Class Updates October 4th
Dates to Remember
- October 5–Fall Quarterly Meeting at Baltimore Pike Fire Hall at 5:30 p.m.
- October 12–Willow Creek Adult Day Care Center at 10:45 a.m.
- October 26–Allegany Nursing Home at 2:15 p.m.
- November 1–Executive Committee Meeting at Lindy’s at 12:30 p.m.
- November 4–Moran Manor Nursing Home at 2:00 p.m.
- November 18–George’s Creek Adult Day Care Center at 12:30 p.m.
- December 6–Executive Committee Meeting at Lindy’s at 12:30 p.m.
- December 14–Christmas Party at Baltimore Pike Fire Hall at 5:30 p.m.
Class Updates
10:30 a.m.–Traditional Music
Text – Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course, Level Two and Alfred’s Basic Adult Theory Course, Level Two
The three students who attended class today were well prepared and proved it by playing the assigned song very well. We began first with Janet Brant, who played You’re In My Heart on p. 30 of the text. Janet did very well with the assignment and had virtually no real problems at all unless you call playing a little slowly a problem. Slow and accurate is better than fast and full of mistakes. Janet was very accurate in her rendition of the song. The song is a German drinking song and is written for piano students, not organ students who have automatic rhythms at their disposal; therefore, it is necessary to create your own rhythm for the song. Janet was able to do that nicely. Good job, Janet!
Rosie Morgan played next, the same song, You’re In My Heart. She sailed right through the song, up to speed and as accurate as anyone could ever be. What can I say but EXCELLENT!
Sylvia Twigg then tried her hand playing You’re In My Heart. She said she does better at home, but in class today, she struggled with tempo, accuracy, and sharping the F’s and C’s. She is making progress, though, and understands what she needs to do to be a little more successful. Keep working, Sylvia!
Ellie called everyone’s attention to the drills on p. 30 and asked everyone to play the last line prior to the song You’re In My Heart. These drills will make it so much easier for the students to play the song following them. Keep up with the drills in the music text and the exercises in the theory book that correspond with the song that has been assigned.
Sylvia’s second song was from a book of hymns she owns. She played How Great Thou Art and was totally successful on that. Good job, Sylvia!
Rosie’s second song was Pomp & Circumstance on p. 44 of the text. She sounded very good on this, though she says it is slow moving on this one for her. Any graduate would be proud to march into the ceremony to Rosie’s Pomp & Circumstance. Good job, Rosie!
Janet was asking questions and playing bits of Pomp & Circumstance, too, but class was over at this point.
The songs for the group to work on include Brahm’s Lullaby, p. 32 and Lonesome Road, p. 33. Everyone has been working at their own rate of speed; feel free to do so.
11:00 a.m.–Easy Play Music
Text: Book #16 Broadway’s Best
Ellie welcomed Margaret Fisher back to class for the first time in a couple of years. Margaret suffered a stroke and was incapacitated for a while, but she wants to get back in the swing of things. Elaine Twigg was nice enough to pick Margaret up at her new apartment and bring her to class. Thanks, Elaine! Ellie also thanked Joe Radcliffe for the excellent party he and Dot held for the group last Tuesday. We talked about Lurene Seekamp’s unfortunate situation. She has to go to Baltimore for consultation on Saturday. Please keep her in your prayers. We also discussed all the upcoming dates which were written on the board for all to see. Don’t forget the gig at Willow Creek next week (October 12th at 10:45 a.m.). Please send titles for the program.
Rosie Morgan began the playing today with a song of her choice, Climb Ev’ry Mountain. Rosie played on the Rhapsody organ. She used the Soft ‘n Easy background rhythm–actually she used the pre-programmed registration that is in the Rhapsody. Her tempo was 88. She used the flute sound in the lower keyboard for the split keyboard feature. and used both the strings and the piano sounds in the right hand. Beautiful rendition! What a way to begin the class! Thanks, Rosie!
Then Sylvia Twigg played the song that was assigned for today, Edelweiss on p. 20. She played the song on waltz at a tempo of 100. The theatre organ was her right hand voice. Nicely played, Sylvia!
Elaine Twigg was next; she chose to play Climb Ev’ry Mountain. She played on Soft ‘n Easy at a tempo of 64. Her right hand voice was the piano. Elaine did very nicely, especially if you realize she has had much less time playing the organ than the rest of the group. Everyone is impressed with Elaine’s progress! Good job, Elaine!
Diane Lynch came forward to the Premier organ and played Edelweiss on the waltz background rhythm. Her right hand voice was strings, and her tempo was 88. Her performance was absolutely perfect! She set up her registration, played the song with impeccable timing and then ended the song by pushing the stop/start button. No doubt about it–Diane’s playing will bring her and everyone who hears her play a great deal of pleasure. Super, Diane!
Mike Gallaher also played Edelweiss for the group. He used the waltz at a tempo of 104. His right hand voice was a combination of strings/organ. He ended his performance with a glissando. Very nicely done, Mike!
Charlie Chalkley was back in class today, having been away for about three weeks for various appointments and trips to the beach. He wanted to play I Left My Heart In San Franciso in the Best Songs Ever book (p. 74), but he had some problems and gave up the fight. Maybe next week, Charlie?
Emma Belle Murray played Edelweiss using the same registration of Diane and Mike as shown above. She played on the waltz background rhythm with the strings right hand voice. Her tempo was 104. Good job, Emma Belle!
Then Madeline Boggess declined to play today because she walked off without the disc on which she had her presets recorded. She promised to play for us next week! We’ll hold you to that promise, Madeline!
Martha Filsinger was next. She played on the Royale, using the chimes as her right hand voice. Excellent sound, Martha! She used no rhythm. Her right hand voice was changed to piano later in the song and she added the golden harp into the mix. All in all, Martha played a lovely rendition of the song! Thanks, Martha!
Joe Radcliffe played Edelweiss on the Country Waltz background rhythm. He used the strings as his right hand voice, and his tempo was 120. Very nice, Joe!
Janet Brant said she was intrigued by how Edelweiss sounds with the broken chords, and she played for the group and proved that she had spent a lot of time practicing. Ellie had suggested that those who wanted a challenge should attempt to play the song with no rhythm and use broken chords at the beginning; then note, chord, chord and finally back to broken chords. Janet didn’t realize that it wasn’t supposed to be all broken chords, which is what she had practiced. I’m sure she’ll work it out for next week, though what she played sounded very nice. Excellent job, Janet!
Betty Twigg was the last player today. She had told Ellie on the phone that she was working on the challenge version of the song, but she was not satisfied with her progress. It turned out that she was confused as to what the challenge really was. She thought the right hand had some involvement with the suggested assignment. In class today, she played the song as she thought it was to be done, but after Janet and Ellie explained the procedure in a little more detail, she seemed to realize what it was supposed to be. Betty won’t sit still until she gets the song as close to perfect as she can! Don’t give up Betty! (Actually, you have the option of playing it exactly as it appears in the book if you prefer)!
The assigned song for next class is Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man on p. 14.
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