Author: James Adkins

Hello all! Starting today I will be sending you preparation information for each rehearsal on our schedule. Please take a few minutes to review my plan realizing that time is golden. The more unified our rehearsal are the more we can achieve. We have made great progress and are now at the halfway point of my planned Rehearsal Schedule. Each rehearsal has a purpose and is a steppingstone toward musical understanding and a top-notch performance on August 25th.

We will start each rehearsal with an important Scale of the Day. We are starting out with Concert Db major. C instr. play written Db. Bb instr. play written Eb. Eb instr. play written Bb. F instr. play written Ab. Perc. instr. play the Adkins warmup 2024. Please play these scales before you come and before we begin rehearsal. Secondly please look at the Moore Warm Up. We will be starting with Section B. The Principal Woodwind and String Pitch will be played by Marilyn and the Principal Brass Pitch by Dave. The Principal Tutti Pitch will be played by Abye. Please also look at the explanations for section D. The word DIRCTION has to do with UP and DOWN or moving HIGHER and LOWER through the slurred pattern. Starting next Monday, we will play the entire Moore package as our 5 minute warm up.

Here is the entire rehearsal Plan for tomorrow July 18th at F.E.C.

6:00 – Moore Warm Up

6:10 – Let Freedom Ring (The Final Chop!)

6:20 – Beatles in Concert (final cuts)

6:40 – Strike Up

7:00 – Queen

7:10 – Break

7:15 – Fascinating

7:45 – Hands (flute chorus)

7:55 -Bye!

I’m Excited!! Jim

Friends and Lovers of Music! We find ourselves in the hardest week of preparation. This is the final week of experimentation and part placement. As you know it’s my job to construct the best part placement for clarity, balance, and interpretation as possible for our ensemble. I appreciate the cooperation and assistance that I’ve received from you all and know that with a few more switches in parts and placement that we will achieve a high level of musicianship. Please understand that if I switch your part, it is not a criticism. I’m simple making an adjustment for improved balance and blend. Using our time together wisely for the next six weeks will help your individual practice at home and bring our ensemble growth to a higher level. Our goals are simple. We simply must count and feel these styles of music in UNISON. We must simply TELL THE SAME STORY as we play these tunes not just as notes on a page put with the feelings they represent. Also understand that spending time together is the only way to grow as an ensemble. Every minute working together is GOLDEN! Believe me when I say that the experience of this performance is worth the extra work and time we are spending! You will never forget this evening and your hard work will be rewarded!! We Will Make This Happen!

Here are the plans for the week!

Monday the 15th: F.E.C. 5:00 Newbies and small groups; 6:00 Strings Downstairs: New Music : Evergreen; Winds and Percussion, upstairs: M.C.T.T. and S.S.B., Fascinating Rhythm. 7:00 Combined Let Freedom Ring Tuesday the 16th: F.E.C. 6:00 2nd Jazz with Jim; Fascinating Rhythm and To Darn Hot. Thursday the 18th; F.E.C. 6:00 Combined; Let Freedom Ring; Holst Suite; Strike Up the Band; Hands Across the Sea; Fascinating Rhythm.

WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN! WE CAN, WE CAN WE ARE!!!

Jim

Good evening, N.H.B. Lovers of Music! I’m excited about your growth and interest in learning more about America’s biggest contribution to the World of Music, Jazz and Rock’n Roll! We are slowly moving forward each time we rehearse together and are starting to learn the tricks that make this American Music Form so special! Like anything else we as musicians encounter, its correct repetition and application of the basics that bring forth understanding. Simply stated “the more you play it the more you understand it”. Thats why starting on JULY FIFTH you can experience “JAZZ WITH JIM”. Yep! Every Tuesday evening from 6:00-8:00 the F.E.C. will be “Swinging Firestone Park”. We will work as one ensemble of Winds, Percussion, and Strings. Our August 25th Show will be the climax of the year! Most importantly however is the knowledge, understanding, and feeling of expression that you will take with you for life! Every extra minute you spend will make the difference. Practicing at home is important, but playing together grows your experience faster! Please take advantage of the opportunity. The music we selected for the 25th is your road to understanding. Let’s Swing down it together!

