P.O. Box 283, New City, NY 10956 http://www.RCMTG.org
March 2006, Op. 44 No. 8
CREATIVE IDEAS for TEACHING RHYTHM
with JAMES GOLDSWORTHY
Wednesday March 1st at 10:00 am
Pearl River Library
Mr. Goldsworthy will focus on his work with beginners and its
implications for the intermediate and advanced levels.
JAMES GOLDSWORTHY is on the piano faculty of Westminster
Choir College of Rider University, and has also taught at Goshen
College, Stanford University and the University of St. Thomas. He has
performed in Europe, Israel, Japan, Canada and the United States,
including the California cable television show Grand Piano,
Vermont Public Television, BBC radio, and Minnesota Public Radio. He
has premiered works by Milton Babbitt, Chestter Biscardi, David Olan,
Tobias Picker, Mel Powell, David Rakowski, Chenh Yong Wang and Amnon
Wolman. He is a recording artist for CRI and New World Records.
Our past president Rosemary Waltzer has seen Mr. Goldsworthy in
action... "a very dynamic personality with a fresh approach."
And don’t forget....
FILM CLUB Sunday February 26th, 7 pm,
home of George Bryant, 133 First Ave., Nyack.
The theme is aspiring concert artists and the roadblocks thrown
in their paths. We’ll begin with a short film, "The Alien Corn"
(1948, W. Somerset Maugham) in which pianist Dirk Bogarde is
discouraged by his parents from entering the profession. Then the main
feature, "INTERMEZZO" (1939), in which Leslie Howard plays a happily
married concert violinist whose love affair with his daughter’s piano
teacher (Ingrid Bergman) disrupts his life.
RSVP 480-5036
CALENDAR
Feb 26 (Sun) 7:00 pm: Film Club "Intermezzo" and "The
Alien Corn", home of George Bryant
March 1st (Wed) 10 am: Pianist James Goldsworthy,
Creative Ideas for Teaching Rhythm, at Pearl River Library.
Mar 26 (Sun) 7:00 pm: Book Club "Monsters and Angels" by
Seymour Bernstein, home of Rhoda Forte
April 5th (Wed) 10 am: Seymour Bernstein leads
student roundtable on Performance Anxiety, at Pearl River Library
April 15th (Sat): DEADLINE for applications for
Young People’s Auditions and Scholarship
May 3rd (Wed) 10 am: Little-known teaching
gems, at Pearl River Library
May 21st (Sun) all day: Young People’s Auditions (Rockland
Conservatory)
June 4th (Sun) 1:15 - 5:45 pm, Blue and Gold
Recitals, Pearl River Library
June 7th Annual Luncheon, location TBA
COMING APRIL 5th:
SEYMOUR BERNSTEIN leads a roundtable on PERFORMANCE ANXIETY, 10
a.m. at the Pearl River Library.
There is usually little time at lessons for teachers to discuss
important issues with their students, issues which not only affect
their musical training, but more importantly, their lives. In his
seminar, Mr. Bernstein will have a group of six students in a
semi-circle around the piano for a discussion of such issues as
How to prepare for a performance Nervousness - what causes it
and how to cope with it
Concentration Memorization
Teacher - pupil relationships The ultimate reason for studying
music.
STUDENTS NEEDED : Six may participate. Should be no younger
than 13. Perhaps considering a music career.
College students... and teachers... are also welcome to
participate.
No preparation is necessary, nor will any of the participants
be required to perform.
Contact George Bryant if you have a student who would benefit
from participating in this dialogue. 480-5036.
And don’t forget... BOOK CLUB Sunday March 26th, 7 pm at
home of Rhoda Forte, 1 Arcadia Dr., New City
"Monsters and Angels ... Surviving a Career in Music".
Rhoda says, "I was drawn back every spare moment to Seymour
Bernstein's memoir. It is not only well-written but will resonate
with all musicians who have had to face decisions about the direction
their lives must take, the indignities that one must face, and the
moments of extraordinary triumph." Our March Book Club meeting comes just
ten days before the author, Seymour Bernstein, is guest at our April 5th
meeting. Contact your local or on-line bookstore or the publisher,
Manduca Music at 1-800-626-3822.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE: Very exciting programs are in store
for us during our "spring semester" on first Wednesdays at the Pearl
River Library.... from James Goldsworthy on March 1st
presenting ways of teaching rhythms creatively.... to Seymour
Bernstein returning on April 5th to explore our
performance anxieties.... and, finally, May 3rd, a request
from many teachers: MUSICAL GEMS II, a continuation of a
program given about ten years ago, in which teachers who have
discovered special pieces or collections that their students have found
very appealing, and/or that help teach a particular musical concept,
are welcome to bring the music and ... let’s share!
Recently, members of the Guild have been receiving strange
e-mails... some asking for information, some actually setting up
appointments... and in the end it is all bogus. Other music
organizations have reported similar activities. Now that we have a
website we are prey to surfers who have nothing better to do than think
up schemes and scams. The best thing we can do if we receive something
suspicious is confer with one of the officers of the Guild and see if
anyone else has received a similar message. Be wary of committing
yourself to any offer. This is the downside of our new information age!
WITH SADNESS WE NOTE the passing of Donald Fricke , whose
wife, Eleanor, was a charter member of the RCMTG until her death a few
years ago. Since then, Donald had been very generous to the Young
People's Concert fund, through which the RCMTG helps the Rockland
Symphony put on its annual Young People's Concert, featuring winners of
the concerto division of our auditions.
MEMBERS NEWS:
Steve Vosatka recently was the pianist in a premiere of a
new choral work by Ned Rorem, performed by the Gregg Singers.
John Lampkin’s Three and Two: A Suite of Polyrhythmic Etudes
for Piano was reviewed in the February issue of Clavier.
"Fresh and delightful, this collection combines traditional harmonies
and patterns with polyrhythms and two-against-three rhythms....
Excellent suggestions for fingering, dynamics, and practice are
included." (www.johnlampkin.com, $6.95)
YOUNG PEOPLE’S AUDITIONS and SCHOLARSHIP AUDITIONS are May 21st.
Application deadline is Saturday April 15th for both.
