Author: James Adkins

Please find below the change or SWITCHEROO of our February rehearsal schedule that was anticipated and explained in last evenings post. We have several good leads on summer gigs and performances which require live performance tryouts. We have been given two Thursday afternoon times during which our Zoom performance will be viewed in place of a live visit. These 15-to-20-minute performance will be rehearsed on February 8th and broadcasted on the 22nd. I am trying to get all four interested prospects to join on the 22nd so that we can check out the quality of our broadcast at rehearsal on the 8th.

To accomplish this time saving broadcast we are simply reversing our February Thursday schedule as follows: February 1 – 6:00 at the F.E.C. Band with Jim/Bev upstairs, String Ensemble with Cathy downstairs. February 8 – 2:30 at the MAPS Full Ensemble Jim/Bev; Pull out Flute Choir Meeting; String Ensemble with Cathy. February 15 – 6:00 at F.E.C. Full Ensemble with Jim/Bev; Pull out Flute Choir rehearsal; String Ensemble with Cathy. February 22 -2:30 MAPS Full Ensemble Zoom performance 20 minute Jim/Bev/Cathy; Full Ensemble with Jim/Bev; String Ensemble and Flute Choir Pull Out Cathy. February 29-6:00 F.E.C. Full Ensemble Jim/Bev. String Ensemble and Flute Choir Pull Out Cathy. Questions answered on Monday January 29th at the NEWBIE NIGHT rehearsal!

Thanks for your cooperation and commitment to our goals, helping us make this change an effective solution and a positive usage of our rehearsal time will I’m sure bring musical rewards.

Jim

 What a super Kickoff for 2024!! I really enjoyed our first two rehearsals and appreciate the cooperation and excitement that you all exhibited in our well-focused first week. It is really heartwarming to welcome new members and especially former members into our family of Lovers of Music as we kickoff this exciting 20th year. Please remember that like in anything new or growing there will be some changes or corrections occasionally in all aspects of our organization. Our new Board of Directors are working very hard at making changes and improvements to the success of all of our programs. Please understand that occasionally we have to make some last-minute adjustments that I’m sure will smooth out and be eliminated in a very short period of time.

That being said please know that we may be making a change in the Thursday schedule already posted for the month of February. This change will be for the best interest of many of our membership and staff as well as our future growth of cooperative outside support. I will be able to explain this switch more clearly after I know that it is possible for our F.E.C. and MAPS friends to make this schedule change. To clarify I’m simply trying to organize a short Zoom Performance for interested concert locations throughout the year. I’ll be able to explain this better in person and will do so at Monday’s Newbie Day Rehearsal. I’m sorry for springing this on you at the last minute but sometimes these short notice situations turn out to be the most wonderful and productive opportunities that come our way!

I’M EXCITED!!!! SEE YOU ALL ON “NEWBIE NIGHT”.

Jim

Good afternoon Friends and Lovers of Music! Please fine below an outline of the beginning of our very EXCITING year number twenty. Yes, it’s true! Jim Stahl and I began this adventure in 2004 with three interested adults in the basement furnace room of Bethany United Church of Christ in Cuyahoga Falls. These three brave musicians lead the parade of close to five hundred adults who have “marched to the beat of a different Drummer”, since that very first downbeat. We are stepping off with lots of new and exciting opportunities, not only for advancement in the understanding of our art but also in the growth of our level of performance. I’m sure we will begin to grow in numbers and performance opportunities as we expand our instruction and small group ensembles. Please make sure you attend the Annual Business Meeting and BRING A FRIEND to NEWBIE NIGHT! As always “I’M EXCITED!

Jim

January 22, 2024 – F.E.C. 6:00 Annual Business Meeting; 7:00 Full Combined Rehearsal (Bring your pencils & music for “Sweet Georgia Brown). You will also pick up 2 new Tunes. Please sit by the Part Number you usually play in our Flex Charts not by sections. First row all part 1 instruments; second row all Part 2 instruments, etc. etc. etc. You will not change seats between meeting and rehearsal. Please bring your instrument to your seat in the case and please do not play until instructed. Thanks!

January 25,2024 – F.E.C. 6:00 Full Combined Rehearsal

January 29th -NEWBIE NIGHT – F.E.C. Bring an interested Friend at 5:00; Sectionals for Winds and Percussion at 6:00, Full Band at 7:00. String Ensemble 6:00 – 8:00 with Cathy!

February 1st, 15th, 29th – MAPS. 2:30 Combined Ensemble; Pullout Strings or Flute Choir Meeting and Rehearsals.

February 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th – F.E.C. 5:00 Orientation Classes; 6:00 Winds and Percussion Sectionals with books; 7:00 Band; String Ensemble 6:00 to 8:00 books and music.

February 8th, and 22nd – F.E.C. Combined Ensemble 6:00 – 8:00. String Pullout.

Hey Jim! What the heck is a PULLOUT? “Simple, that means that Cathy may pull any string or flute player, or all of them from combined rehearsal to work with small groups of her choice. Pretty cool Man!!!

