Upcoming Events Spring 2013 (Part 2)

April 1, 2013 – 11:06 am

…some more upcoming events this Spring!!!

IN THE NICK OF TIME CONCERT

Nick Deysher will be performing here at David French Music on Saturday, April 6th at 10:00 am. This FREE concert is open to the public and though it is geared towards young children, everyone can appreciate this fun (and educational!) concert.

“When was the last time the whole family agreed on something to listen to? With a generous blend of rock, pop, reggae, jazz and funk, Nick Deysher and In the Nick of Time delivers music for all, big and small. His clever lyrics and cheerful tunes will catch your ear and have you tapping your toes and singing along.

It’s rare to find music that delights children, parents and educators alike. Children enjoy the imagination and whimsy of Nick’s music that transports them to outer space in one song and then back in time 65 million years ago to stomp around with the dinosaurs in another. Parents love that Nick keeps their sensibilities in mind and draws upon influences of the Beatles, Bob Marley, and Paul Simon (just to name a few). Educators appreciate that In the Nick of Time’s music explores numbers, animals, seasons and foreign languages, but above all, makes learning fun.

Nick’s live performances are a high-energy celebration – kids of all ages are laughing, jumping and singing along. Deysher admits that he often gets tackled by the audience at the end of the performance. “Ultimately, I always felt like a big kid myself, and I just loved writing music for kids. I enjoy it so much and it’s very rewarding.”

To find out more about Nick, visit his website here.

MUSIKGARTEN DEMO CLASS
Ms. Patti Lake will be leading this free demo class, “The Cycle of the Seasons” geared towards children ages 3-5. There will be 3 sessions Saturday Morning April 13th at 9:30, 10:30 & 11:30.

“The Cycle of the Seasons is a musical celebration of the four seasons using activities that build on your child’s growing independence and competencies. It nurtures your child’s ability to use language and capitalizes on their delight in dramatic play within the musical context.”

RSVP is required, space is limited. Please call our office at (508) 366-5994 to reserve your spot for this Mommy (or Daddy) and Me adventure.

The “Cycle of the Seasons” 10 week session will begin Friday April 28th at 9:30 am. For more information, or to sign up, call our office at (508) 366-5994.

 

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Upcoming Events Spring 2013 (Part 1)

March 22, 2013 – 3:50 pm

Just a quick update on some of the exciting events we have coming up!

JAZZ RHYTHM CLINIC w/ Arnie Krakowsky

Saturday March 30th at 12:00 pm, in the Recital Hall. All students should bring their instrument.

This class is FREE to the public and will be taught by professional saxophonist and lesson instructor Arnie Krakowsky.  All instruments and skill levels are welcome.

This clinic will focus on teaching the rhythm basics that every player needs to improvise jazz music. Students will sing and play rhythms, learn the blues form, the blues scale and how it all relates to improvisation in jazz music. Knowing and understanding these basics are a must for any student looking to successfully improvise solo or in an ensemble.

There will be drums and amplifiers setup – everyone can have to chance to improvise at the end of the clinic with Arnie.

A little bit about Arnie:

Mr. Krakowsky has a Bachelors degree in Jazz Composition from the Berkley College of Music. Arnie teaches in several school systems and private Music and Performance Schools and has private students in his home studio. He individualizes lessons for each student assessing their talents and needs and helping them find their voice on their instrument. He uses ear training techniques, rhythmic dictation and recordings of the masters as models for development.

For more info check out Arnie’s website! http://www.arniekrakowsky.com/

 

ORCHESTRA CONCERT conducted by Dr. Luis Torres

March 28th 7:30 PM in the Recital Hall. Participants should arrive by 7:00 pm to warm up.

This year’s Orchestra Concert will be a special string only performance. As always, a non-perishable donation for the Westboro Food Pantry will serve as admission. Be sure to invite your friends and family, and bring your camera, to this special event. As of January 1st 2013, with your help we have been able to donate 1,329 lbs of non-perishable items to the food pantry, as well as over $600!

Founded in 2010, the David French Orchestra aims to provide students with the opportunity to perform as part of a complete ensemble. Our goal is to proviade a collaborative, creative experience where students can expand the progress of their individual lessons into a group setting, and build the community through art and goodwill.

Participation in the orchestra is FREE to any of our current lesson students. If you think your child is interested in taking lessons, shoot us an email or call the store! There may be spots available for the upcoming season.

 

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Lesson Instructor Spotlight : Bob Simonelli

February 7, 2013 – 12:00 pm

Bob Simonelli is a Piano instructor at David French Music.

