Fun with Music!

Can serious musicians have fun, too? I've seen some evidence lately that says they can! Watch our newest orchestra members conquer a new piece each week. See the pride on their faces and the eagerness with which they request their "checkups". These kids are learning something about overcoming obstacles through focused effort, but they are also enjoying their own mastery, as well as the rewards of relationship that come with it. Sit in on a lively discussion during intermediate orchestra. What does this music mean? How does the meaning change if we tinker with the time signature, or the key signature? How do we make choices about soloists, tempos, and dynamics? For young people beginning to master their world, these questions are related to power, and provide clues about the human world of meaning and emotion. After the intermediates leave, advanced players stay on for some serious practice that erupts in laughter at frequent intervals. The joy of working with people who share your language is palpable. Working our way into the head of the composer, trying to deduce the skill levels of the musicians for whom the piece is written, and working closely together in this most collaborative of efforts is energizing, even at the end of a very long day. And then there is cellobop musician Gideon Freudmann. He came out to the Sandy Library for First Friday, to play an intimate concert mixture of original, classical, and pop tunes. His electric cello worked so tightly with his loop machine that we were constantly guessing at the "how" of his music, but there was no doubt about the "why". He was just having too much fun!

Fall 2011

I love the fall season! We're starting new beginners, and last year's beginners are begging for "The Ghost of Tom". Advanced players are looking forward to music from the Messiah, and everyone is enjoying the challenges as they arise.

This Saturday you can catch advanced and intermediate performers at Compassion Estacada, playing for folks waiting in the hallways for their free medical appointments. If you want one of those free medical appointments, get to the high school before 9:00, when they start making them.

Put December 10th on your calendar now! Every year Estacada puts on its Christmas Choir Festival. Orchestra plays prelude music at 6:45. We'll also be playing accompaniment for the community choir's Messiah selections. If you'd like to join the community choir this year, it practices on Saturday nights at 7:00 beginning the first Saturday of November. Rehearsals are held at the Estacada LDS church on Eagle Creek Road.

What a great season to be a musician in Estacada!

How Not to Conduct an Orchestra

You'll all recognize this tune pretty soon!

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Portland Cello Project

Mot many groups in the Portland Metro area have as many cellos as we do, but the Portland Cello Project's ration of cellos to other musicians is even higher than ours.

Yo-Yo Ma plays Dvorak

Hey, gang, Christy found this video of Yo-Yo Ma playing the Dvorak Concerto. If you want to hear him LIVE with the Oregon Symphony, order your tickets NOW!

Happy Birthday, Chopin

In honor of Chopin's birth 200 years ago, OrchEstraCada has been looking for Chopin pieces to play. This is harder than it sounds, because Chopin didn't write for orchestras. His pieces were written for piano (specifically for Chopin to play on the piano), and the transcriptions to orchestra are often quite frankly lame.
Chopin was born in Poland, to a Polish mother and French father. As a young man he escaped the oppression of Poland and spent his short life, often in ill health, in France, where he was able to teach and perform. Upon his death, he requested that his heart be buried in Poland, so there are two Chopin graves. One for the body of the performer and teacher who did his work in France, and one for the his Polish heart, which led him to compose Nationalistic Music on behalf of Poland. Follow this link to hear Van Cliburn playing Chopin's music on the piano.

Bobby McFerrin - Expectations

Bobby McFerrin illustrates the power of the pentatonic (5 tones with no half steps) scale:

World Science Festival 2009: Bobby McFerrin Demonstrates the Power of the Pentatonic Scale from World Science Festival on Vimeo.

New Guitar teacher in Estacada

Michael Davis is an experienced professional performer, composer, arranger and teacher who recently moved back to the Estacada area. You can see his studio listing on our page at www.orchestracada.org/emta.html. Here is a sample of his playing:

Happy Merry Musical Break

The world is full of music all year, and this season is the peak for me. As families gather for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and New Year celebrations, music reminds us of the traditions of our past and offers us new ways to create and enjoy them in this fleeting piece of 2009.
Make sure you "strike the harp and join the chorus" this week. Become a part of the season, the tradition, and the music of life. Music may not come in a box and sit on a shelf, but the songs you share with your family and friends are a priceless, unrepeatable gift.
Pass it on.

Elaine

Silent Hallelujah Chorus

This is a very creative rendition. How monks who've taken a vow of silence might "sing" Handel's Hallelujah Chorus. Hilarious!

