nation.

Jazz can be described generally as music rooted in improvisation and characterized by syncopated rhythm, a steady beat, and unique tone colors and performance techniques. Although the term jazz became current in 1917, the music itself was probably heard as early as 1900. We do not know exactly when jazz started or how it sounded at first, because this new music existed only in performance, not musical notation. Very little jazz was captured on recording before 1923, and none at all before the Original Dixieland Jazz Band recorded in 1917.

Since its beginnings, jazz has developed a rich variety of sub-styles such as New Orleans style (including Dixieland), swing, bebop, cool, free jazz, and jazz rock. It has produced such outstanding figures as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Charlie Parker, and Miles Davis. Its impact has been enormous and worldwide, affecting not only many kinds of popular music, but the music of such composers as Maurice Ravel, Darius Milhaud, George Gershwin, and Aaron Copland.

I, myself, have attended performances from this ensemble in the past and will tell you that it's a concert worth attending. Although I am not the biggest jazz fan in the world, Dixieland jazz is such a treat you cannot help tapping your foot along. I highly recommend anyone who can to see this performance.

Again,

U.S. Coast Guard Dixieland Jazz Band

7pm

Shafer Auditorium at Eastern Connecticut State University

83 Windham St, Willimantic CT 06226 (see map here)

Admission is free, but seats are limited.

Please call (860)465-0036 or email tickets@easternct.edu for more information.

don't knock the notation

2012-02-02T21:55:00.000-05:00

Where did I leave off? I think it was accidentals, intervals, enharmonics, and duration.

Accidentals:
Accidentals are symbols used to indicate the raising or lowering of a pitch, they are placed to the left of a notehead.

Sharp ( ♯ ) raise the pitch a halp step
Flat ( ♭ ) lowers the pitch a half step
Natural (♮) cancels any previous sharp or flat and returns to the natural, or unaltered, pitch
Double Sharp ( * ) raise the pitch two half steps (or whole step)
Double Flat ( ♭♭ ) lowers the pitch two half steps

Intervals:
Although the movement of half steps and whole steps would make a lot more sense if I explained intervals.
An Interval is the relationship between two tones. If you think of a piano keyboard, a half step is the interval between any two adjacent keys (black or white). This is the smallest interval used in Western music.

the interval between every note is a half step

Enharmonic Equivalents:

Remember the scene in The Goonies, when Andy has to play the organ made of bones and she gets stuck and says "I can't tell if the next note is an A#(sharp) or a Bb(flat)!" Well really it doesn't matter, since they are actually the same note, they are enharmonics. (these 2 notes are shown in the 3rd pair shown below)
Enharmonic equivalents are tones that have the same pitch but different letter names.

To see and hear enharmonics, click the play arrow in the upper left corner of the window below:

Half Step Motion:
In passages of music involving half-step motion, a flatted note is followed most often by a note with a different letter name a half step lower.
A sharped note is followed most by a note with a different letter name a half step higher in passages involving half-step motion.

I think I'll leave duration out for now. It is very detailed and requires special attention. I should probably spend a whole entry discussing just notation of duration so until next time...

Read this and other entries on my blog: http://watercolorhalfnotes.blogspot.com

and so on and so forth

2012-01-30T19:30:00.000-05:00

Turns out that not only is Essex home to the Community Music School (see that blog entry here), there is also the Charles Music School.

The front page of their website provides a lovely little bit of information about the school:
"Charles’ Music School offers affordable one-on-one private lessons for guitar, bass, piano, voice, drums, flute, saxophone, trumpet, violin, oboe and clarinet. Half hour private lesson rates are only $25 and you pay by the month so there’s never a long commitment and registration is always free! We also have rentals for most popular instruments and offer a 10% family discount when enrolling more than one family member."

But I'm mainly trying to draw attention to their Adult Music Workshop.

If you play the guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, or can sing, with little to no performance experience then this is the ensemble for you. Heck, you don't even need to know how to read music.

Charles Domler, the school's owner, leads this group who meet once a week for eight weeks. All materials are provided, this includes drums, amps, cables, music stands, mics, a PA system, and sheet music.

Students not only become more familiar with their instruments, they will also learn to put together a set list, and learn about tempo and how to count basic beats.

With the end of each eight week duration, the class holds a live performance and each student receives a DVD of the performance.

Cost: $150
Duration: 8 week program – (1) 60 minute class ea. week
Time: Usually starts around 7:30pm
Day of the week: Determined once we have a full group signed up

There’s no registration fee and you won’t pay until we start so call
us at (860)460-9183 and sign up today!

They also have a Group Guitar Workshop, and also a Group Violin Workshop

As if it doesn't get any better, the Charles' Music School also carries new and used instruments and accessories for sale and rentals.

Charles’ Music School
24 Main Street, Unit D
Centerbrook, CT 06409
(860)460-9183

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri 12:00-9pm
Sat 8:00-2pm

Have questions about music lessons or
sales? Please take a moment to write us
and we’ll get back to you in a jiffy. Please
include a phone number. Thanks!
charles@charlesmusicschool.com

Read this and other entries on my blog: http://watercolorhalfnotes.blogspot.com

Aged to Perfection

2012-01-29T19:14:00.000-05:00

Are you an adult that has little or no musical experience? Maybe you're just rusty, or want to learn a different instrument?
Well, in Essex is the Centerbrook Music School.

The school was established in 1983 and has been a place for voice and instrumental instruction for children and adults. They are a non-profit providing music classes and private lessons for students in more than 25 area towns.

Their programs include:
Private Instruction
Suzuki Instruction
Music Therapy
Group Classes
Kindermusik
New Horizons Band
Ensembles
Theory and Performance
Summer programs
Broadway Bound
Homeschool Program

Now for those adults I spoke of, you would be looking for the New Horizons Band.
"Launched in 2009, New Horizons at CMS is quickly becoming a popular favorite. Under the direction of Patricia Hurley, the New Horizons Band is a supportive group for beginners or those who have not played an instrument in years. There are no auditions and everyone is welcome! Band rehearsals are twice a week with performances scheduled during the semester. Standard band literature graded level 1-2 in all styles and genres will be performed."