Mr. Simonelli has been teaching students of all ages since 1975, over 40 years. He has worked as a solo pianist and led his own combo in numerous venues around central New England.  He has studied jazz piano with Dick

Bob Simonelli - Piano InstructorOdgren and Geri DeMarco and both saxophone and arranging with Henry “Boots” Mussulli.  He has also played saxophone in many area jazz and dance bands working in a variety of orchestras and groups doing floor shows and musicals. Bob appears in the Jazz History Database as a consistent prescence in the Central Massachusetts music and jazz scene through his many years of performing. (www.jazzhistorydatabase.com).

 

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Breaking in a Reed on Clarinet or Saxophone

January 4, 2013 – 4:06 pm

A lot of people who play saxophone or clarinet are unaware that no two individual reeds are exactly the same: even if they are the same brand, strength, and from the same box! One question I get all the time from my students is “how do I get all my reeds to play consistently?” The best way to achieve this is by “breaking in ” a new reed while you are playing on a different one. If you always have several broken in reeds ready, it won’t be a big deal if you break one and have to replace it.

Breaking in reeds is a fairly simple process that doesn’t take a lot of time. To start the process, soak the reed either in a cup of water or your mouth for a good 5 minutes. Once the reed is sufficiently wet, put the reed on your mouthpiece and play for approximately 5 minutes. During this initial breaking in process, only play in the middle register of your horn (stay away from extreme high or low notes) and play at a medium dynamic level (not too loud or soft). Play things that you know well and that aren’t too difficult for your individual skill level. This will allow the new reed to start vibrating without stressing it too much.

Once you have played the reed for 5 minutes, take it off the mouthpiece and lay it down on a flat, hard surface. Gently massage the  reed with your thumb by pressing it against the hard surface and sliding your thumb towards the tip of the reed (about 10 times). Be careful not to go past the tip of the reed, as this could cause it to chip. By doing this, you are breaking down the individual fibers in the reed. When these fibers are squished down, they will not hold water, which then allows them to vibrate more freely and consistently. When you have finished massaging the reed, dry it off completely and store it safely (preferably in a reedguard or reed case) until the next day.

On the following day, repeat the process with the same reed, only play on it for a slightly longer period of time (maybe 7 or 8 minutes) before massaging it. On the third day, the reed should be sufficiently broken in, and you can start using it to play.

 

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A Seasonal Update from David French Music

November 20, 2012 – 1:24 pm

Believe it or not, the holiday season is already upon us! With Thanksgiving coming up this week, Friday will mark the “official” start of the holiday season (not that anyone was in need of a reminder – how long have the ads been on already???). Here at David French Music, this year will mark the first time we celebrate the holidays at our  new location.

David French Music retail store.

In case you have yet to stop by, we now feature a larger, state of the art repair shop (with full look in viewing window from the retail store), expanded lesson/performance area with additional studios,  and a recital hall. The retail space has been updated, and still features one of the largest selections of reeds, accessories, sheet music and professional instruments in New England.

Here is a look at some of the special events and promotions we’ve got going on over the next several weeks:

Starting on November 23rd, we will begin our holiday sale, in which a new special sale item will be posted on our facebook page every day (except Sundays) up until December 24th. All the sale items will be either 25% or 50% off their regular selling price, and will remain on sale throughout the entire period while supplies last. There are some amazing deals on everything from pro instruments to accessories, so be sure to check the facebook page Read More »

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Lesson Instructor Spotlight : Tom Lubelczyk

November 5, 2012 – 12:00 pm

Tom Lubelczyk is a Guitar and Bass instructor at David French Music.

Mr. Lubelczyk earned a Bachelor of Music in Bass Performance from UMass Lowell where he studied string bass with Boston Pops bassist Mark Henry. Tom has been teaching privately for 13 years, ages 6 to adult.

Tom - Guitar and Bass

He has studied a variety of musical genres ranging from jazz to Indian music with teachers that include John Lockwood, Walter Platt, Rick Schilling, and Warren Senders among others. He has freelanced with many Southern New England jazz artists and has shared the stage with world renowned jazz artists such as Chick Corea, Garry Burton, and Tito Puente.

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Lesson Instructor Spotlight : Jessica Popik

September 17, 2012 – 12:00 pm

Jessica Popik is a Clarinet instructor at David French Music.

Ms. Popik holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She is experienced with preparing students for Junior and Senior Districts, and All State and has been teaching private lessons for 12 years, ages 8 to adult. Jess is currently on staff for Westminster Elementary and the Oakmont-Overlook Marching Spartans as an instrumental instructor.