Nutcracker Ballet

This Saturday the advanced players of Orchestracada will be playing at the Christmas Ball in Estacada. One of the pieces for this event is a Trepak (Russian Dance) from the Nutcracker Ballet. It is the last of the short dances performed here by the San Francisco Ballet:



For more info about The Nutcracker, visit http://www.bachtrack.com/the-nutcracker.

Don't forget performance this Sunday. Be at the Junior High Auditorium at 5:15 p.m. Wear black and white, bring your music, instrument and stand. See you there!

This one's been around awhile, but it's a pretty fun piece for small-handed pianist and assistant.

Bottle Tune Skater

Here's some creative music-making to inspire you this week!

Composing "The Spanish Trail"

I selected this video to post because it deals with the ideas behind a "chorale" in classical music, which we discussed a bit in rehearsal last Thursday. Enjoy!

Ghost of Tom Appears

It's always fun when a collaborative effort comes together, and that's just what happened last week to create "Ghost of Tom," a canon for All Hallows Eve. First Claudia explained how she taught beginners using a simple three-note minor scale and allowing them to make a "scary noise" on their instrument (to be played ONLY on cue). Then Christy mentioned that Have you seen the Ghost of Tom? would be a fun piece to try. Two days later, we had a piece that was very simple for the beginners, but educational and fun for everyone!

Grand Ball Goes "Poof"

Whether a victim of a poor economy, inadequate advertising, or some other tragedy, the Grand Ball at the Newell House has been cancelled this year. That means the advanced OrchEstraCada players have fewer rehearsals and a longer break (a whole month!) than usual.

We look forward to gathering again on September 22nd. Everyone meets at 6:00, beginners leave at 7:00, and intermediates leave at 8:00. Advanced players usually quit when everyone gets tired or 9:00, whichever comes first.

If you'd like to join us, please email Elaine at elaineb@rconnects.com to let her know what kind of music you need (what instrument and level) for rehearsals.

We'll be playing lots of hymns and Christmas carols this season, and maybe some dance tunes.

Please note that there will be no rehearsals on October 1st or on the week of Thanksgiving. See you September 22nd!

Summer into Fall

This Thursday, August 20, is the final day of rehearsal for the summer, unless you are playing for the Grand Ball on the 29th. If you are a beginner who wants to get into intermediate orchestra this fall, work hard on those cadences. They must be played correctly (timing, pitches, fingering and bowings) to pass.

September 19th from 11-4:00 will be the Blackberry Jam Acoustic Music Festival at the Philip Foster Farm. Anyone can come and play along at these jam sessions, and you are welcome to listen to the music or be a volunteer for the day. No charge for guests or musicians. The Dutch Oven Cookoff will be happening that day, too, so there will be plenty of things to do and see.

Fall term will begin on September 22nd and will run through December 10th, with a performance at 6:45 on the 12th. Rehearsals will begin at 6:00. No rehearsals will be held the week of Thanksgiving, although we may have a performance on the Sunday evening before Thanksgiving.

If you are getting back into band at school (and I hope you are), please invite other band members to join the orchestra. It's a great way to develop additional skills, play more music, and make more friends. Flutes, clarinets, horns, percussion are welcome. No saxophones, please!

Remember you can download cadences and forms at the website at www.orchestracada.org at any time. See you on September 22nd!

Elaine Butler
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Summer Celebration!

All orchestra members meet at the "grassy knoll" by Thriftway in Estacada at 12:30 on Saturday, July 25th. We will set up and tune, ready to perform at 1:00. Bring you instrument, stand, and music (all set up in order for the performance).

1) Cadence 1
2) Cadence 2, beginning with Twinkle
3) Cadence 3
4) Cadence 4
5) Bows and Arrows
6) Ode to Joy
7) Colors of the Wind
8) Bows, beginners excused
9) German Dance
10) Telemann Sinfonia
11) Emperor Waltz
12) Can-Can
13) Bows Intermediates excused
14) Deutscher Tanz/Schmetterling
15) Viola Concerto
16) Drink to Me Only...
17) Martha Polka
18) Brandenburg 3
19) Eine Kleine (abridged)
20) Ashokan Farewell
21) Bows

Part 1 of my ISP oral report


Part 2 of my ISP oral report - the Video Tour of orchestracada.org