This ensemble meets Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11 am – 12 pm; 16 weeks; $250

The Community Music School gives some brief history on New Horizons:

"The New Horizons music program was introduced in Rochester, New York in 1991, the brainchild of Roy Ernst of Eastman Conservatory. Today there are about 150 New Horizons bands, choruses and orchestras in the United States and Canada, with thousands of participants. These organizations provide an entry point for adults who have either never studied music or who have been away from it for many years, allowing them to share the joyful experience of recreational music making. As it was first developed, members had to be at least 50 years old, but we have opened our program to any adults who are available between 10 and 12 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for group lessons and band rehearsals.

New Horizons bands are always nurturing, non-competitive and supportive in style. There are no auditions or chair tryouts. Everyone is welcome! As long as the band exists, there will always be space for new beginners to join the ranks and discover the joy of making music together.

The national New Horizons organization even sponsors several adult band camps each year, where participants come from all over the country to meet each other and make music together. The groups often perform in a variety of community venues, sometimes joining forces with other community bands or orchestras.

We invite you to join the recreational music movement — you’ll be glad you did! Be a part of the New Horizons Band of the Connecticut River Valley."

Whether you're an adult looking for some musical instruction for your self or perhaps for your children, and are interesting in more information or perhaps want to register, you can contact registration by mail, phone, or in person. (Note: newly registered students will be placed based on student interests and teacher availability.)

By Mail: Send a completed registration form with required fee and deposit to CMS.

By Phone: Call the Business Office at 860-767-0026 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

In Person: Visit CMS at 90 Main Street, Centerbrook to complete the process.

To see Fees and Payment Plans click here. There are Scholarships and Financial Aid also available.

Community Music School | 90 Main Street | PO Box 387 | Centerbrook, CT 06409 | Phone: 860.767-0026
Don't forget to "Like" them on Facebook!

Read this and other entries on my blog: http://watercolorhalfnotes.blogspot.com

London, England.. neither one New

2012-01-26T21:46:00.000-05:00

Well, it's not exactly local but man if I could afford to travel I would totally go to London, England just so I could see War Horse (the play). Yes they did make a movie but this just looks so much more awesome.

Those who haven't heard of this story, the New London Theatre tells it on their website:

"At the outbreak of World War One, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France.
He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary odyssey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in no man’s land.
But Albert cannot forget Joey and, still not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to the trenches to find him and bring him home.
Actors, working with astonishing, life-sized puppets, lead us on this emotionally-charged journey through history."

Honestly, it's the life-sized puppets that interest me.

I mean look at these things.

But if you can't afford to fly to London, England, you can always travel to New York City and see it at the Lincoln Center Theater playing from now until early September.

Venue:
Lincoln Center Theater-Vivian Beaumont
150 West 65th Street (Between Broadway and Amsterdam)
New York NY 10023

Running Time:
2 hours and 40 minutes, including intermission

Audience:
Recommended for 12 +
Children under the age of 5 are not permitted in the theatre.

Ticket Price:

Weekday:

Orchestra: $125.00
Loge Rows A-C: $125.00
Loge Rows D-E: $75.00

Friday & Saturday evenings:
Orchestra: $135.00
Loge Rows A-C: $125.00
Loge Rows D-E: $90.00

Tickets purchased online and by phone are subject to a per ticket service charge of $7.50 and a per order handling fee. Handling fees vary by how your tickets are delivered.

Box office hours: Mon-Sat: 10am to 8pm. Sun: Noon to 6pm

My birthday is in early May. Just fyi, if someone wants to get me something awesome for my birthday haha

Read this and other entries on my blog: http://watercolorhalfnotes.blogspot.com

officially official

2012-01-25T10:36:00.000-05:00

Well, now I am officially linked to the Bulletin's site so my posts will reach more than 3 people.

Also! That book I ordered has finally arrived! Who ever had this book before must not have been a music major, because there is a LOT of highlighting in it hah.

So to recap, I have talked about the materials of music being sound and time; the elements that make up sound: pitch, intensity, duration, and timbre (tone color), and a few basic fundamentals of notation.

I left off on The Clefs, and have so far explained the treble clef, the bass clef, and the grand staff. But, I bet you didn't know that it doesn't stop there. Oh no! There is another clef. The C clef, and it the most versatile of them all. It is the only clef than can move up and down the staff, where it gains a new name so as to identify each of the possible positions. It is called the C clef, because where the 2 backwards c's (or sideways mustache :-P ) meets is designated as middle C.

The alto clef is a C clef that designates the 3rd line of the staff as middle C. It is the standard clef used in music for viola (so yes, I am quite familiar with this clef haha).

The tenor clef is a C clef that designates the 4th line of the staff as middle C. This clef is occasionally found in music written for cello, bassoon, or trombone (all of which generally read in bass clef).

The soprano, mezzo soprano, and baritone clefs are used less often than the alto and tenor clefs.

Octave Identification
Since the pitch spectrum is so wide, it is often necessary to identify a specific note by the octave in which it appears. But realistically, it's not something that I find used very much in my music so I'll just give you the jist of it and move on.

Think of a piano keyboard, repeating the pattern of CDEFGABC throughout the whole length. Each pattern set makes up an octave, and each octave gets a number in order to identify how high or low it is.

the exclamation point shape was not intentional.

Side Note: Although it may look written differently, middle C will always sound the same. Here is Middle C in all clefs, looks different but if you closed your eyes and listened, they would all be the same pitch.

Middle C is identified as C4.

The octave above an indicated note is sometimes abbreviated 8va, and the octave below 8vb. This is used when a large number of ledger lines make note reading difficult.

Ledger Lines
Pitches that go beyond the limits of the staff are written by adding ledger lines above or below the staff. Ledger lines, which parallel the staff, accommodate only one note.