While attending school, she performed as principal clarinet in the UMass Lowell Wind Ensemble, Mixed Chamber Ensemble, University Orchestra, and Concert Band. Currently, Jessica is performing under the direction of Paul Surapine with the Claflin Hill Summer Wind Ensemble and the Indian Hill Clarinet Choir. She also appears in Boston with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Concert Band. She has studied with David Martins and Paul Surapine.

Photography by: © Charles Saulters II   http://charlessaultersmedia.com

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David French Music Returns from the NAPBIRT University Saxophone Clinic

July 30, 2012 – 2:41 pm

Roman repairs damage to a saxophone body.

Our Chief Repair Technician, Roman Dubchak, recently returned from a 4 day intensive training session at the NAPBIRT (National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians)  Technical Training Center in Normal, IL. The course was sponsored by Yamaha and featured industry legend Jeff Peterson, who is widely known for his work with Yamaha and as a highly successful, independent repair technician. Jeff currently works with Yamaha in improving and designing their world renowned line of professional and student model saxophones.

Roman working closely with clinician Jeff Peterson at the NAPBIRT Technical Training Center.

The purpose of the course was to give experienced repair technicians further training and the most cutting edge techniques, in order to achieve the highest level of saxophone repair. Along with other top technicians from around the country, Roman explored many advanced elements of saxophone repair that can make subtle differences and allow a horn to play to its maximum potential. Some of the specific topics included:

  • Precision neck fitting
  • Precision key fitting and alignment
  • Spring selection and tensioning
  • Key regulation
  • Tuning and tone color adjustments
  • Tone hole repair (damage and leveling)
  • Body damage repair
  • Pad and resonator selection
  • Custom modifications

When asked about his experience, Roman said, “this course has definitely opened my eyes to some new skills and techniques that can be applied to many aspects of saxophone service, especially on professional instruments. I am proud to be part of such a great organization, where members are so willing and eager to share their knowledge and are constantly looking for new ways to improve the instrument repair industry.” In addition to attending specialized courses such as this one, Roman and his staff also attend the annual NAPBIRT conference each year. Please visit the repair page at davidfrenchmusic.com for more information regarding the repair shop.

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Lesson Instructor Spotlight : Kathy McWilliams

July 9, 2012 – 12:00 pm

Kathy McWilliams is a Bassoon and Oboe teacher at David French Music.

Ms. McWilliams holds a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon Performance from UMass Lowell where she studied with Donald Bravo. She also holds a Master of Music in Woodwind Performance from Boston University where she studied with Matthew Ruggiero. Currently, she teaches woodwind at the Ashland High School. With 25 years of teaching experience she instructs ages 9 to adult.

Kathy McWilliams Bassoon and Oboe Teacher

Kathy had extensive orchestral training following her graduate program in Boston when she traveled to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, she was a scholarship recipient for two summers in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas and Andre Previn. Currently, Ms. McWilliams has extensive professional orchestral, opera, chamber music, and theater experience and can be seen performing with The Boston Lyric Opera, The National Lyric Opera, The Company Theater, The Bay Colony Theater, Trinity Church in Copley Square, and The New England Philharmonic where she is also their Personnel Manager.

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Lesson Instructor Spotlight : Mark Holovnia

May 10, 2012 – 12:00 pm

Mark Holovnia is a Drum instructor at David French Music.

Mark Holovnia Drum TeacherMr. Holovnia attended Westfield State College and has been teaching privately for 8 years, ages 10 to adult. He studied with the late Alan Dawson in Boston and Jeff Hamilton in Los Angeles.

Previously, he served for 20 years as faculty for the Jazz in July Summer Music Program at UMass Amherst. Current touring credits include: The Artie Shaw Orchestra including a “Battle of the Bands” at the 2010 and 2011 Montreal Jazz Festival. Mark performed with Steve Lippia’s “Simply Sinatra” tour, which included concerts with the symophonies in Hartford, Springfield, Richmond, Corpus Christie, Las Cruces, Kansas City, Cape Cod and Portland. He also works locally with the Dick Odgren Trio and numerous other local artists. Among the bands and artists here and on the west coast Mark has performed/toured with are: Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd, Supersax, Frank Capp’s Juggernaut, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Dick Johnson, Sheila Jordan, Nnenna Freelon, The Modernaires, Herb Pomeroy, The Four Freshman, Harry James Orchestra, and The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.

 

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