Friday, March 22, 2013

CLARINET LESSONS by Katie Stone - in Spanish



En su oficina, mi profesor se sienta en el escritorio. Mira hacia abajo, a través de sus gafas, a sus apuntes. Yo, nerviosamente, monto mi clarinete y me pregunto si había practicado lo suficiente. El maestro levanta la vista de sus apuntes y me pide que toque las escalas de “B”. Rezo un poco y empiezo a tocar. Al principio, desempeño muy bien y gano confianza. Inesperadamente, durante la cuarta y última escala, ¡se me olvida el resto de la escala! ¡Todo mi cuerpo se calienta con vergüenza! Él permanece callado mientras yo concentro muy rápido. En segundos, recuerdo las notas y completo la escala. ¡Qué vergüenza!

El doctor Reed enseña lecciones de clarinete y saxofón en la Universidad de Ashland. También, es el director del departamento de música. Está a cargo de profesores y muchas programas en el departamento y trabaja muy duro. Fuera de la universidad, participa en numerosos grupos musicales incluyendo la Sinfónica de Ashland.

El profesor Reed, mi instructor de clarinete, puede intimidarnos a nosotros, sus estudiantes durante nuestras lecciones. El profesor sabe muchas cosas de música, especialmente del clarinete. Sus estudiantes pensamos al principio de sus sesiones que estamos tocando bien. Sin embargo el doctor Reed consigue decir por lo menos cinco detalles que estamos haciendo mal y podemos mejorar. Por otro lado, su manera amigable de explicar calma a sus estudiantes de música y nos hace sentir mejor. El doctor Reed tiene mucha paciencia. A pesar de su personalidad amable, nosotros, los estudiantes del doctor Reed, tenemos miedo cuando lo vemos.

La apariencia física del doctor Reed es simple. Tiene cabello corto y gris, gafas largas, y una sonrisa amable. Se viste muy profesional cada día con corbatas y camisas de vestir. El profesor es un poco alto, pero no mucho. Tiene una cara redonda con un bigote corto y una barba corta así como cejas arqueadas.

He aprendido mucho del Doctor Reed durante mi tiempo en la Universidad de Ashland. Mi profesor sabe mucha información sobre la música y el clarinete y yo he crecido como música a causa de sus enseñanzas. Recomiendo que cualquier persona que quiera aprender sobre la música debería ir a hablar con él.

Katie Stone is a junior music education major from Sarasota, Florida. In addition to studying the clarinet, and performing with the Ashland University Band and Choir, Katie studies Spanish and Portuguese. She is participating in the Study Abroad program, spending a semester in Brazil. We thank Katie for providing her writing for us, and we thank her Spanish professor at Ashland, Dr. Jennifer Rathbun.

Thursday, March 21, 2013

MUSIC FACULTY SHOWCASE TALENTS AT CHAMBER RECITAL

Directed by Arie Lipsky, several faculty members from the Ashland University Department of Music combine and showcase their talents with Lipsky for a chamber ensemble recital on Sunday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital. The performance is free and open to the public.

The program begins with William Bergsma's "Four All" featuring Lipsky on cello; Thomas Reed, clarinet; Scott Garlock, trombone; and Jeff Neitzke, percussion followed by Arthur Honegger's "Trois Contrepoints" performed by Lipsky; Jane Berkner on piccolo; Jane Reed, violin; Andria Hoy, oboe and English horn. Flutist Jane Berkner and Jeff Neitzke on marimba perform Gareth Farr's "Kembang Suling" in three movements followed by Astor Piazzolla's "Primavera Portena" with clarinetist Thomas Reed, Lipksy on cello, and pianist Pavlina Draganova. After a brief intermission, the recital concludes with Jean Francaix's "Octuor" conducted by Lipsky and performed by violinists Michelle Abraham and Jane Reed; Jim Froelich, viola; Miles Richardson, cello; Dave Lenigan, bass; Thomas Reed, clarinet; Ian Hoy, bassoon and Mike Metcalf, horn.

