Class Updates June 13th
Dates to Remember
- June 14–Cumberland Nursing Home at 2:00 p.m. (Keyboard event).
- June 15–Cumberland Arms at 2:00 p.m.
- June 21–Summer Picnic at Railroad Unit of Shrine Club at 5:30 p.m.
- June 23–Moran Manor at 2:00 p.m.
- July 6–Cumberland Nursing Home at 2:00 p.m.
- July 11–Executive Committee Meeting at Oscar’s at 12:30 p.m.
- July 14–St. Vincent DePaul’s Nursing Home at 2:00 p.m.
- July 21–George’s Creek Adult Day Care Center at 11:45 a.m.
- July 24–Good Will lMenonite Home at 6:45 p.m.
- August 1–Executive Committee Meeting at Oscar’s at 12:30 p.m.
- August 18–George’s Creek Adult Day Care Center at 11:45 a.m.
Class Updates
10:30 a.m.–Traditional Music
Text: Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Lesson Book, Level III. Alfred’s Sacred Songs Book, Alfred’s Theory Book, Level III
There were only two students present for today’s class. Ellie first gave out the sets of Flashcards that various people had ordered last week. Then we spent time on the two very difficult songs we’ve been working on for several weeks now.
Janet Brant began the session by playing Frankie & Johnnie. She said she didn’t really have much time, if any, to practice this week because her sister is with her; nonetheless, she put forth a valiant effort and did very creditably. Then Rosie Morgan played the song as she had last week. It is now one of her memory tunes, and Janet told Rosie that she can understand why memorization is probably the only way any of us could learn to play that selection with the rhythm played in the left hand and the melody of the song played in the right hand. Very tricky. We agreed that people should continue to practice both Frankie & Johnnie and La Donna E Mobile, as they are not going to go away, and we have not mastered them, for the most part.
Rosie Morgan played La Donna E Mobile for us today, saying that she feels comfortable with page one of the song, but page two is something else again. She did a nice job, but these couple of songs today have even given our “star” some problems.
Rosie also played the new song which we assigned last week, Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair. No one really seems to care for that song, but it does not have the problems of rolling chords in the bass or note, chord, chord in the bass as some of the more difficult songs do.
Ellie suggested that the students go ahead and try Black Is The Color of My True Love’s Hair even though it is no one’s favorite. Also, she said to please back up and keep trying songs we’ve already been through, especially the two listed above. You might even find it worthwhile to go back into Book II and see what you can do now that you’ve been working on more difficult songs.
Good luck! See some of you on Wednesday at Cumberland Nursing Home and on Thursday at Cumberland Arms.
11:00 a.m.–Easy Play Music
Text: Book #18–Classical Portraits
Unless I hear to the contrary, the Burt Bacharach Book (#375) will be the one we will work in during the summer, though people are encouraged to play any song of their choice throughout the summer–Gospel songs, polkas, rhythm & blues, country–you name it, you’re welcome to play it anytime beginning on June 27th until August 28th. Have a ball!
Ellie went over the sign-up sheets and she had listed all the upcoming dates on the chalk board. She stressed most of all the picnic on June 21st at 5:30. People need to advise Betty Twigg of their reservation by Wednesday, June 14 so that she can call in a headcount to Shelby Gable. Ellie also stressed the two gigs we have this week: Cumberland Nursing Home at 2:00 for their birthday party. This will be a keyboard event. Also, the gig on Thursday at Cumberland Arms at 2:00 p.m. This is a new venue for us. Please be on time for these two gigs and wear your Notables shirt if you have one. For the most part, we will use the same (or similar program) for both events. Yet another new venue came to our attention in today’s class. Ellie received a call from the Goodwill Menonite Home in Grantsville, MD. They have scheduled us for a Monday evening performance on July 24. This will be an organ/keyboard event. The Home owns a large Kimball Organ, and we will also have our keyboard along. Between now and July 24th, some of us will undoubtedly go to Frostburg Assisted Living, where they also have a large Kimball Organ and practice setting up registrations in order to help those who want to play the Kimball at the gig in Grantsville.
