and so on and so forth

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

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

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

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..

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

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

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

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