Category: Fall Quarter 2008

Your music school recently held an Open House at Roane State Community College to celebrate the award of grants from the Tennessee Arts Commission, through the Knoxville Arts and Culture Alliance and the Tennessee Arts Commission, with the other half through the generosity of our local WalMart.

The first part of the program featured a performance by instructors David King (clarinet, sax and flute) and Preston Davis (upright bass and bass guitar) built around their presentation for the upcoming school visits.

Instructors Harold Nagge and Robert Alfonso, with their acoustic guitars, along with Rudolph Nemeth (piano) providing a background rhythm section, joined in a jam session to end all jam sessions. Fantastic.

… included Linden, Glenwood, Woodland and Willowbrook third and fourth grades. After one demonstration, an enthusiastic Linden fourth grader told his mom: “The presentation was awesome because of all the different instruments, and they all sounded cool.”

The kids also learned a lot about how instruments worked, their ranges, what they’re made of, and how to choose an instrument that’s right for them.

Many more photos from the school visits can be seen by reviewing the Summer ‘08 Newsletter.

Professor Romeo Fracalanza

Sadly, Romeo passed away on July 3. He had been a patient at NHC and prior to that, at a local nursing home, where he kept his piano in his room and continued to enjoy it for some time.

Romeo was a gentle, exceptional person. Born in Venice, Italy, he earned his doctorate in music and spent perhaps a decade as the chief organist at the largest church in San Paulo, Brazil. He and his wife, who predeceased him, lived in Sarnia, Ontario; Rochester, N.Y.; and Port Huron, Mich., before moving to Oak Ridge many years ago to be near their daughter Liz Herbes and her family.

The Professor’s family has requested that donations in his honor be given to the Music Arts Scholarship Fund, and we’ve already gotten several, including some from his past friends and neighbors in Michigan. Feel free to add your name to this list.

Do you have a copy of the Music Arts Student Guide? All that information about free lessons and prompt payment discounts is part of the guide. Ask your instructor for a copy or check it online in ‘Activities.’

One of our favorite groups, the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra (KJO), has announed its 2008-2009 season! Tickets are now on sale.

The season includes:

• September 23, 8 pm, Ray Charles Birthday Celebration starring saxophonist/vocalist Maceo Parker;
• December 15, A Swingin’ Christmas;
• February 17, an Evening with a Legend, starring Gerald Wilson
• April 8, a Tribute to Miles Davis, starring Terell Stafford

Season ticket holders enjoy a 25% discount (one show for free) plus priority seating consideration. More info at www.knoxjazz.org.

Auditions for the 2007-08 Knoxville Youth Jazz Orchestra will be held on Sunday, October 21st at 1pm at the University of Tennessee School of Music, 1741 Volunteer Blvd. in Knoxville.

Saxophones, trumpets, trombones, pianists, bassists, guitarists and drummers should check www.knoxjazz.org/kyjo.html to download the music for your instrument.

Unfortunately, summer vacation fun can lead to a break from practicing. Here are some tips (contributed by a parent!) to help you get back on track:

• Always schedule your practice time
• Practice every day, even if you can just find a few minutes
• Find a quiet place away from distractions
• Practice slowly and thoughtfully
• Spend most of your time on your newer and more difficult work
• Don’t whine! Just get to work
• Don’t practice when you are tired
• Listen to music recordings every day
• Sing the notes first, then play
• Set goals, and don’t give up!

Music Arts Fund Drive: Having a great time stuffing envelopes and joking around are Music Arts instructors, from left, Preston Davis, Ilia Steinschneider, Robert Alfonso, Board member Joan Martin (behind Alfonso); instructor Lucie Novoveska, Board president Gerald Scott, and instructors Eric Sampsel and Beth Sampsel

A Stuffing Party for the annual fund drive mailing was held on July 26th. Board members, instructors, and their guests stuffed over 2,000 envelopes and saved Music Arts a bundle in fees. Many thanks for your help, stuffers!

Will you consider sharing your love of music with a less fortunate student? Give a few bucks to our fund. Each year, Music Arts holds the Fund Drive, which allows us to make sure that all young students can afford lessons.

We’ll accept any amount, large or small. But a donation of at least $25 will get your name listed on the backs of our programs. Larger donations will be cheerfully accepted.

It’s easy – just add whatever sum you wish to your next payment to us, and enclose a note letting us know that you’re helping.

And don’t forget – we’re a government registered non-profit. Your donation is fully Tax Deductible!

Please let us know about your musical accomplishments! Did you make the Gold Band this year, or perhaps land a spot as alternate on the Silver Band? Has your school orchestra taken any neat trips lately? Have you played for your church or temple congregation?

Did you get a 10% discount on your continuing summer quarter lessons? If you did, it means you paid on time (postmarked by the 3rd or hand-delivered by the 5th) throughout the past year. Keep up the good work- it’s worth it!

Maintain a prompt payment record (a minimum of nine months or three Quarters) and you’ll be awarded a discount of 10% on your continuing Summer Quarter lessons. To qualify, all payments during the year must be postmarked no later than the 3rd or placed in our drop box by the 5th.

That’s right – refer a new student to any of our 24 terrific instructors, and be rewarded with a free lesson for every full quarter the new student finishes – up to two years!! (That could be a total of eight lessons!)

Just make sure to let us know you referred them so we can credit your account.

If you can, send in a photo with a short description about your awards, concerts, workshops or scholarships – anything you think might be newsworthy and you’d like to share. (Yes, parents, we’d like to hear from you too!)

Send them to our newsletter editor, Jennifer MacGillivray, at jennmacg@comcast.net.

Drop Your Payments Off: Rudolph Nemeth, left, and Lisa Griggs demonstrate the use of the Music Arts Drop Box located at 861 West Outer Drive

Just drop your payment off at our bookkeeping office Drop Box! It’s at director Nancy England’s home at 861 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge, on the corner of West Outer Drive and Mississippi. Don’t miss the bird nesting there (see photo.)

(Important: Please don’t leave your payment at the Church or with your instructor!)

Leaving cash? Call ahead (865-482-5614) to make sure we can be there to give you a receipt!