We'll stop here for today and pick up with more notation next time. ie: accidentals, intervals, enharmonics, and notation of duration.

well.. well.. well..

2012-01-22T11:18:00.000-05:00

Looks like our concert today will truly look like a winter concert. At 2pm today in the ballroom of Harbour Towers at 461 Bank St, New London, the New London Community Orchestra will hold this season's concert including pieces from Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach, and Satie.

We are an ensemble of mixed backgrounds and musical experiences. Although every member did not study music during their secondary education, we all share a love and passion for music. Our member's vary in age from high school and young adult, to wise adults. Many members had not touched an instrument in years but it can be very much like riding a bike, one never forgets. With some practice and encouragement from our wonderful conductor, Joan Winters, we have shaped into an entertaining chamber ensemble who's goals include not only to captivate our audience, but also to bring music lessons to the children of New London.

Join us today for our concert at Harbour Towers. But please, drive carefully through this New England winter wonderland.

still waiting

2012-01-20T22:02:00.000-05:00

So, still waiting for that textbook to come in the mail. Should be here any day now, then we can have some good stuff to talk about.

Also, the blog will officially be linked on the Bulletin's site sometime next week. Going Monday to retake my picture for it, because the one they took (by surprise) was really awful lol

Just a reminder

2012-01-18T11:08:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to remind anyone or inform anyone who does not already know, this Sunday at 2pm in New London at the Harbour Towers Ballroom (4th floor) there will be a concert held by the New London Community Orchestra.

Our program includes:

Vivaldi Concerto in G Major (Alla Rustica) Op. 51, No. 4
Bach Fugue in G minor "The Little Fugue"
Satie Gymnopedie #1
Mozart Divertimento No. 1, K. 136 I & III

I would love to provide you with some program notes, but today is the SOPA strike and many websites are blacked out and my textbook has not yet arrived in the mail. So if you will forgive me, I hope to be able to provide you with some added information soon.

What I can provide is more information on the concert specifically.

Who:

The New London Community Orchestra

"The New London Community Orchestra is non-profit organization comprised of volunteer players and organizers. Performances are designed to offer classical music to the public, raising awareness of musical traditions, a community of musicians, and the need for music education. Funds raised through concerts and events have contributed to the creation of the organization and the start up program for after school string programs for children." - newlondoncommunityorchestra.org

When:

2:00 P.M. Sunday January 22nd, 2012

Tickets:

Free admission, voluntary donations greatly appreciated.

Where:

Ballroom at Harbour Towers
461 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320

View Larger Map

As a member, I will of course be there. I hope to see you there!

sunday funday

2012-01-16T00:42:00.000-05:00

Did everyone watch the playoffs tonight? Yeah, me neither hah. But I didn't need to since I practically had a play-by-play on facebook all night.

Any who, lets talk about notation.

Music notation is much more precise and complicated than written language. when we notate music, we use symbols that show three of the four properties of sound we previously discussed: pitch and duration are given accurately, and relative intensity is indicated. Furthermore, pitch and duration are shown simultaneously.

In music notation, pitches are represent by symbols positioned on a staff and identified with letter names.

The Staff
The staff consists of five equally spaced horizontal lives

The various pitches are named by the first seven letters of the alphabet A B C D E F G (unless youre in Germany where they use H for a note but that's another story) For the record, although the alphabet starts with A the musical alphabet starts with C.

The Clefs
A clef is a symbol placed at the beginning of a line of music that establishes the letter names of the lines and spaces of the staff.

The treble clef (or G clef) is a very ornate letter G. The curved line ends at the second line of the staff, which designates the letter name of a note on that line is G.

The bass clef (or F clef) has its name because it is derived from the letter F. The dots are placed above and below the fourth line of the staff, designating this life as F.
(if you haven't already noticed, the lines are always counted from bottom up)

Together, the treble and bass staves make up the (taadaaa!) grand staff.

This staff is usually associated with keyboard music.

It gets a bit more complicated when we really dissect the staff, which I'll do with my next lesson.

mo-mo-mohegan

2012-01-14T20:57:00.000-05:00

We have a great source for entertainment just minutes outside of Norwich. Mohegan Sun Casino

They have all kinds of entertainment: Concerts, comedy performances, and sports events.

We all know about the Arena and the big headliners they have, but we shouldn't forget about the little guy!

Almost everyday in the Wolf's Den they have free concerts. I advise getting there VERY early, the seating fills up very quickly, there is standing room but why risk it?

Coming up this week:

Tuesday 1/17/12 7pm Rewind
Rewind brings back all the great hits you grew up listening to. With award winning vocals, dual guitar leads and a rocking rhythm section, Rewind does the music of the 70s and 80s right! Journey, the Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Chicago and much more. Let Rewind take you back to music that you loved to listen to but just don't hear anymore!

Wednesday 1/18/12 7pm Souled Out

Souled Out is a musical ensemble that specializes in the great Motown and Soul sounds. Featuring a three-piece vocal section, the group weaves its way through the Motown and 70s Soul eras with authentic choreographed dance routines and outstanding musicianship. Not only is Souled Out a sensational listening and dancing experience, it is an awesome visual one as well!

Thursday 1/19/12 8pm Young Neal & The Vipers

One of the best R&B/Blues bands in the music industry, Young Neal & The Vipers puts on a performance that won't disappoint. You won't be able to get enough of the catchy rhythms and astounding riffs.

Friday 1/20/12 8pm Matt Nathanson

Matt Nathanson burst onto the music scene in 2008 with his mega-hit "Come On Get Higher." The song entered the Top 5 of the Billboard charts. His latest album Modern Love was released in June of 2011 and produced the hit "Faster."

Saturday 1/21/12 6pm & 8pm Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra

Polka takes over the Wolf Den! Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra has over 106 recordings; the excellence of these recordings has been recognized and rewarded throughout the very competitive music industry. Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra is on the Top Ten list of the All-time Grammy Awards and has won eighteen Grammy Awards.

