The Bolos Are Coming!

Some of what I've done since Wellesley

Fantastic! A place to share! Wow! I think about my Wellesley days and am certain they shaped the course of my life so far...I was involved in music at Wellesley, and am still. I just got home from a rehearsal of second-year 6th grade band students. I conducted a piece called Haydn's Surprise, and wondered in my on-the-spot improvement as a conductor. I was able to be consistent (for the most part) in my count-offs, and the kids figured out how to follow me. Rewarding work, it is. I teach in public school and do my best every day, but I would like to not have to drive to work and am trying to build up enough courage to decide that I am going to teach locally. On the performing side, I have been playing in the Berkeley Symphony since 1982, with a couple of years and auditions in-between, but close to 27 years, including a long stint under super-star Grammy-winning Kent Nagano. I learned a lot about music from him and was blessed to enjoy rehearsal sets several times a year. I enjoy being semi-pro on the bass--physically it is demanding. I play probably 2 hours a day on some instrument or other, and am getting better on the violin, piano and guitar, respectively. I feel kind of awkward writing about myself like this, but I suppose it is good for me. I was young at Wellesley and have mellowed out a bit, become more mature. Teaching is important to me, as it is a way of sharing the passion I have for music... Last weekend I got to spend time and play music with some wonderful people. I have been teaching at California Coast Music Camp for the last 2 years and will be teaching during the first week this year: 7/11-7/18. A lot of professional tech-types (and many other kinds of folks, interested in a lot of different types of music) attended this retreat (85), and 2-300 will attend the camp. I have enjoyed attending many music camps since I have lived in California, since 1982. The Women's Philharmonic was just starting up when I arrived in Oakland, staying with Mary Watkins' friend for a couple of days and auditioning for the philharmonic (Women's Phil) before I had established a place to live. I was fired up! I am singing and developing a repertoire including a couple of Grateful Dead songs, a four-part canon, a couple of originals. I play in the Bolos with Don Burnham, who is in the Western Swing Hall of Fame, and whose music graces "Car Talk" on npr. It is a little ditty called "Apple, Google, and Gold", and I could have been in the video, but I had another gig...I have been developing my musical voice, still playing...I like organic and local and ride my bike a bit. My daughter is 23 now. That's it for now. Write to me, please. karenehorner@gmail.com

Wohlfahrt in Beginning Violin/strings Class

With what music will students most likely engage? Under what circumstances will they continue to desire to make music? And what opportunities will await them? Families make music together. Friends make music together. Friends are made playing music with other musicians. What is a musician? What are the rules of the road of the tribe of musicians? They exist, and are followed by most members of the tribe. Bad behavior is avoided. Musicians understand that we live on the ark of cooperation because it helps everybody. We live in a web, a matrix, and we rely on each other. Which brings me to orchestra class at the elementary school today.
I brought in the first pages of the Wolhlfahrt Easiest Elementary Method for Violin. In the first four pages of exercises, the following material is introduced:
1)reading all 4 strings in different rhythms
2)half-step and whole step above the open string
3)harmonic minor tonality
4)major tonality
5)form
6)balance of voices
7)a minor, d minor, and C and G major
High value package! More later....

Eroica by the Berkeley Symphony

Last night the BSO played a concert featuring a piece by Paul Dresher, and the Eroica Symphony. I felt the concert was successful, even strong, and I am enjoying playing the bass again. I want to begin playing some chamber music...

CMEA Bay Section Winter Conference

I attended a wonderful conference on Friday at San Jose State. The sessions I attended were inspiring and helpful. First, I got to finally work with Greg Gilpin, whose vocal arrangements I have admired for years. Every music teacher present sang beautifully, and it was a positive and energizing experience. We started out with a groovy Benedictus in multiple meters that was a blast to sing. Two other highlights from this session: Fifty Nifty United States by Ray Charles, and a nice medley of Put a Little Love in Your Heart/Soul Train. I then attended a fabulous session on "How to Improvise", by Jeffrey Chappell. He attended Curtiss and Peabody, and had a 28-year career as a classical concert pianist when he decided to study jazz. He has broken in down brilliantly using LaRue's guide to musical style, and was effective in getting convincing improvisations from willing and not-as-willing participants. It was a well-attended session. The Alexander String Quartet gave a marvelous presentation on chamber music and rehearsal techniques, and Barry Green(The Inner Game of Music) gave a fun and interesting presentation on integrating voice, breath and movement to enhance expression. The "wine and cheese" reception was a cornucopia of wonderful things to eat and drink, and the Westminster College Choir concert was a thrilling example of the highest of human achievement in choral art.

Shake the Papaya Down | Lyrics

Shake the Papaya Down | Lyrics

Odd Meter to Meet Boom and Chuck

Rehearsed with my posse last night. It sounds better every time we get together. We have too much material to feature everyone, so the biggest challenge is in the weaning; getting the balance right. I am terrible on the violin, but everyone encourages me, so I shall be brave; oh, yeah, and practice.
Music is a time machine. When you perform or listen to music from another time and place, it can take you there. It's a funny thing...
I am working on a Caribbean folksong in 5 meter, yes, five-meter. It is called "Turn the World Around". I am distilling it from a written arrangement that was my first introduction to this song. Today I copied down lyrics which I must go learn.
I worked with my percussion students today to get the tempo from the count-off, and introduced them to my friends Boom and Chuck. The 5th-6th gr band sounds great.