Keeping Tempo February 2012

Keeping Tempo Volume 3, Number 3 February 2012

Inside this issue: Used Instrument Drive for Philadelphia School District

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Conductors’ Notes: Turbo Charge It!

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Student Spotlight: Mina Shokoufandeh

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Executive Director’s Corner: What Would You Like to Change?

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Curtis Institute String Students Share Their Talents with YOBC

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Important Dates: 

February 19, 2012: Improvisation Master Class.

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February 25, 2012: Chamber Ensemble Recital.

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February 26, 2012: Percussion Master Class.

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March 2, 2012: International Tour Rehearsal and Musician’s Soiree

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April 28, 2012: YOBC Spring Concerts

The YOBC Spring Concert, which takes place on April 28, 2012, will feature Jason DePue as a special guest soloist with the YOBC Symphony Orchestra. After spending a recent Sunday afternoon with students from The Curtis Institute of Music, YOBC musicians will now have the opportunity to play with a graduate of that insitutiton.

Jason DePue is currently a member of the first violin section of the Philadelphia Orchestra.

He has performed live recitals of the virtuostically intricate and musically lively Paganini 24 Caprices, as well as the Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin by J.S. Bach.

Mr. DePue is also a member of the highly acclaimed DePue Brothers Band, which skillfully combines bluegrass, classical, and rock genres.

Each of the four brothers that make up the band is a virtuoso in his right. As a family, they have been making music together for more than 25 years.

YOBC Board Member and Philadelphia Orchestra principal timpanist, Don Liuzzi, is also a member of the band.

Their album Weapons of Grass Destruction was released last year.

Jason and his brothers were named “Musical Family of America” in 1989 by presidential decree, and were the subject of a nationally televised PBS documentary in 1993, and two brothers (Jason and Zach) were featured in the film documentary “Music From the Inside Out” in 2005. Their first album as brothers, Classical Grass, sold out of its first printing.

Recently the family hosted the first ever DePue Brothers’ International Fiddle Competition. The purpose of this event was “to help perpetuate the fiddling culture and history in America, to develop au-

Photo: Vanessa Briceño-Scherzer

Philadelphia Orchestra’s Jason DePue Will Be Guest Soloist at YOBC Spring Concert in April

Jason Depue

dience appreciation, understanding and participation, to nurture and develop the existing fiddler community, and to acknowledge the presentday fiddlers who are helping to preserve these traditional expressions,” according to their news release.

The YOBC Spring Concert will be held at Maple Point Middle School in Langhorne.

The Advanced Division Concert is at 8:00 PM. The YOBC Symphony Orchestra is preparing the “Concerto in A Minor for Violin and Orchestra”

by Johann Sebastian Bach. Tickets will be on sale at YOBC rehearsals and also available at the door.

Used Instrument Drive for Philadelphia School District Last year, I remember talking with some musicians from my high school, Upper Merion, about budget cuts to the music program.

Everyone was understandably upset, but I couldn’t help but think that simply complaining was not the solution. There were so many other schools that would have to bear an even greater budget burden than ours. Someone needed to do something to help local music programs and I knew nothing would change if I remained passively upset. I stirred over multiple ideas and finally, in August, I decided to collect instruments for the Philadelphia School District.

I first spoke with Diane Castelbuono, a family friend who was the Assistant Superintendent of the Philadelphia School District, and informed her of my idea. She put me in contact with Dr. Dennis Creedon and Ms. Virginia T. Lam who have helped me along the way.

During October I gave weekly an-

nouncements to my high school’s band, orchestra, and choir at morning rehearsal and posted flyers around the music wing. Nearly everyone was immediately interested and eager to see if they had something to donate. With such a great response, I wanted to get more people involved. What better place than YOBC? Four months have passed since the drive began and I am still amazed at the continuous growth and the generosity of the people getting involved. The donations now include items such as violins, a viola, a flute, an electric guitar, drumsticks, cases, rosin, and bows. Within the next two weeks, after some more lastminute donations come in, I will finally get to deliver the instruments and hopefully help create new opportunities.

