Author: James Adkins

Hello all! I’m sure by now you are rested and ready to jump in on preparation for our two remaining outdoor September Lawn Chair Concerts. Here are the dates and times that have finally been solidified this afternoon.

Granger United Methodist Church Community Concert, Sunday September 15th; call time 1:15; downbeat 2:00. Blue Shirts, Sunglasses, Hats, Shorts, Lawn Chairs; WATER and a BIG SMILE are required!

Barberton MumFest; Sunday September 29th; call time 1:15; downbeat 2:00. Fifty folding chairs will be provided. Please let me know if you would prefer to bring your own chair. Dress is the same as above.

September Concert Music: 1). Star Spangled Banner, Mark Williams arr. 2).Black Forest Overture; Mike Sweeney 3). Hands Across the Sea, Philip Sparke arr. 4). Hogan’s Heroes March(NEW); 5). God. Bless the U.S.A. J. Vinson; 6). Bohemian Rhapsody P. Murtha arr. 7). Suite in Eb, March; 8). Let Freedom Ring J. Curnow arr. 9). Best of the Beatles John Moss arr. 10). Suite in Eb, Chaconne.

Yep! I’M SO EXCITED! I feel like it is Christmas Eve. You all have worked so hard and have learned soooooooooooooo much in preparation for this opportunity. I simply want to say thank you to each of you for your hard work and trust. This is a very special day which we will each remember reliving over and over as we continue to understand and experience the real FEELINGS within the language of Music. Thank you for giving me the chance to share with you! Your Friend in Music,

Jim

SUNDAY AUGUST 25, 2024

Stage Door opens at 3:30 (or by a perfectly played triple paradiddle on the door)

House Doors open at 4:00

Places at 4:30

Warm up at 4:35

Downbeat 1st half at 4:45

Intermission 5:20-5:40

Trio and total ensemble warm up 5:40- 5:45

Downbeat second half 5:45

There are two special places for all members to place their cases: Please follow the signs.

Woodwinds and strings are in the table eating room and the brass are farther back into the brewery.

ALL MUSIC FROM THE SECOND HALF OF THE PERFORMANCE MUST BE RETURNED IMMEDIATLY AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE PERFORMANCE. SIX BOXES WILL BE PLACED ON TABLES IN THE GLASSED IN EATING AND LISTENING ROOM. EACH BOX HAS A TITLE SIGN ON IT. example “Too Darn Hot”. ALL OF YOU WILL PLEASE PLACE YOUR MUSIC FOR THAT TITLE AND THAT TITLE ONLY IN THAT LABLED BOX. ALL BOXES ARE FOR WIND AND PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS BY TITLE, EXCLUDING THE STRINGS.

THE STRINGS MAY PLACE ALL OF THEIR HELEN MUSIC IN BOX NUMBER 6. I MUST HAVE EVERYONES PARTS IMMEDIATLY AT THE CONCLUSION OF THIS PERFORMANCE.

NO EXCEPTIONS!

Jim

In 1970-71 I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Dr. William Zucchero and Dr. Louis Erdmann during the first two years after the opening of the Porthouse Theatre on the ground of the Blossom Music Center. I was part of the music staff and performed in the orchestra for all the musical shows during both seasons. From the first reading of each new show through the hours of repetitious rehearsal we would all find ourselves wondering if we could ever be ready for opening night!?! The last week before opening would seem to arrive way to soon! Dr. Erdmann would simply stand before us, at the opening of the last 4 rehearsals, take the ever-present cigarette out of his mouth and say, “Welcome to Hell Week, now let’s make a show out of it!” I don’t have to tell you that every minute of every rehearsal is planned and important. We need every member present and excited to do their best at each of the next four evening rehearsals. Here is the schedule which will intentionally grow us into a SUPER PERFORMANCE. Each minute is planned and if not experienced becomes impossible to replace. WE CAN DO THIS! IT’S SIMPLY A DESISION! It’s an 84-member team. Together WE CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!!

SHOW ORDER

1st half : LET FREEDOM RING; MY COUNTRY T’IS..STAR SPANGLED; HANDS ACROSS; BEST OF THE BEATLES; QUEEN (both tunes); 1ST SUITE IN Eb (March, Chaconne). Intermission 2nd Half : Strike Up the Band; Feeling Good; Can’t Buy Me Love; Fascinating Rhythm; Goodbye Yellow Brick Road; Ella Fitzgerald Tribute; Evergreen; Too Darn Hot; OUTRO Stars and Stripes from measure 46 to end. Same arrangement we always play. [IS YOUR BOOK IN ORDER?]

Jim

Monday August 19th – 5:00, arrive and enter stage door on north side of Royal Docks Brewhouse building 5646 Wales Ave NW Massillon 44646. Leave your instrument in it’s case on the floor in the house away from the stage. Bring you stand only to the chairs behind the stage and find the seat with your name on it. (Please do not move any chair). Set up your stand and lights. Carefully excite the row without moving chairs and return to your instrument case. If necessary, use the rest rooms on the south wall before carefully returning to your assigned seat and stand (don’t forget your instrument and MUSIC no cases. Please remember that because of the very limited space leaving and reentering is very difficult. Warm up softly. stay put!!!! Rehearsal downbeat is at 6:00 and will not be in performance order). Please take your instrument, music, stand, lights etc. home. Leave nothing in set or house. 8:00 Bye!

Tuesday August 20th We will begin the second half first with tunes in order working on sections. Stage Doors open at 5:30. Downbeat at 6:00. Bye hopefully at 8:00!

Wednesday August 21st First rehearsals with Pros. Stage doors open at 5:30 Downbeat at 6:00. Run Show in order. Bye hopefully at 8:00!