Jim

Good afternoon, Friends and Fellow Musicians. Our Granger Concert Performance scheduled for this Sunday, June 23rd. has been postponed due to the forecast of inclement weather. Please use this time to practice in preparation for our August 25th Show. You will continue to receive the remainder of our Show selection over the next several weeks. All but two of these excellent selections are new and have not been part of our concert repertoire. Therefore, spending time this weekend at home practicing the new parts you have already been given (instead of sitting in the rain) will really prepare a great head start for Monday’s rehearsal. Here is an overview of our August 25th Show entitled “HANDS ACROSS THE SEA”. OVERTURE “Let Freedom Ring”; “Star Spangled Banner”; “Hands Across the Sea”; “Best of the Beatles”; “Queen in Concert”; Helen Welch Trio; “Holst Eb March”……… Intermission…… entr’acte “Holst March” from 87; “Strike Up the Band”; “Feeling Good”; Helen Welch Trio, “Fascinating Rhythm”; “Helen Welch Trio; “Evergreen”; “To Darn Hot”; FINALE: Holst “Chaconne”. (All Holst is from the Sweeney arrangement).

Every rehearsal including tomorrow is IMPORTANT. I know that you will all make every effort to be in attendance tomorrow as we center on stepping off toward this unbelievable opportunity. Performing with Helen is an EXPERIENCE that you will never forget. Spending the time in preparation is the key which enables you to be at your very best for this performance. I believe in each of you and know that together “WE CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN! WEEEEEEE CAN!! MAKE THIS HAPPEN!!!!

Jim

Good morning, Music Lovers! Sorry I didn’t post yesterday. I took the day off and surrounded myself with Children and Grandchildren! Here is the scoop on this evening’s rehearsal. 5:00 – String Orientation Class and Percussion Sectional (Queen Couplet). 6:00 -8:00 rehearsals split Strings downstairs, Winds and Percussion upstairs. Both Sectionals working on the “Hands Across the Sea” music (Official name of the August 25th Show, pretty snappy isn’t it). Please create a new folder for your Show Music. After this Sunday’s Concert Performance, you will only need the “Show Charts” and exercise music at rehearsals. You will continue to receive Show Music at each rehearsal this month and into July! EVERY REHARSAL IS IMPORTANT. PLEASE!!!!!! adjust your calendar……..every minute is GOLDEN!

“HANDS ACROSS THE SEA PROGRAM ORDER”

(1) Overture – “Let Freedom Ring”; (2) “Star Spangled Banner”; (3) “Hands Across the Sea”; (4) “Best of the Beatles”; (5) “Queen Medley” (6) Helen intro trio tune; (7). Intermezzo – Holst March; INTERMISSION; (8) Entr’acte Holst March from 87; (9) “Strike Up the Band”; (10) “Feeling Good” (11) Helen Trio; (12) “Fascinating Rhythm” (13) Helen Trio; (14) “Evergreen” (15) Closer “To Darn Hot” (16) FINALE Holst Chaconne.

Sunday, June 23rd Lawn Chair Concert, Granger United Methodist Church 1235 Granger Rd., Medina, OH. Call at 1:15, Places at 1:30, Downbeat at 2:00. You may wear your blue shirts, shorts, Hats, Sunglasses and PLEASE BRING A WATER BOTTLE. Please don’t forget your own LAWNCHAIR!! The tune selection will be the same as our last concert and will be rehearsed and selection order announced at this Thursday evening F.E.C. 6:00 Rehearsal. Due to the extremely high temperatures, and possible thunderstorm predictions for this Sunday the possibility of cancellation and rescheduling of this performance is possible. I will post our decision between 11:30 and Noon the morning of the performance!

As always, I’M EXCITED!!!

Jim

Here it is my Friends! Our step off on the road to “Celebrating 20 Years of Music Making!” It’s 10:00 pm on Sunday night June 9th and I’m sharing with you our plans and brief out line of our first rehearsal in preparation of our August 25th Show plan. We have been all working hard since last Christmas preparing for this leap into the world of Musical Entertainment. We have shared many concert performances over the years and each of them have helped in developing our successful ability to actually entertain our audiences. We have developed a style and a unique understanding of our performance capabilities. We have become a BAND!

Cathy and I will be teaching orientation Classes at 5:00. Our 6:00 rehearsal will simply be split into two groups. Strings downstairs and Winds and Percussion upstairs. These rehearsals will last until 8:00 at which time all four of our staff will meet to discuss our next rehearsal plan. There will be no combined rehearsal at 7:00 this week. You will receive two new selections that you will read and work on during this split rehearsal. Knowing that we have a June 23rd concert coming up please also bring everything that we have given you including “Hands Across the Sea”. Also, we know that we can count on you all to be continually practicing the Moore and the Lisk exercises. Please also know that we have added New Member String Class on Thursday evenings every other week as well as String Sectionals and Full Combined Rehearsals on those evenings.

