I have been a musician of sorts ever since I was old enough to bang
away on a little, blue toy piano that my parents bought me. They must
have recognized talent when they saw it because that toy piano was the
start of a lifetime love affair with music.
I learned to play the trombone in 4th grade and became interested in
guitar as a teenager. During my teen years, I belonged to a variety
of female folk-singing groups. In high school, I was active in band,
chorus and my church choir.
After graduating from Mansfield State University with a degree in Music
Education, I taught elementary school music for a few years and then
took time off to start a family. After many years, I returned to college
and got a degree in Therapeutic Recreation.
I presently use my music in a geriatric setting. I was a choir director
for 5 years, sang in a community choir, occasionally accompany
performing soloists and have done accompaniments and sound effects for
musicals and plays.
Having been a music major("soupie"), I learned to play a variety of instruments.
I use the guitar and recorder at work, especially when doing individual
resident visits and impromptu singing groups. My husband recently had my
violin refinished and restrung, so I've been fiddling along with bluegrass
tapes and am going through a mild "screeching" stage again! I also enjoyed
playing the trumpet, though my first love of the french horn did not prove
to be fruitful: I never had the opportunity to play that beautiful
instrument.
Barb(piano) and Janice at our Gettysburg College Concert debut!
Musician's Prayer
God, please bless my music
That it might glorify Your name,
May using it to serve You
Always be my aim.
Let it be a witness
To Your majesty and love,
And remind us that You're watching
From Your throne above.
Oh Lord, I ask for guidance
In everything I do,
And pray You'll make my music
An instrument for You.
I've never known a musician who regretted being one. Whatever
deceptions life may have in store for you, music itself is not going to
let you down.
Virgil Thomson
When a man of insight appreciates the music of a lyre, calligraphy,
poetry, or painting, he nurtures his mind with them; but a worldly man
delights only in their physical appeals. When a noble-minded man
appreciates mountains, rivers, clouds, or other natural objects, he develops
his wisdom with them; but a vulgar man finds pleasure only in their
apparent splendor. So we know that things have no fixed attribute.
Whether they are noble or ignoble depends upon one's understanding.
On How To Play
Accented notes: like one shoe fits and the other is a little small.
A passage in Prokofiev: like two bugs fighting.
Crescendo: like a million devils.
Diminuendo: with expression-not like when you are turning your radio down because neighbors are complaining.
Sforzando: four old women in the audience must have heart attacks.
Tremolo: like a hag who has false teeth and she is chewing caramels.
A Brahms variation: like crawling lousies.
Softly: whisper like a lady moving in a silk dress.
Mstislav Rostropovich
In music one must think with the heart and feel with the brain.
Yo_Yo Ma
A symphony must be like the world. It must contain everything. Gustav Mahler
Lean your body forward slightly to support the guitar against
your chest, for the poetry of the music should resound in your
heart. Andres Segovia
Music is your own experience-your thoughts, your wisdom. If you
don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. Charlie Parker
Sometimes you have to play a long time to be able to play like yourself. Miles Davis
Playing the violin must be like making love-all or nothing. Isaac Stern
TEN COMMANDMENTS OF WORSHIP
1. Thou shalt not come to service late, nor for the amen refuse to wait.
2. When speaks the organ's sweet refrain, the noisy tongue thou shalt restrain.
3. But when the hymns are sounded out, thou shalt lift thy voice and shout.
4. And when the anthem thou shalt hear, thy sticky voice thou shalt not clear.
5. The endmost seat thou shalt leave free, for more must share the pew with thee.
6. The offering plate thou shalt not fear, but give thine uttermost with cheer.
7. Thou shalt the minister give heed, nor blame him when thou are disagreed.
8. Unto they neighbor thou shalt bend, and, if a stranger, make a friend.
9. Thou shalt in every way be compassionate, kind, considerate and of tender mind.
10. And so, by all the Spirit's grace, thou shalt find God within this place.
After reading the below "aside" that has been making the "Forward"
rounds throughout the e-mail system, I can truly say that I am proud
to be a creative and thoroughly unpredictable musician. Sing praises
for "Unfinished" Business! Thank you, Schubert!
A consultant was given a ticket for a performance of Schubert's "Unfinished Symphony." After attending the concert, the consultant sent the following memorandum to the conductor suggesting a number of improvements...
1. For a considerable period, the oboe players had nothing to do. Their
number should be reduced, and their work spread over the whole orchestra,
thus avoiding peaks of inactivity.
2. All twelve violins were playing identical notes. This seems unnecessary
duplication, and the staff in this section should be drastically cut. If a
large volume of sound is required, this could be obtained through use of an
amplifier.
3. Much effort was involved in playing the 16th notes. This seems an
excessive refinement, and it is recommended that all notes should be
rounded up to the nearest 8th note. If this were done, it would be possible
to use paraprofessionals instead of experienced musicians.
4. No useful purpose is served by repeating with horns the passage that has
already been handled by the strings. If all such redundant passages were
eliminated, the concert could be reduced from two hours to twenty minutes.
5. This symphony has two movements. If Schubert did not achieve his musical
goals by the end of the first movement, then he should have stopped there.
The second movement is unnecessary and should be cut.
Psalm 150
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