Known in the Ashland area as the music director and conductor for the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, Arie Lipsky is a native of Haifa, Israel, where he received extensive training as a cellist and flutist. He holds degrees in Aeronautical Engineering and Music which he received before serving in the Israeli armed forces as a tank commander. After moving to the United States, Arie served as Assistant Conductor of the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra and graduated from there with distinction. During this period he also assumed conducting responsibilities with the Ohio Light Opera. He moved to Buffalo, New York in 1984 to become the Philharmonic's principal cellist and, in 1990, also became the Resident Conductor, a position he held for twelve years. Maestro Lipsky is currently in his seventeenth season as Music Director and Conductor of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra, and also in his thirteenth season as Music Director and Conductor of the Ann Arbor (Michigan) Symphony.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

ASHLAND UNIVERSITY PRESENTS CONCERT HONORING AREA JUNIOR HIGH INSTRUMENTALISTS

In Celebration of Music in Our Schools Month, Ashland University Department of Music will host the annual Ashland County Junior High School Honors Band on Sunday, March 24 at 4:00 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre with the Ashland University Concert Band as the featured guest ensemble. Leonard Salvo, Ashland University Director of Bands, will conduct both bands.

Consisting of 75 members, the Ashland County Junior High Honors Band includes seventh and eighth grade students from Ashland, Crestview, Hillsdale, Loudonville-Perrysville and Mapleton Middle Schools. Members of the Ashland County Band Directors Association meet with Leonard Salvo to plan the program. The committee of band directors selects the honors band members based on merit and instrumentation needs of the band. Students meet at Ashland University on Thursday, March 21 and Sunday, March 24 to rehearse and present this program with music ranging from classical selections to traditional marches. 

The 65-member Ashland University Concert Band will open the concert with a cameo program of wonderful but unusual music chosen especially to highlight the day. The Junior High School Honors Band will perform following the University Concert Band’s program.

Guest artist Jeff Neitzke, xylophone, will be featured with the Concert Band in "Rainbow Ripples." Neitzke is the Adjunct Percussion Professor at Ashland University and at Mt. Union College, and is also coordinator of the Canton Symphony Steel Band and Percussion programs. As a performer, Jeff has been a member of such orchestras as the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Sinfonia da Camera, the Illinois Symphony Orchestra, the Akron Symphony Orchestra, and is currently the principal timpanist of the Ashland Symphony Orchestra. Jeff received his Bachelor’s Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Illinois under Tom Siwe and Bill Moersch, and his Masters Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Akron under Dr. Larry Snider.

The combination of these two bands and guest percussionist make for a rewarding, exciting and satisfying musical experience for both the performers and the audience. Admission is complimentary and a recording can be ordered.

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

AU BAND AND CHOIR by Katie Stone - in Spanish


En el departamento de música, hay dos grupos musicales muy grandes; la banda y el coro. Los dos grupos, si bien tienen la misma cantidad de dificultad general, poseen varias propiedades más difíciles que el otro y propiedades difíciles similares. Un grupo no es más difícil que el otro.

Por ejemplo, en la banda, existen muchas partes diferentes de música, por lo menos una parte por instrumento, en cada canción. Algunas piezas disfrutan arriba de tres partes para un tipo de instrumento. En algunas casos, ¡hay más de quince partes en solamente una canción! También, muchos instrumentos se encuentran en diferentes tonos y su música está escrita en un tono diferente que los otros. Un instrumentista solamente puede ver su parte porque habría demasiadas partes por página. Esto dificulta tocar juntos durante la canción porque los instrumentistas no saben que toca otro instrumentista durante su parte. En la mayoría de los casos en el coro, por otro lado, una canción se divide en cuatro a ocho partes. Por otro lado, el coro puede ver todas las partes en la canción.  

Además, la repentización de música es una habilidad muy difícil para los dos grupos, sin embargo el coro repentiza menos fácilmente que la banda. Los cantantes necesitan encontrar la nota por el oído. Se necesita mucho entrenamiento para conseguir esto. En muchos casos, los músicos de la banda solamente necesitan saber la digitación de una nota. Otros instrumentistas, por ejemplo la trompeta, una digitación se utiliza para varias notas.

Por otro lado, todos grupos musicales poseen diferentes géneros de música. Con cada género, hay estilos diferentes de interpretar. Durante una canción, un músico puede tocar notas rápidas y breves y durante otra canción, interpreta notas lentas y relacionadas. Todos músicos necesitan esta habilidad para tocar muchos estilos.