Sunday 7pm Steel Magnolia

Steel Magnolia blossomed one late night in March in Nashville's famous, Printer's Alley. The dynamic, singing/songwriting duo has come a long way since forming in 2006. Recently they were crowned the season 2 winners of CMT's hit show Can You Duet. As a result, they signed a record deal with Big Machine Records, home to Taylor Swift, Jack Ingram, Reba, etc. Their first single release, "Keep On Lovin' You" is already climbing the charts and they are continuing to work on their debut record with renowned producer, Dann Huff. The record is slated to be released in September 2010.

well.. i've come to a decision

2012-01-12T18:22:00.000-05:00

Since I can't seem to find that textbook... I'm going to just buy another copy off amazon.. it's only about $9 with shipping so even if I find the stupid thing I'm not out a million dollars.. either it's among the boxes of things from school or at someone else's house because it was borrowed but really couldn't tell you which ha. Perhaps it's with my Anchorman dvd I've been missing for a few years. I have the case but no disc; and for the text book I have the CDs that go with it and no book....

harmonic series and so forth

2012-01-11T19:59:00.000-05:00

Remember the other day when I said I'd explain that thing? Yknow, harmonic series? Yeah, well I'm making good on that deal.

A harmonic series includes the various pitches produced simultaneously by a vibrating body. This physical phenomenon results because the body vibrates in sections as well as in a single unit. a string, for example, vibrates along its entire length as well as in halves, thirds, quarters, and so on.
The pitches produced simultaneously by the vibrating sections are called partials or harmonics. The first partial, often called the fundamental, and the series of partials constitute a musical tone. since the fundamental is the lowest frequency and is also perceived as the loudest, the ear identifies it as the specific pitch of the music tone.
Although the harmonic series theoretically goes to infinity, there are practical limits; the human ear cannot detect frequencies over 20,000 hertz.
the individual partials that make up a musical tone are not distinguished separately but are heard by the human ear a blend that characterizes timbre (remember that word?).

Music is and art of sound and time, and the basic characteristics of musical tone - pitch, duration, intensity, and timbre - are the fundamental elements.

Stay tuned for more on the fundamentals, including notation.

upcoming

2012-01-10T19:20:00.001-05:00

Connecticut's Gems

2012-01-10T10:21:00.000-05:00

Did you know just how many theaters we have here in Connecticut? I bet you've never even thought about it. You have probably driven past them and never even realized they were there. And I'm not talking about movie theaters, I'm talking real "lets see a play" theaters.

The Spirit of Broadway
24 Chestnut St, Norwich, CT 06360

(860) 886-2378

O'Neill Eugene Memorial Theatre Center

305 Great Neck Rd, Waterford, CT 06385
(860) 443-7139

Willimantic Theatre Guild

779 Main St, Willimantic, CT 06226
(860) 423-2245

Flock Theatre

66 Union St, New London, CT 06320
(860) 443-3119

Garde Arts Center

325 State St, New London, CT 06320
(860) 444-7373

Cornerstone Playhouse

27 Coogan Blvd # 18, Mystic, CT 06355
(860) 572-7772

Bushnell Memorial Theater

166 Capitol Ave, Hartford, CT 06106
(860) 987-5900

Theaterworks

1 Gold St, Hartford, CT 06103
(860) 727-4027

Hartford Children's Theater

360 Farmington Ave, Hartford, CT 06105
(860) 249-7970

Webster Theater

31 Webster St, Hartford, CT 06114
(860) 246-8001

Hartford Stage

117 Murphy Rd, Hartford, CT 06114
(860) 247-1300

The Good Speed Opera House

6 Main Street, East Haddam, CT 06423

860.873.8668

The Norma Terris Theatre
33 North Main Street, Chester, CT 06412

Still looking for more? Well, most of the universities and colleges have theaters for student productions:

Harry Hope Theater at Eastern Connecticut State University

83 Windham St, Willimantic 06226

860-465-5123

Connecticut Repertory Theater at UCONN

802 Bolton Rd, Unit 1127 Storrs, CT 06269

(860) 486-1629

The University of Hartford - The Hartt School of Music has several on campus theaters.

McCray Theater
Mort and Irma Handel Performing Arts Center
35 Westbourne Parkway
Hartford, CT, 06112
1.800.274.8587

Roberts Theater
Mort and Irma Handel Performing Arts Center
35 Westbourne Parkway
Hartford, CT, 06112
1.800.274.8587

Lincoln Theater
200 Bloomfield Avenue
West Hartford, CT, 06117-1599
1.800.274.8587

Millard Auditorium
Fuller Music Building
200 Bloomfield Avenue
West Hartford, CT, 06117
1.800.274.8587

Now you have no excuse for not finding a desirable event in the area.

down to business

2012-01-08T16:53:00.000-05:00

So we had our little meeting with Mr. Konrad at the Bulletin Tuesday discussing the whens, the wheres, and the hows of this community blogger business.

I purposefully waited until today to really start, seeing as Sunday is the first day of the week it will help me establish consistency in my posts.

For those of us just tuning in, which at this point is just about everyone, Welcome aboard! My Name is Michelle Kenny. I'm writing this blog with the intention to keep anyone that is interested up to date about the Arts; specifically any shows/performances in Eastern Connecticut, also I'll be sharing lessons I've learned through my formal training as a musician and performing arts student at Eastern Connecticut State University.

As for local upcoming events in January, you can catch up by reading my last post here.

During my time as a student, I have become familiar with quite a few topics pertaining to the Arts; such as: Music Theory, Music History, Popular Music, Ethnomusicology, Theater History, and Music Cultures of the World. I'll have to turn to outside sources for any information requests on art-art (painting, sculpture, etc.).
I'd like to get into the habit of making Sunday's learning days where I enlighten my readers (be it few or many).