At the beginning of today’s session, Ellie requested that anyone who might be prepared with a memory tune, a medley or a fingerobics drill volunteer to play for the group. As no one did, we proceeded with the song of the day, Serenade by Schubert.
Mike Gallaher was our first player. He had shown Ellie yet another Serenade, but this one was by Romberg. Mike said it, too, is a very pretty song, and he proceeded to play both Serenades for the class. His Romberg Serenade was played on Soft ‘n Easy on the Century Lowrey Organ. He used the organ voice in the right hand, along with AOC. He played the song one octave higher than it is written. His tempo was 64. Then, when he played the Schubert version of the song, he played on Waltz at a tempo of 94 with rhythm preset and AOC. He used a fade out ending. Very fine, Mike. Many thanks!
Charlie Chalkley played Serenade next on the Fiesta Lowrey Organ. As usual, he chose to use the Big Band automatic rhythm background. His right hand voice was the clarinet, and his tempo was 85. Charlie did very well. Thanks, Charlie! Everyone was very complimentary of your performance.
Betty Twigg was called on next, but she decided to wait until she listened to the song several more times to be sure she had the timing right in her mind before she played.
Then Madeline Boggess played Serenade. She was very interested in both of the Serenades. She said she had sung the song years ago when she was in school. We were surprised to hear that such a song had lyrics. Madeline played with no automatic rhythm, using strings on the upper manual and an oboe in the lower manual for the split keyboard effect. The music she played from was her own copy of traditional music. Madeline added the golden harp in various places throughout her rendition, which was very beautiful. Thank you, Madeline!
Then Rosellen Morgan, who had never heard Serenade before, played a lovely rendition of the song. She was guessing about what the appropriate tempo would be, and she was correct. She played at a tempo of 85 on the waltz (lullaby variation). Her right hand voice was the piano. Rosie added a glissando for variation and played the many duplicated A’s at octaves. This was a nice variation, too. She used the programmed intro/ending. Excellent, Rosie. Thanks!
Bill Ewing was next. He proclaimed that he would have problems with the timing, but he did a fine job, really. He claimed he didn’t do well, but no one had any complaints. Bill played Serenade at a tempo of 84 with an organ voice in the right hand and AOC. He used a fade-out ending. Bill’s performance was on the Century Lowrey Organ. Thanks, Bill!
Ellie suggested that maybe some people would like to try some dynamics and play the “echo” effect a little softer than the first set of notes. That would be a pleasant variation, too.
Shirley Hoopengarner then played the same song on the Fiesta Lowrey Organ. She used the Waltz background rhythm at a tempo of 80. Her righthand voice was the strings. Shirley performed very well and ended with a fade-out. Nice, Shirley! Thanks!
Diane Lynch asked if she could play something else, and of course that was fine. She chose to play You’re A Grand Old Flag, a very appropriate song for Flag Day (coming up tomorrow–June 14th). She played her song on a March background rhythm at a tempo of 110 using the Fiesta Lowrey Organ. Her right hand voice was a trumpet. Well done, Diane. Thanks!
Betty Twigg then decided she had heard the song enough that she could perform it well enough, and she did a fine job. Her background rhythm was the waltz, and her right hand voice was the accordion. Her tempo was 70. She played on the Fiesta Lowrey Organ. Beautifully done, Betty. Many thanks!
Joe Radcliffe was the final player for today’s class. He is so crippled-up with his arthritis that it hurts to watch him move around, but he makes an effort to come to class and never refuses to play when called upon. We appreciate Joe and hope he gets some relief soon! He played Serenade on the Waltz background rhythm at a tempo of 94. He played a customized introduction and ending. His right hand voice was a chiffy flute. He played on the Century Lowrey Organ.
We had four people, actually five, who didn’t get to play today, and we shall start with them next week: EmmaBelle, Janet, Martha, Harold, and Stan.
The song for next class is Humoresque on p.18. Have fun with all those “black spots!”
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