As I’m sure every family in YOBC would say, music is important both inside and outside of school. There’s a reason we musi-

cians spend hours at rehearsal, practice for hours at home, and spend a great deal of money and time in the process. We love what we do. There is one thing that separates those of us in youth orchestras and many other musicians, and that is opportunity.

Not everyone can afford the youth orchestra tuition or even the instrument itself. Giving back is so important, from one musician to another.

If anyone has anything they wish to donate, feel free to contact me (sgarzillo@umsad.gaggle.net). I give a huge thank you to everyone from YOBC who has donated and Mr. Loughran and Mrs. Sweetstir for helping me bring the instrument drive to YOBC. —Samantha Garzillo YOBC Symphony Orchestra Samantha Garzillo is a junior at Upper Merion Area High School, and a violinist in YOBC’s Symphony Orchestra.

Conductors’ Notes: Turbo Charge It! Hi everyone .... The strings of YOBC experienced a wonderful opportunity in January to be in the presence of REALLY great young musicians from Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music. These musicians, through both their performing and their coaching, showed us how they “Turbo Charged” their music making. You know how sometimes, when we practice, we are somewhat unfocused and go through a rather aimless repetition process?

Well, they showed us how to isolate just one passage and proceed to “Turbo Charge” our practice by practicing “smartly” ... with results in mind for a particular passage even before we lift our instrument. Once you’ve experienced success with that particular passage, use that success to inspire you to go on to the next.

That’s great stuff .... YOU can do that!

They also mentioned that we, as Page 2

preparation and musicians, need to our performance. have our audience in Finally, there is mind as we prepare the “breathing” and perform our muthing. Our wind sic. So many times players are not the we have just ouronly ones who have selves in mind ... to breathe. We all “Did I get that get that opportuphrase? ... Here we Musicians from Curtis show YOBC nity ... the opportugo for that passage Prima Strings students how to “Turbo nity to breathe, and with accidentals ...

Charge” their music. breathe together! etc.” It would be Take that breath, and make it a siggreat to think “outside the box” a bit nificant part of the phrase that you’re and consider our audience. Do we playing. Your stand partner will aphave them in mind as we interpret preciate it, your section and ensemble the composer’s musical intentions? will appreciate it, and, ultimately, it How about those dynamic changes will contribute to the audience’s apthat our conductor wanted us to do .... preciation of your ensemble’s musiare we just playing them for ourcianship. Let’s all “Turbo Charge” our selves .... or are they emphasized music making this spring. .... Have enough so that the audience members fun! “get” our musical meaning? We defi—Robert Loughran nitely can “Turbo Charge” the way we YOBC Music Director think of our audience in both our

tudent

potlight: Mina Shokoufandeh

My name is Mina Shokoufandeh. I am ten years old, and I go to New Hope Solebury Upper Elementary School.

I learned about YOBC from my neighbor Barbara Longworth and her daughters Becky and Sarah.

Both girls were longtime members of YOBC. Becky played both flute and viola and Sarah played the oboe.

I have been playing violin for almost four years now. I play in my

school’s orchestra and fifth grade quartet with my friend Audra, who also plays with me in Prima Strings.

I enjoy playing in YOBC because I can be part of a group that works hard and has fun while doing so. I also like that I have the opportunity to make new friends and improve my violin skills.

At the first YOBC concert it was kind of nervewracking and scary to just wait there for such a long time thinking to myself, “Oh my gosh. What if I mess up or one of my strings breaks

and I won’t be able to play and I’ll be so embarrassed….” Before I went on stage that was all I could think about until the whole thing was over. But afterwards I thought to myself, “That was so much fun!

Nothing bad happened and the whole group sounded great!”

In addition to YOBC, I swim for Central Bucks Aquatic Club and the Fanny Chapman Dolphins. I also dance ballet and play the alto saxophone. I love to read and do math at school and home.

I am very happy to be a part of YOBC. I hope everyone in YOBC enjoys this group as much as I do!

Mina Shokoufandeh is a violinist in YOBC’s Prima Strings.

Executive Director’s Corner: What Would You Like to Change?

Did you make a New Year’s resolution? Almost half of all Americans take part in this annual goalsetting tradition each year. Statistics show that right about now – a little more than a month and a half later – only 64 percent of us are still on track with our resolutions.