Thursday August 22nd RUN SHOW WITH SOUND and LIGHTS, MC, HELEN AND TRIO Stage doors open at 5:30, Downbeat at 6:00 (May run late).

I’m EXSITED!!!!!!!!

Now you know why it’s called HELL WEEK!!!!!!

7. August 12 F.E.C.

5:00 Orientation Class with Cathy. Percussion rehearsal with Jim

6:00-8:00 HELEN SECTIONAL NIGHT (emphasis on Helen tunes); 6:00 1st hour: String Sectional with Jim downstairs, Flutes with Cathy downstairs in hall, Woodwinds with Cal downstairs, Brass and percussion upstairs with Bev. At 7:00 flutes join Woodwinds with Cal and Cathy joins Jim with the Strings.

6. August 13 F.E.C.

6:00- 8:00 FIRST HALF NIGHT (emphasis on tricky section of all 1st half tunes). WE NEED A BIG CROWD OF SMILING FACES. THIS REHEARSAL WILL NOT JUST BE JAZZ.

5. August 15 F.E.C.

6:00 8:00 INVITED PRO NIGHT (Some Guest Pros will sit in for the first run of the complete show).

4. August 19 Royal Docks Brewhouse

6:00 – 8:00 Be early so you can be placed in the proper section of the staging area after you place your instrument cases in the proper case storage area. Also find the REST ROOMS! Follow the signs as you enter the Brewhouse. (Don’t forget your music stand and stand light). Downbeat is 6:00!! Helen Half 1st. Please sit in assigned seats every night rehearsals and show!

3. August 20 Royal Docks Brewhouse

6:00 -8:00 Park in the northern part of the lot and enter through North Stage Door. Downbeat is 6:00!!! Be in your seat warming up early. Rehearsal in Performance order.

2. August 21 Royal Docks Brewhouse

6:00 – 8:00 FIRST REHEARSAL WITH PROS INCLUDING HELENS TRIO

We will do Helens tunes 2nd half first. Trio may want to run sections or tunes we don’t play. Then we will run 1st half.

1. August 22 Royal Docks Brewhouse

6:00- 8:00

Run show with MC and in order. Make plans to stay late. We will do our best to get it right the first time!

Please remember that all of this extra time is meant to give you the feeling of the true life of a musician. It is worth every minute when you look back and remember those moments of applause and the satisfaction of a job well done. Thank you in advance for believing in me but more importantly in yourselves!

0. August 25 Royal Docks Brewhouse 4:00 – 7:00

BLAST OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim

SET 1 – EVERYBODY “Strike Up the Band” and “Fascinating”

Set 2 – STRINGS ” Feeling Good” and “Evergreen”

MAPS IS THIS THURSDAY AUGUST 8TH AT 2:30

2:30 – Queen Segue (17 bars).

Best of the Beatles (2nd ending measure 45)

HOLST

LET FREEDDOM RING

SSB 82-90; 24-30 THEN RUN IT!

FASCINATING RHYTHM

STRIKE UP THE BAND

ALL WIND AND PERCUSSION WILL BE UPSTAIRS FROM 6:00 TO 8:00 SO DON’T BE LATE!! DOWNBEAT AT 6:00!!!!! DOWNBEAT AT 6:00!!!!!! DOWNBEAT AT 6:00!!!!!

5:00 – String Orientation downstairs. New set for performance placement upstairs.

6:00 – String sectional downstairs with Cathy. ( Feeling Good; Evergreen; To Darn Hot).

7:00 – everyone upstairs in NEW PLACES for downbeat at 7:00! We will run the entire 1st half! MAYBE EVEN TWICE!!!!

WE CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!

Jim

It’s another one of those hot, Hot, HOT Ohio weeks. What a better time could there possibly be for us to woodshed T. D. H. then this week. Therefore, I have declared it “Too Darn Hot Week”. In the music world it’s a very positive statement when you hear someone say “Hey! that was hot man”. It means well done! The more you work on counting and feeling your part the more comfortable the ensemble will sound. Work on starting in the measures that are listed at a slow tempo and simply swing counting the beats out LOUD! Don’t stop when you make a mistake. Simply keep the beats moving in 8 bar sentences.

You are improving!!!! “THE BEAT GOES ON. BELEIVE YOU CAN DO THIS. I DO”.

T.D.H. WEEK

July 29

5:00 Perc. and Orientation Classes

6:00 Full Combined Ensemble

Warm-up S.U.T.B. 75 to end

6:15 – T.D.H. 70 to end

7:15 Break

7:20 – F.R. 1-72

7:50 – T.D.H. 70 to end

8:00 Bye!

July 31 Jazz with Jim (Come on Out! The more you play together the faster you grow!)

6:00 – S.U.T.B. Top to end

6:30 – T.D.H. 70 – end

7:30 – F.R. 1- 72

August 1

6:00 Warmup S.U.T.B. Top – End

6:15 – T.D.H. 45 – end

7:15 Break

7:20 – F.R. Top – End

7:50 – 45 – end

Pre – rehearsal Board Meeting

2:30 – Downbeat- Moore Warmup E to the end (includes Beethoven).

2:35 – Let Freedom Ring

2:40 – Across the Sea 56 – end

2:50 – To Darn Hot

3: 35 – Queens

4:00 -Bye!

5:00 – Orientation Classes; set-up for Backs to the wall Rehearsal

5:30 – Individual warm -ups

5:55 – Long Tones and Moore Warmups A, B, C, D

6:00 – Fascinating Rhythm at measure 57

6:15 – Queen

6:30 – To Darn Hot 113 to end (This week’s goal (77 to end)

6:55 – Break

7:00 – Fascinating Rhythm Coda

7:15 – Strike Up the Band 75 to end

7:40 – My Country ‘Tis – SSB

8:00 -Bye!

Jim