The Basics:
The Materials of Music
The basic materials of music are sound and time. Sounds are used to structure time in music. time occurs in the duration of the sounds and silences between sounds.
Sound is the sensation perceived by the organs of hearing when vibrations (sound waves) reach the ear.
Vibration is the periodic motion of a substance. when you play and instrument, parts of the instrument (the strings, sounding board, etc.) and the air inside and around the instrument vibrate.
Compression and Rarefaction- these terms refer to the alternation of increased (compression) and decreased (rarefaction) pressure in the air caused by an activated (vibrating) surface or air column. one complete cycle of compression and rarefaction produces a vibration, or sound wave.
Frequency refers to the number of compression-rarefaction cycles that occur per unit of time, usually one second. Audible sounds for the human ear range from 20 to 20,000 cycles per second.

The Four Properties of Sound
sound has four identifiable characteristics: pitch, intensity, duration, and timbre.
Pitch is the highness or lowness of a sound. variation in frequency are what we hear as variations in pitch: the greater the number of sound waves produced per second of an elastic body, the higher the sound we hear; the fewer sound waves per second, the lower the sound.
A tone is a musical sound of definite pitch.
Intensity (amplitude) is heard as the loudness or softness of a pitch. in acoustics (the science of sound), intensity is the amount of energy affecting the vibrating body, and is measured on a scale of 0 to 130 in units called decibels. In musical notation, gradations of intensity are indicated with the following Italian words and their abbreviations:

Italian Word Symbol Translation Average Decibels
Pianissimo pp   Very soft 40
Piano p   Soft 50
Mezzo piano mp   Moderately soft 60
Mezzo forte mƒ Moderately loud 70
Forte ƒ   Loud 80
Fortissimo   ƒƒ Very loud 100

Duration is the length of time a pitch, or tone, is sounded. Patterns of duration are called meter and rhythm.
Meter describes regularly recurring pulses of equal duration, generally grouped into patterns of two, three, four, or more with one of the pulses in each group accented. these patterns of strong and weak pulses are called beats.
Duple (two-beat) meter and triple (three-beat) meter are the two basic meters. All other meters result from some combination of these two.
Operating in conjunction with the meter, rhythm is a pattern of uneven durations. while the steady beats of the meter combine to form measures, a rhythm may be a pattern of almost any length.
Timbre (tam-bur) is the tone quality or color of a sound. It is what helps us distinguish the difference between the sound of a clarinet and an oboe. Example: the boy is playing the oboe which sounds like a duck (sorry oboes but that's the easiest way to describe it) and the girl is playing the clarinet which has a more airy/breathey quality to its sound.

This sound quality is determined by the shape of the vibrating body, its material (metal, wood, human tissue), and the method used to put it in motion (striking, bowing, blowing, plucking).

I can continue to bore you by rambling on about how timbre can also sound different as a result of a person's perception of the harmonic series; and explain what makes up the harmonic series but I'll leave that for another day.

I'll try to supplement these entries with a second for any vocabulary definitions.

well... not quite..

2012-01-02T19:40:00.000-05:00

The good news is I found a textbook and another useful notebook. Bad news is it wasn't the one I was looking for.

Coming up in the area for January:

The Norwich Arts Center presents: Eight to the Bar 1/6/12 at 7:30pm, tickets $25

Eight to the Bar performs Friday, January 6 at the Donald L. Oat Theater as NAC’s First Friday Live Sounds series continues. A favorite every year and an "alternative New Year" tradtion at NAC, this popular jump-and-jive band delivers a sensational, vibrant show as they blare out classic hits from—and original work inspired by—the swing era.

Drawing its musical influences from American roots music—swing, boogie woogie, rhythm & blues, soul, and Motown—Eight to the Bar is known for its outstanding instrumentalists and sophisticated musical and vocal arrangements, highlighted by female vocals, and a flare for retro fashion. With several albums and a career that spans decades, EttB has cultivated a large, enthusiastic following that has put them in clubs from Europe to the Carribean and several hot spots here in the States. Touring over 200 venues a year, they’ve opened for legends like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Roy Orbison, and Ray Charles. Their performance at the Donald L. Oat sells out every year!

First Friday Live Sounds runs through June and features a different artist every month. Events are BYOB but feel free to bring your own wine and nibbles. Tables seat up to eight people, so bring friends!

Purchase tickets here, call us at 860-887-2789 or email us.

Donald L. Oat Theater
62 Broadway, Norwich CT
860-887-2789

In Storrs: Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts

2012: Year of the Armageddeon Step Show 1/21/12 @7:30pm
5TH ANNUAL NPHC STEP SHOW

On behalf of the UCONN National Pan-Hellenic Council, we invite you to the 5th Annual NPHC "2012: Year of the Armageddon" Step Show.

This year's show will be an epic event. Drew Frazier from Comedy Central's Bad Boys of Comedy and HBO's Def Comedy Jam will host the show. We anticipate this show to be a time to reunite and have fun. Come represent your organization and support the Divine Nine on January 21, 2012!!!

featuring:
The Ice Cold Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
The SophistAKAted Ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
The Distinguished Gentleman of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
The Naaaassssttttyy Dawgs of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
The DevaSTating Divas of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
The Soulful Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
The Soo Sweet Sisters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
The Pretty Poodles of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
The Centaur Soldiers of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

Sounds by: DJ Willie G

Participate in The D9 STROLL OFF
calling all from '1982 to 2012......

TICKET PRICES
$10 UConn Students
(only available at the Jorgensen Box Office)
$15 Greeks w/para and non-UConn College Students w/ID
(only available at the Jorgensen Box Office)
$20 General Admission
(available both online and at the Jorgensen Box Office)

CHUCHO VALDÉS WITH THE AFRO-CUBAN MESSENGERS JAN 27 – 28, 2012 @ 8:00 PM

Hailed as “the dean of Latin jazz” and “one of the world’s great virtuosic pianists” by The New York Times, multi-Grammy Award-winner Chucho Valdés has recorded over eighty CD’s during his illustrious career, performing with countless jazz masters, including Herbie Hancock, Dizzy Gillespie, Wynton Marsalis and Chick Corea.