By the end of a year, only 20 percent of us will continue to work on them. On the surface that sounds pretty discouraging, but here’s something to wrap your head around: People who actually set goals are 10 times more likely to reach those goals. That makes goal-setting a smart thing for us to do.

So how do we manage to stay in that 20 percent group – the group that is still working on their goals by the end of a year?

How you set your goals is the key to your success. Your goal needs to be something that you want and value. What is going on that you really want to change? At this time of the year many YOBC students decide to take a move-up audition.

Their goal is to move up to a more advanced ensemble. Your goal has to be something that is both challenging but attainable. It is unrealistic to try to move up from Prima Volume 3, Number 3

Strings to Symphony Orchestra in one year. A more attainable goal might be to move from Prima Strings to Concertino.

Once you have your goal, you need to plan out the steps you will take to reach your goal. What can you do right now that will increase your likelihood of success? Write down specific steps you can take.

They might include more practice, scheduling in practice, listening to

How you set your goals is the key to your success. Your goal needs to be something that you want and value. recordings of great performers, and taking regular lessons. Then plan out exactly how you will use your practice time.

Most of us don’t have a lot of time, so it is important that we make the most of our available practice time. Make a list of your musical strengths and weaknesses. Being aware of these areas will help you organize your practice time.

Make sure to spend time every day on the areas you need to improve.

It is also important to keep track of our progress. Keeping a practice notebook and writing down what skills we worked on each day helps us to stay on task. At the end of a week, look back to see how you spent your practice time so you can monitor your progress.

Finally, think about what you will do if you are unable to keep to your goal. There will inevitably be times when you cannot stick to your plan. Thinking this through ahead of time will help to deal with frustration. If you can’t stick to your practice schedule for a couple of days you can add a little time onto another day. While setting goals, planning out steps, and checking your progress can’t guarantee success, they will move you closer to reaching your goals by providing clear direction and focus.

Without that direction, we are in that group of people who are 10 times less likely to reach their goals.

Yogi Berra, one of America’s favorite baseball players sums it up best, “If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll end up someplace else.”

—Colleen Sweetsir YOBC Executive Director Page 3

252 Hollow Branch Lane Yardley, PA 19067 Email: info.yobc@gmail.com auditions@yobc.org

yobc.org

The YOUTH ORCHESTRA OF BUCKS COUNTY, Pennsylvania (Y OBC) was founded in 1991 with the sponsorship and support of Bucks County Community Co llege. Its mission is to create opportunitie s for young musicians to achieve artistic exc ellence through enriching classical musical experiences. In 21 seasons the organization ha s grown from a single, 60-member ensemble to eleven ensembles with over 250 young mu sicians.

Curtis Institute String Students Share Their Talents with YOBC portant youth In January, orchestra was to YOBC string stutheir musical dedents benefitted, velopment. for the third year When asked in a row, from a what sort of mufull day of master sic they like to classes with stulisten to in their dents from The free time, one of Curtis Institute of them responded, Music in Philadel“Usher!” They phia. Not only did listen to and play all the YOBC stu- YOBC’s Sara Wolfe conducts Concertino while Curtis students listen and so much classical dents get great offer tips and advice. music, that they coaching during like a change of their full ensempace in their free time. ble rehearsals, Philharmonia and About a dozen guests from the Symphony students were also community attended YOBC’s free treated to sectionals led by these master class. Several of them will fine young musicians. be auditioning for YOBC later in YOBC students sat in rapt atthe spring. One YOBC participant tention as each of the Curtis stunoted, “It was very involved and it dents performed a solo piece on was a chance to hear and practice their instrument and performed as certain nuances that are difficult to a chamber ensemble. The Curtis take from a large orchestra restudents all talked about their exhearsal.” Another said it was “A periences in youth orchestras growwonderful experience for aspiring ing up — in Hawaii, Chicago, musicians.”

Texas, and Indiana — and how im-

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Curtis Violist Ayane Kozasa performs a solo for YOBC Symphony Orchestra students.

Zoe Martin-Doike leads a sectional for YOBC violinists.