Los instrumentistas necesitan la habilidad básica para entender la notación musical tanto como los cantantes. Leer música es similar a leer otro idioma. Una hoja de música tiene muchos símbolos y palabras (como ritardando)  que un músico necesita leer. La clave de una canción, por ejemplo, cambia en gran medida el sonido. Incluso después de años de estudiar, hay algunos símbolos y palabras pocos comunes que los músicos no conocen.

En conclusión, los músicos del coro y de la banda necesitan muchas habilidades para interpretar música. Un grupo no tiene más dificultad  del otro. Cada grupo poseen característicos difíciles diferentes y característicos difíciles similares.  

Katie Stone is a junior music education major from Sarasota, Florida. In addition to studying the clarinet, and performing with the Ashland University Band and Choir, Katie studies Spanish and Portuguese. She is participating in the Study Abroad program, spending a semester in Brazil. We thank Katie for providing her writing for us, and we thank her Spanish professor at Ashland, Dr. Jennifer Rathbun.

Monday, March 18, 2013

FRIDAY'S MAPLEROCK JAZZ FESTIVAL FEATURING VAUGHN WIESTER'S FAMOUS JAZZ ORCHESTRA

Ashland University’s award-winning Jazz program is proud to present the 2013 Maplerock Jazz Festival slated for Friday, March 22.  Along with free performances by area high school jazz ensembles in the afternoon, the event presents a main stage concert at 7:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre featuring VAUGHN WIESTER'S FAMOUS JAZZ ORCHESTRA as guest artist.  The afternoon performances are free and open to the public while tickets for the evening concert are available through the Ashland University Box Office at 419.289.5125, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or online (additional fees apply) at www.ashland.edu/tickets

Vaughn Wiester's Famous Jazz Orchestra takes its place as one of the recent "Young Blood" big bands on the scene, and boasts a roster of some of the brightest and best players offered. Sporting a 12-piece brass section including french horns and tuba, the orchestra's repertoire is selected from the post-bop libraries of Woody Herman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton and others.  Members of the 21-piece orchestra have played with orchestras of Glenn Miller, Guy Lombardo, Woody Herman, Mel Lewis, Tommy Dorsey, Ralph Marterie and Buddy Rich.  

Vaughn Wiester, director, brings a lifetime of experience to his performances.  As a former university jazz instructor, a jazz arranger, and former trombonist with the Woody Herman Orchestra, his passion is to study the music of great composers and arrangers, and to present that music at every opportunity.  After a hitch as a navy trombonist, Vaughn Wiester came to Columbus in 1968 to attend The Ohio State University and to join the Dave Workman Blues Band.  In 1972 he became a member of the Jazz Arts Group led by Ray Eubanks, and was invited to join the Woody Herman orchestra in 1974.  After two years on the road with Herman, Vaughn returned to Columbus to accept a position at the Dave Wheeler Contemporary Music Workshop and to resume his activities with the Jazz Arts Group as a bass trombonist and arranger.  In 1977, Wiester was invited to join the faculty at Capital University as part of their pioneering Jazz Studies degree program.  Wiester's arrangements can be heard on recordings by Woody Herman, Waldo's Ragtime Orchestra, the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and the Keith Henson Octet. 

The Jazz Festival's afternoon performance schedule is as follows:
11:30 a.m. Ashland Middle School 
12:00 p.m. Wellington High School 
12:30 p.m. Lakewood High School Monday Band 
1:00 p.m.   Ashland High School Jazz Band A  
1:30 p.m.   Lakewood High School Tuesday Band
2:00 p.m.   Ashland Jazz Band B  
2:30 p.m.   Rittman High School  
3:00 p.m.   Orrville High School 

In honor of Ashland University Professor of Music Dr. Scott Garlock's tenth year directing the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra, the evening concert begins with several selections performed by the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra  and AUJO alumni.   Immediately following, Vaughn Wiester's Famous Jazz Orchestra will headline the evening concert. 

Tickets for the evening concert are $10 for adults; $5 for senior citizens, non-Ashland University students and Ashland University faculty and staff; and free for Ashland University students.