Whether Chucho Valdés is performing a gentle ballad or a rousing foot-stomper, his joy in playing and his love of the music always shines through. He can tickle the ivories with the soft grace of Bill Evans and dazzle with the thunderous dexterity of Art Tatum or Oscar Peterson.— ALL ABOUT JAZZ

LINKS:

http://www.valdeschucho.com/http://www.cami.com/?webid=2100

TICKET PRICES
Floor - Tables - $55
Floor - Non tables - $45
Mezzanine - $38
Balcony - $34
UConn Students - $10
Non-UConn Students - $15
UConn Alumni Association Members
Buy1/Get 1 Free (with valid ID)
Tickets may be ordered over the window or on the phone. No internet orders.

ACT: Arts at the Capitol Theater
EASTCONN's Arts Magnet High School
896 Main Street, Willimantic, CT 06226 • 860-465-5636

ACT Student Dance Showcase
'Seven Deadly Sins'
January 13 and 14, 2012 at 7:00 PM
Tickets: $8.00 for adults $5.00 For seniors and students
For ticket information call our Box Office 860-465-5636

Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra

2011-2012 Concert Season

65th Aniiversary Season

Silver Screen and Golden Tones
January 21, 2012
Schroeder's Favorite
Waxman: Rebecca
Azarova: Symphony "Pure thought transfixed"
Weber: Clarinet Concertino, Op. 26
Featuring: Matthew Griffith, Clarinet,
2011 Instrumental Competition Winner
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5

Soloist Sponsored by
Chelsea Groton Bank

SINGLE TICKETS are now on SALE.

To purchase single tickets for our 2011-2012 Concert Season,

call (860) 443-2876. See single ticket prices below.

Tickets are not refundable nor exchangeable.

To purchase single tickets online, click here.

Single Ticket Prices for our 2011-2012 Season are:
Loge (2nd Floor, Rows AA-DD)	$54
Section A (Orchestra Rows B-W)	$47
Section B (Orchestra Rows X-Z & Balcony Rows EE-GG) Senior/Student Discount in this section.	$37 $34
Section C (Orchestra Rows DD-A and Balcony Rows HH-PP) Senior/Student Discount in this section.	$30 $27
Please call the office at 860 443-2876 to purchase single tickets or to subscribe to the 2011-2012 Season.

happy holidays!

2012-01-02T18:17:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone's holidays have been fantastic! Clearly, I've been slacking due to a candy coma hah. I've been on the hunt for a missing textbook and I think I'm closing in on it. Going to check some boxes in the basement. I'll be back in a moment to actually fill you in on some upcoming events and perhaps enlighten you with that book!

Become a sponsor to inner city kids

2011-12-20T10:46:00.000-05:00

I do have rehearsal this evening the the lovely and fabulous New London Community Orchestra in preparation for our upcoming concert on January 22, 2012 at 2pm in the Ballroom of Harbour Towers (461 Bank St. New London). The concert is open to the public with free admission, but a voluntary donation is greatly appreciated.

Interested in becoming a sponsor to children of New London that are unable to take music lessons in school due to budget cuts or financial difficulties within their own homes? We'll I know how you can help!

YES! I would like to make a contribution to the New London Community Orchestra and it's program of after-school music lessons for inner-city children. Have your name listed among our sponsors on our website and in our programs as a contributor to our organization.

AMOUNT DIVISION
__$25 Sponsor
__$50 Section Leader
__$100 Concertmaster
__$125 Maestro
__$____ Other

Please make checks payable to: New London Community Orchestra.
Checks may be mailed to NLCO, 153 Thames St., New London, CT 06320.

Name:_______________________________________

Address:______________________________________

City, State, Zip:__________________________________

Phone:_______________________________________

Email:________________________________________

Thank you for your generous donation!

Music History

2011-12-20T10:35:00.000-05:00

Great news! I recently had returned to me one of my college notebooks containing a semesters worth of Music History 101 from Prof. Calissi. Somewhere I also have Music Survey I and II notes from Dr. Belles and Prof. Lemons. Needless to say, it should take a great deal of time before I run out of things to discuss with you, my adoring fans.

Obviously, having a B.A. in Performing Arts means I took my fair share of classes dealing with the common genres of performing arts. ie: Music and Theater. I did not dabble in dance whatsoever but if you should have any inquires about dance, I will do my best to provide you with an answer.

Soon to follow will be brief lessons in:

Music History
Music Cultures of the World
Music Survey I and II
Intro to Theater
American Popular Music
and 20th Century Music

Semper Paratus

2011-12-18T12:32:00.000-05:00

Today is the Coast Guard Band Annual Holiday Concert!

Don't miss this open to the public performance at Leamy Hall on their New London campus. I know I won't.

Today they have a one hour matinee beginning at 2pm, and a full performance at 7pm.
Be sure to arrive early, as the hall fills quickly.

Don't forget the Tots

2011-12-17T08:33:00.000-05:00

Today is the Annual Holiday Concert at Connecicut College, in the Harkness Chapel. Those attending are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy for donation to Toys for Tots.

Get in the holiday spirit of giving, and enjoy some carols sung by the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Chorus.

Annual Holiday Concert
8pm at Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Ave, New London
Admission: $22 adults, $20 students/seniors
Guests are encouraged to bring an new unwrapped toy for donation.
For more information, call 860-443-2876 (Harkness Chapel)

This week in New London county

2011-12-13T22:04:00.000-05:00

Thursday December 15, 2011

Holiday Follies 2011
7:30pm at The Spirit of Broadway Theater
featuring the Second Step Players Theater Troupe
Admission: $15 also showing Friday and Saturday

The Norwich Arts Center's Annual Carol Sing
travelling through downtown
a potluck dinner begins at 6pm in the gallery
62 Broadway
for more information call 860-887-2789

Friday December 16, 2011

Caroling throughout Sprague
beginning at 6pm
Carolers of Baltic, meet at the gazebo
Carolers of Hanover, meet at the Congregational Church
Carolers of Versailles, meet at the United Methodist Church

Bring your own flashlights, or lanterns are available for $2.