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT WE ALL MAKE AS MANY REHEARSALS AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST 25TH. We have an entire NEW SHOW to learn in two months! You will be expected to read these charts not learning them by repetition. You will be given new music every week! The schedule will change as we move through the next two months with respect to how we spend our time on Mondays and Thursdays. We may even add a small group help session on Wednesdays. Please trust me when I say that YOU ALL CAN DO THIS!! I BELIEVE IN YOU AND KNOW THAT YOU WILL DO YOUR BEST!! I know and completely understand that some of you have job and family situations that will cause some conflicts. As always this will not eliminate your participation as I’m sure we can continue to work together helping you to be at your best on August 25th.

Lastly this evening, I must ask you to understand that it is IMPORTANT for us to know how many people you will bring to our CELEBRATION on August 25th. The Board is working very hard to make this a wonderful event. Something you can be proud of and never, ever forget. It truly is the Performance Opportunity of OUR LIFETIMES! Something that you really want to share with your friends and Family. To be prepared we must have an attendance number. You will be given a form to return indicating how many you know will attend. In my experience the truth is that 1 out of every 4 you ask will attend. However, they will all say maybe! The key is to be excited and get them excited about being part of YOUR opportunity! Talk to them about it every time you see or communicate with them. Make it a GROUP EVENT!! Talk about the FOOD, the DRINK, the MUSIC and most of all how important it is to YOU that THEY attend. Share that this is an opportunity of a LIFETIME for YOU! My friends you won’t be lying!

As always, I’M EXCITED!

Jim

Place: Johnson United Methodist Church 3409 Johnson Rd. Norton, OH 44203

Performance Timetable

11:00 am – report to main entrance on North side of the Church Building. Jim will direct you to the Yellow Room for tuning and warm up with Cathy.

11:25 – move as a group to performance area for placement and 11:30 sound check. Chairs and Stands will be provided.

11:40 – Return to Yellow Room……House Doors open. (Event is Sold Out. 50 seats).

12:25 – move back to performance entrance

12;30 – places and tune

12:35 – introduction and performance

1:00 – STANDING OVATION; exit performance area and return to Yellow Room

1:05 – Thank You and BYE!!!!!

Problems? Call Jim 330.858.2045

Good morning! We will be performing this afternoon INSIDE! Please enter the building as you have done before through the door directly from the parking lot on Brothers Drive. This entrance looks like a church on the southeast side of the main building. Please arrive at three and take your cases, stands etc. to the same area as Memorial Day. We will call you to the stage at 3:15 as we have done before by sections. Warm up at 3:30 and downbeat is at 4:00. Blue Shirts, Stands, Music, and a SMILE are required but Lawn Chairs are not!

I’m EXCITED!!!!

Jim

SELECTION CONDUCTOR

Star Spangled Banner Jim

Knights of Destiny Bev

Swan Lake Cathy

Invincible Eagle Cal

String Selection Cathy

Queen Medley Cathy & Bev

Sweet Georgia Brown Jim

Satin Doll Cal

String Selection Cathy

Stars and Stripes Cal

We will rehearse these selections in order with conductors as listed on Monday June 3rd Combined Rehearsal. Please have your music in performance order. Thanks!! Jim

Good morning, all! I’m very happy to announce that Cathy will be conducting a Special String Class during the month of June focused on technique and reading comprehension. This class will meet from 7:00 – 8:00 at the F.E.C. on alternating Thursdays and Mondays. Please understand that improving technique and style helps all of us as we approach our August 25th 20 Year Celebration Concert. The Focus of the class, as I understand it, is growth for the Beginner and application for the more Experienced members. Here are the dates: June 6th, 10th, 20th and 24th ALL AT THE F.E.C.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 5TH OUTDOOR LAWN CHAIR CONCERT INFORMATION

The concert ORDER and PARKING instructions will be reviewed at rehearsal on Monday the 3rd. As always please wear your blue shirt with more relaxed informal sunglasses, hat, and shorts attire. Call is 3:30 and the downbeat is at 4:00. We will be taking pictures during and after the performance!

IMPORTANT JUNE DATES: “Mad Hatter Tea Party” June 8th Johnson United Methodist Church. SOLD OUT!! Special Feature Entertainment “New Horizons String Ensemble, Conducted by Cathy Fogle!

“Mahalia Jackson Tribute” June 15th Johnson United Methodist Church, Free Will Overing! More info at rehearsals! You don’t want to miss this performance… Some of Ohio’s Best Gospel Jazz!!!!!!