IfCM Community Workshops

Community Workshops:  

Blank Tape Series

Boulder Coffee Co.

Rochester, NY

March 18th, 2012

John Calvin Presbyterian Church

Henrietta, NY

March 4^th, 2012

We have a good amount of information about the Blank Tape Series up at the new website, www.blanktapeseries.com, so we'll focus this post on our Choral workshop from the March tour.

Through working in a lot of different instrumental and vocal settings in Rochester, I’ve (Chris) had the opportunity to connect with many truly gifted and inspiring directors and ensembles.  In the last year I’ve been fortunate to work regularly with Vera Forster and her choir at John Calvin Presbyterian Church; a wonderful group of people who always bring great spirit and focus to their performances.   I’ve had the chance to sub for Vera in directing the choir several times, as well as drumming for special “jazz services” along with regular organist (and fellow Eastmanite) Jeff McLeod, so when Vera invited an IfCM collaboration during the recent March tour, it was an easy yes.  Along with Jeff on organ and piano, we brought bassist Kyle Vock to round out the instrumental ensemble.

The choir normally rehearses from 8:45-9:45AM on Sunday mornings before their 10AM service, a quick and focused preparation of 3 pieces (for the Introit, Anthem, and Benediction).  Additional hymns (usually 3) are also led by the organist and choir for congregational singing but not rehearsed.  Given the limited same-day rehearsal and performance time Vera often refers to rehearsal as ‘triage’.  For the IfCM’s workshop/performance we chose to incorporate some of the regular rehearsal in learning the introit from written music, and the anthem and benediction by wrote.  All 3 pieces were performed at the service without sheet music, a departure from their individual and group’s learning norm.  

Following the service, we had the opportunity to discuss the experience with the choir.  Here are some observations:

On learning and performing by wrote with no sheet music:

"With no one to look to, you had to come up with (the material) on your own. You had to pay attention, listen carefully, concentrate a little more"

" (there was) structure, but less structure.  If you made a mistake you kind of knew where to go"

" Comfortable to learn"

"Relaxing"

"It was beneficial to learn all three parts (melody, bass line, inner harmony)"

On having a band accompany and take solos:

"Nice to have insight in how another group (the instrumental band) treated the material."  

"If was great having a kick-butt band"

"Nice to look in on how other musicians function"

The IfCM looks forward to expanding our choral programs and relationships with similar community organizations.  We’d love to come collaborate with your choir or community group, contact us at ifcmusicorg@gmail.com to discuss!

Chris Teal and Nick Finzer

Artistic Directors, Institute for Creative Music

IfCM Reading Session 3.3.12

The inaugural Institute for Creative Music Big Band Reading Session was held on Saturday March 3rd, 2012 at the Eastman Community Music School to great success!

Schools from all across Rochester, and students from all levels were represented. In attendance from the Eastman School of Music DMA program we had Nikola Tomic, Eastman alumni Mike Frederick and Erik Jacobs, and current masters and undergraduates from Eastman, Berklee, Roberts Wesleyan University, and Monroe Community College. Students from Pittsford, Penfield, Fairport, School of the Arts, and the Eastman Community Music School rounded out the ensemble.

The session brought together a unique cross section of local players (playing together for the first time) to rehearse and record two original compositions arranged for big band by Nick Finzer. The first was an uptempo swing tune entitled Lit by Lightning, featuring some tough chromatic chord changes drawing from the "modern" jazz vernacular. Great solos were heard from Alistair Duncan, Nikola Tomic, Matthew Sieber-Ford, and Will Zimmer!

After a discussion about section playing, sight reading, and techniques for interpreting a chart the first read-down, Nick led the band through a second original, Forget Yesterday. This piece was conceptually different than Lit By Lightning, with an open 3/4 feel that featured symphonic and orchestral textures.  After the first read-through, Chris and Nick suggested using different timbres to match the character of the piece, and garner great feedback from the lead section players about the importance of  creating points of tension and release in phrasing to maintain the forward momentum of the piece.  involved! On Forget Yesterday, we heard great solo moments from both Mike Frederick and Panni Spears, with great rhythm section support from Mike Conrad, Matt Krol, and Ike Shultz.

Thank you to all of the musicians who stopped by to make the reading session a success!

Trumpets: Nikola Tomic, Oliver Haynes, Nick Grau, Evan Lane,
Trombones: Alistair Duncan, Will Zimmer, Bradley Schumacher, and Erik Jacobs
Reeds: Matthew Sieber-Ford, Panni Spears, Daniel Brown, Megan O’Donnell, Jessica Moss
Rhythm: Mike Conrad (piano), Mike Frederick (guitar), Matt Krol (bass), Ike Shultz (drums)

A special thank you to Lauren McLaughlin, for donating her time and talents to photograph not only the reading session, but also the showcase concert and our workshop at the Harley School!

Overall, the event was a success and positive feedback was coming in all weekend about the reading session! A parent of one of the high school participants said:

“While most teens are obsessed with Saturday nights as date nights, my Diva was totally "Jazzed" to be invited to a Big Band Reading Session. Most of the high schoolers passed, but those who are going will be joined by college and pro musicians and they will learn so much toward their goals as future musicians. Let's hear it for dedication over social status! Who needs a date with someone who won't matter in the long term when you can have a date with your future?”

The Institute for Creative Music is planning more similar style sessions in the future, and would love to see all of this March’s participants back for the next one in addition to plenty of new faces!


Nick Finzer and Chris Teal
Artistic Directors, Institute for Creative Music
http://www.ifcmusic.org 

Welcome!

Welcome to the new Institute for Creative Music Blog! Here you will find news about upcoming events, tours, and collaborations as well as recaps from our Artistic Directors about recent our events. In the meantime, we are redesigning the look of our main site - www.ifcmusic.org . Check back soon to see the latest!