Holiday Sing Along
11am-11:45am
Otis Library
Free admission.

Saturday December 17, 2011

7th Annual Winter Solstice Harp Recital
featuring: Allyn Brown Donath
2pm at the East Lyme Public Library
39 Society Road, East Lyme
For info: 860-739-6926

Annual Holiday Concert
8pm at Connecticut College
270 Mohegan Ave, New London
Admission: $22 adults, $20 students/seniors
Guests are encouraged to bring an new unwrapped toy for donation.
For more information, call 860-443-2876 (Harkness Chapel)

Shoreline Ringers Concert
7pm at the Niantic Community Church
170 Pennsylvania Avenue
Directed by Jane Nolan

Niantic Light Parade

2011-12-10T16:18:00.000-05:00

Don't miss this year's Niantic Light Parade on Sunday, December 11th at 5pm! But head out early, because the route fills up fast and the traffic is very heavy.
Look for members from the New London Community Orchestra near the gazebo handing out free bookmarks, and don't miss our concert on January 22nd at 2pm in the Ballroom at Harbour Towers, 461 Bank Street New London. Admission is free, donations welcome.

As seen on Discovereastlyme.com

"December 11, 2011

23rd Annual Niantic Light Parade & Winterfest 2011

After much debate, review with local business owners and town officials, and feedback from the many parade-goers over the years, this ever popular grand holiday event will once again be held on Sunday night.
Early plans and notices identified the event as taking place on Saturday, but that will not be the case this year. So, book those family and friend get-togethers now and plan on attending the 23rd Annual Niantic (East Lyme) Light Parade on Sunday, December 11th, 2011 beginning on 5:00 pm. Come see the beautifully built and lighted parade floats, dance groups and Santa himself as they parade down beautiful Main St. in Niantic. Last year, John Wilson of SignCraft Signs stole the show with his “Toy Story Niantic” float; who will challenge Mr. Wislon in 2011 for Best Commercial Float? For further informnation about the 2011 parade, or for information to enter/register a float, please contact: Paul Cushing at ProTek Auto at
(860) 739-5729 or email him at paul@protekauto.com

New this year ~ WinterFest 2011.
In addition to the ever popular Niantic Light Parade above, this year's parade will be preceeded by the town's first ever "WinterFest" festival. The Town of East Lyme is celebrating the holidays in a unique and festive way! Introducing WinterFest 2011, a family-focused compliment to the wildly popular and highly anticipated East Lyme Light Parade!
WinterFest activities take place throughout Main Street starting at noon on Sunday, December 11th. Activities include a Chowder & Chili Cook-off, Gingerbread House Competition, Pictures with Santa, Horse Drawn Carriage Rides and Live Demonstrations including Ice Sculpture, Pottery and Glass Blowing at Protek Auto! Participating local merchants will host fabulous activities and tastings as well as special holiday savings. Enjoy FREE Family Entertainment at Niantic Cinema Theater number 4 from Noon-3 including Author/Musician Ryan SanAngelo, Magician Zach Ivins and kids dance lessons from Arthur Murray. The East Lyme Parks and Rec crew will be at the East Lyme Police Station with free face painting and seasonal arts and crafts for kids of all ages. Families will have fun participating in the town-wide Scavenger Hunt while listening to festive live carolers and warming bonfires. Look for the GIANT HEATED TENT on Methodist Street where you will find over 50 local vendors, music and festive food. Taste and judge over 25 varieties of Chili/Chowder and vote on the best. It doesn’t get any better than this locally-focused, community celebration by the sea! Don’t forget the FIREWORKS display to kick-off the Light Parade and remember to bring a non-perishable food item & FILL-A-FLOAT!
Again, WinterFest 2011 will take place in downtown Niantic beginning a noon on Sunday, Dec. 11th (same day as the parade).
For a complete line-up, go to: ELWinterFest"

Twas the night before Sunday

2011-12-10T13:43:00.000-05:00

If you're looking for a way to support music in schools this holiday season, then head over to Montville High School (800 Old Colchester Road, Oakdale, CT 06370) for their Montville High School Holiday Boosters Holiday Dinner from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. The event will raise money for the organization. There will be high school bands and chorus groups performing during your meal; admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students/seniors, and $20 for a family of four (don't forget the little ones under 5 are free).

Would you rather see a classic holiday show? Perhaps, The Nutcracker? Because let's face it, it's not Christmas without a Nutcracker performance.

You're in luck! Eastern Connecticut has a bevvy of performances this weekend. (forgive me of the short notice)

Eastern Connecticut Ballet
When: 1:30pm and 7pm today
1:30pm sunday
Where: Guarde Arts Centre, 325 State St. New London
Price: $20-$42
Call: 860-444-7373

Mystic Ballet
When: 2pm today and Dec. 17th
Where: Mashantucket Pequot Museum, 110 Pequot Trail Mashantucket
Price: $15-$40
Call: 860-536-3671

Ballet Theater Company
When: 3pm today
Where: Hyde Cultural Center, 150 Route 169, Woodstock
Price: $15
Call: 860-928-2946

Connecticut Ballet
When: 1pm and 4pm sunday
Where: The Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Road, Storrs
Price: $25-$30
Call: 860-486-4226

Music Fundamentals

2011-12-04T22:23:00.000-05:00

Perhaps you've always had an interest in music, but haven't had the ability to indulge that interest? Maybe you were faced with other options that preoccupied your time. Well, everyone should have at least a basic understanding of music.

Lesson A:

Let me introduce you to a new word: ethnocentrism.
Ethnocentrism is the assumption that our culture us universal.

Unfortunately, it's not. BUT! A lot of musical ideas are universal. However, since we live in the western world, I may as well just relate everything to our way of thinking.

What is music?