Hello Members and Lovers of Music! The first month of this year has been without a doubt the busiest January of our entire history. I’m sooooooooo happy to announce that our Board of Directors and Music Staff, after the introduction of some new organization and techniques, are now ready to move forward. I realize that it has taken an extra two weeks to accomplish, but with your cooperation and understanding I’m sure that our business rhythms will become a unison and our tempos will increase.

 PLEASE mark your calendars as follows: January 22nd – ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING FEC. 6:00. Introduction of New Business Staff and Plans for Performances and Ensembles of the Year. 7:00. Full Combined Ensemble Rehearsal. (Sight read new music). January 25th – FEC 6:00. Full Combined Ensemble Rehearsal. (Sight read new music). ***** Full Combined Ensemble means ALL MEMBERS Winds, Strings, Brass and Percussion!

January 29th – FEC @ 5:00 – NEWBIE NIGHT !! New Members only will meet at 5:00 with Jim and Cathy Fogle. They will sit in with Sectional rehearsals at 6:00 and Full rehearsals at 7:00. Thursday afternoon FEBRUARY 1 at 2:30 will be our 1st MAPS rehearsal. Band and Strings will be separated. Full February Schedule will be posted during the last week of January. I’M REALLY EXCITED!!!!

Jim

Membership! Due to a rise in Covid cases in the Medina area the Western Reserve Community has been placed under quarantine. Therefore, our Concert performance this evening has been cancelled. Rescheduling early in the New Year may become a possibility. This preventative decision was made minutes before this posting and is not only intended to prevent exposure to the residents but also to our membership and audience. PLEASE HELP US MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE GETS THIS MESSAGE! We will be trying to contact everyone by phone, text, and Email. Please contact your friends and pass the word along! I’m sure multiple contact are better than missing someone!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING AND HELP! HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS!

Jim

Dress for both remaining Holiday Concert performances is the standard Blue Shirt, Black Slacks or Skirts and a smile. You may add Holiday accents if you wish.

Dates and Times:

Sunday, December 3rd; Set-up 12:30; Warm-up 1:15; Downbeat 2:00. Guardian Angels Catholic Church; 1676 S. Cleveland Massillon RD. Copley, OH.

Monday, December 4th; Important 6:00 Full Combined Rehearsal at F.E.C. LAST REHEARSAL OF THE YEAR. Adding Music!! Sharing News and Plans for next year!

Friday, December 8th; Set-up 5:00; Warm-up; 5:45; Downbeat 6:30. Western Reserve Masonic Community; 4931 Nettleton RD. Medina, OH.

AS AWAYS, I’M EXCITED!!!!

Jim

It is a very special moment when connection is made between performers and audience. Standing ovations are few and far between especially in the world of large group performances. Your hard work, both as an individual and an ensemble, touched the hearts of the audience as they individually experienced the FEELINGS of each selection. Thank you for going down this road with me! I appreciate each of you and look forward to our continued growth together.

Jim

Rehearsal minutes are golden and even with the best made plans seem to disappear with faster than light speed. I was fortunate enough to be a member of the Akron Symphony in the 70’s under the Direction of Louis Lane. During one of our rehearsals, I could feel that he was for some reason paying attention to my cymbal technique. He cut off the orchestra and looked directly at me with piercing eyes and a very displeased expression. “Mr. Adkins! You are in an Orchestra, not a kitchen! More practice is necessary! ” A few days later when I had finally regained some control of my hurt feelings, I was fortunate enough to speak with a former teacher and personal idol of mine from the Cleveland Orchestra. He talked to me about technique, listening, and feelings. He talked to me about feeling the meaning of the music and understanding the intentions behind the composer’s choice of sounds and colors. He shared with me that listening to others performing helps to develop the expression of even a cymbal crash. Two months later! In a performance of a completely different Symphony. Louis Lane once again turned toward me making direct eye contact and queued my cymbal crash. A small grin and the moving up and down of his eyebrows as he turned to que the cello entrance told me that I had practiced my why out of the kitchen.

I ‘m sharing this story with you because I want you to understand that I can not only hear our improvement as an ensemble, but I can also feel the connections you are making with each other. You are developing into a much tighter musical unit. You are sharing, supporting and expressing FEELING through sound. This only comes through individual practice and commitment. Thank you for spending time in preparation for each rehearsal. Thank you for accepting our suggestions and repetitive corrections. Thank you for trusting us! Thank you for understanding that there is never enough time for rehearsals. Each one is IMPORTANT! Each rehearsal has a purpose! More importantly however, is what you do to improve your understanding of WHY you practice on your own!

Our rehearsal plan is very limited between now and our September 17th performance. I will be posting our Concert Day Schedule on September 1st. Every minute of rehearsal time between now and the downbeat of the concert has a planned purpose. Please be a part of every rehearsal knowing that your reward will be as simple and meaningful as a grin and the twitch of an eyebrow.

I’m EXCITED!!!!!!

Jim