This is a difficult question to answer. It is difficult to distinguish music from noise, as everyone has their own idea of music. Generally music is described as having a few defining features: rhythm (this organizes sound in time, done by giving it a beat or pulse) and a melody (changes in pitch, sometimes with a harmony). It can also include instruments, lyrics, and vocals but not every song has these features.

Lesson B:

Instruments are divided into categories we can easily identify.

Strings: violin, viola, cello, upright bass, harp, guitar, lute, mandolin, etc.

Brass: Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn, Tuba, Baritone (saxhorn, euphonium)

Woodwinds: Flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, oboe, bassoon, saxophone, english horn.

Percussion: drums including snare drum, timpani, and bass drum, keyboard instruments including xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, and glockenspiel, and other instruments such as tambourine, maracas, claves, temple blocks, chimes, cymbals, and gong.

Typically when we think of an orchestra this is what comes to mind, the Symphony Orchestra, which includes all instrument types.

There is a system used to classify instrument types that was established by Erich Moritz von Hornbostel and Curt Sachs called (who-da-thunk) the Sachs-von Hornbostel (or Hornbostel-Sachs) classification system.

Its not often this system is used in casual conversation but for a little intellectual stimulation you can toss these new words around at your next fancy party.

Aerophones: uses air to produce sound. ie: trumpets, flutes, clarinet, oboe, english horn, basoon, saxophone, french horn, tuba, trombone.

Chordophones: anything with strings. ie: violin, viola, cello, guitar

Membranophones: having a membrane, ie: drums

Idiophones: self sounding (makes sound when struck). ie: cowbell

Now don't you feel a little smarter than you were when you woke up today?

What's Happening: December

2011-12-01T22:11:00.000-05:00

Looking for something to do this holiday season? Well, December is the perfect month for concerts and shows in the area.

Norwich Arts Center: (formerly Norwich Arts Council)

60 - 64 Broadway, Norwich, CT 06360
Phone: 860-887-2789
administration@norwicharts.org

12/02/2011

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Holiday Show

unjuried show

NAC Gallery

60 Broadway / Norwich CT 06360

860-887-2789

Reception: December 2 from 6-8 PM

Show runs: November 30 through December 31

Gallery hours: Wednesday through Saturday 12-4 PM

8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

FFLS: Phred Mileski

Donald L. Oat Theater

62 Broadway / Norwich CT 06360

860-887-2789

doors open 7:30 PM / tickets $20 / BYOB

Coast Guard Band:
Leamy Concert Hall
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
15 Mohegan Ave.
New London, CT

December 12th at 2 p.m. Coast Guard Big Band Concert "Ornaments in Jazz"

Trombonist and Musician First Class Sean Nelson leads a big band jazz concert featuring the music of Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and other modern jazz composers.
Also featuring the premiere of a new work by MU1 Nelson.

December 18th at 2 p.m. (1hr matinee) and 7 p.m. (full concert) Academy Concert "Happy Holidays!"

Rejoice in the holiday season with either the hour-long matinee or the full-length evening performance, both bursting with festive musical selections.

Free admission

Willimantic Orchestra:

Shafer Auditorium at Eastern Connecticut State University

83 Windham Street

Willimantic, CT 06226

Saturday, December 3, 2011, 7:30 PM

Holiday Concert:

Rimsky-Korsakov, Polonaise from Christmas Eve; Manfredini, Concerto Grosso in C (op.3, no.12); Rebikov, 4 pieces from The Christmas Tree;Anderson, Sleigh Ride;Irving Berlin, White Christmas; Cacavas, Christmas medley

Free admission, donations appreciated

University of Connecticut: Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts:

Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts
2132 Hillside Road, Unit 3104
University of Connecticut
Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3104
Phone: (860) 486-4226

December 3rd

Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, Keith Lockhart, Conductor Rockapella, Featured Guests

Jollify your holiday season with Keith Lockhart, the Boston Pops, and vocal powerhouse Rockapella! For the first time ever, "America's Orchestra" joins America's leading a cappella group for a light-hearted and unforgettable holiday show. From unique takes on classic favorites to brand new originals, audiences of all ages can expect a program jam-packed with material from the Boston Pops' albums "Holiday Pops" and "Sleigh Ride," Rockapella's chart-topping "Comfort & Joy" and "Christmas," plus a special visit from Jolly Ole' St. Nick and a time-honored audience sing along. Treat yourself and your loved ones to a holiday tradition that millions cherish!

Holiday Meet & Greet, 6-7pm

Meet conductor Keith Lockhart and the members of Rockapella while enjoying delicious hor d'oeuvres and cash bar at this special holiday reception.

$35 per person

Ready for take off

2011-11-30T21:09:00.000-05:00

So, I was asked last night if I would be willing to be a community blogger for The Bulletin. At first, I was unsure of what I might be able to write about that would be relevant to the community; but after considering a few topics, and reading my father's column today, I realized the Arts of Eastern Connecticut would be perfect. Not only am I informed about the arts, I am part of the arts.

I began playing violin in fourth grade, picked up viola in ninth grade, added french horn and mellophone in eleventh grade, and took piano lessons through college where I majored in Performing Arts with a concentration of Music. At Norwich Free Academy, I played in the Orchestra, Concert Band, and Wildcat Marching Band.

I currently play with the New London Community Orchestra. In the past I have played with the Willimantic Orchestra, Thames Valley Orchestra, and the Eastern Connecticut Symphony Youth Orchestra. I have played at the Eastern Region High School Concert Festival, USSBA Championships at Giants Stadium (twice), and countless adjudication festivals up and down the east coast including Virginia Beach, Washington D.C., the Walt Disney World Resort, also locally in Waterford and Colchester.

Also, my brother was a fine arts student at NFA, so I do hear about local art shows and exhibitions.

I think it's safe to say, I might know a thing or two about a thing or two. Being in my mid-20s, it's only normal for me to be practically obsessed with social networking so any local events pertaining the arts (music, visual arts, dance, theater) should be no problem to investigate.