Music, and more music! Folk, Blues, Celtic, Gypsy ... and more

I'm behind with blogging (been busy at work and marking assignments in the weekends) ... This is going back a weekend or two, but I still wanted to post about it! We had a lovely long weekend, absolutely steeped in all sorts of music ... (It's so good for my heart and soul to get back into playing music).

Thursday:
 A friend of ours, Phil Levy, heads a band called The Romaniacs.  They play original music which has been "inspired by Gypsy, Folk, Latin, Celtic, Spanish and Eastern roots grooves". I love their work.  Recently Phil initiated a new series of gigs in the Gollan Hotel in Lismore. The night is called "No Depression" and is run on the 2nd Thursday of each month. The house band, The Romaniacs, support a special guest each time. That Thursday it was the wonderful singer-songwriter Kim Cheshire.

Kim Cheshire takes centre stage and performs some great solo pieces

And here supported by the house band. I love this photo: lighting makes it looks like a Vermeer painting

Friday:

Every now and then our friends Carmel and Shaun host a BBQ-and-Jam session at their farm.They have a large macadamia farm and frequently host Help-X or WWOOF'ers, who apparently have a wonderful time there (and frequently seem to return, bearing huge smiles, hugs and cuddles for everyone). On these nights we run a jam session - Carmel on guitar and woodwind, myself on the same (though usually more woodwind, as there are more guitar players around). This night our friend Malcolm came along, as did a chap called Ken Thurgate who I love playing music with as he knows many of the Celtic tunes I used to do with the Naughtons, and my two previous bands, 'Shakin' Hands' and 'Under Milkwood'.  Ken's especially good on the music by my favourite C17th composer, the blind harpist Turlough O'Carolan. John, coming along extremely well as a novice, played along as well. There were also other performances: poetry readings, song, and drummers. 

From L to R: John McAdam, Malcolm Young, Ken Thurgate and Carmel Warnock. In the foreground my oh-so-familiar roll with various woodwind instruments.

Love the backdrop of flags :-)

Saturday:
A home session, and a curry dinner! We invited my friend Tanya Nolte (who is a horsewoman of much repute, and a holistic therapist) and her husband Phil Levy (yes, you just met him earlier - see above); and Malcolm Young and his partner Rhonda Munro (who works with me at the university). Delectable dinner followed by lots of great music.

Malcolm, Tanya, Rhonda and Phil

 I love it that both Malcolm and Phil - both incredibly gifted guitarists - take time out to show John various techniques and strategies. John's an avid learner and improving daily.

You can sit closer together if one is left-handed and the other right-handed :-)

Phil's playing is so awesome it sets even the cat on fire!! Go Sunny!

Sunday:
The Romaniacs were playing an afternoon gig out at Sphinx Rock Cafe, in the heart of the Mt Warning caldera. As it's such a great ride out to there, John and I hopped on the motorcycles and rode out there for lunch. Once again, good food, good music, good company.

The stage at Sphinx Rock Cafe

A lovely ride homewards in the warmth of late afternoon. And thus endeth the weekend ...  What a fortunate life we lead ...

Yarrow sings

Last Sunday Yarrow performed in front of a fairly big audience for the Hothouse Music end of year showcase. The big challenge she had to face was that her own singing teacher who was to accompany her, had just left a few days previously. As a result she had to manage with a new pianist, with whom she had never worked before. Due to time pressure, they only got to meet twice for short rehearsals before the show. As a result Yarrow felt uncharacteristically nervous, but I don't think it shows. Great performaceYarrow, very professional! I'm very proud of you!

For a previous post showing Yarrow performing, click here.

Yarrow's Junior TIP performance

You know, sometimes your child does something, and it's such a brave achievement, the result of so many hours of practice ... and then, your heart just wants to burst with pride!

Today, Yarrow attended TIP (= Talent Identification Program, funded by the North Coast Regional Arts Council - see more at this link). She spent the day in workshops and the evening culminated in an individual performance by selected performers. Last time she attended she didn't make it to the finals, but this time she did!

Yarrow sings "They Weren't There", written by Missy Higgins. She told the music coordinator beforehand, that she was feeling quite a lot of nerves, and the coordinator whispered softly to her "Just blow them away...". And then, after Yarrow left the stage, the music coordinator pulled her over and whispered again "See? You blew them away ...".

Well, yeah ... she did. She blew me away, too ...

Playing music is very good for you

Here is a gorgeous photo of my friend Mariette’s son, Leon, aged three, playing music with his Dad, Onno, at their home in Amsterdam. Mariette tells me Leon’s been playing, with great delight and without pressure, since he was one. She says he was drawn to the instrument from this early age, and even slept with his tiny violin in his bed!

A nurturing and rich cultural environment like the one Mariette and Onno offer their children is excellent for a young child. Neuroplasticity refers to the ability of our brain to adapt and reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Research shows conclusively that learning and playing music is of extraordinary benefit to developing minds. Studies by Taub and others (1995) of musicians who play stringed instruments have shown that the more these musicians practice and play, the larger the brain maps for their active left hands become. Brain imaging shows that musicians have several areas of their brains – including the motor cortex and the cerebellum – that are different from those of non-musicians. Imaging studies (by Pantev et al, 2001) also show that musicians who begin playing before the age of seven have larger brain areas connecting the two hemispheres. Increased and improved language skills are also related to the playing of music.

For more on this fascinating topic, I recommend the books “The Brain that Changes Itself” by Dr Norman Doidge; and “Musicophilia” by Dr Oliver Sacks.

For now, though, I’d like to add that playing music not only makes you smarter, it can make you happier. I’m sure Leon already knows that, though...

P.S: Go on, click on the photo to enlarge ... You *know* you want to see that gorgeous impish smile ... those merry eyes... You know you do! :-)

A musical thought

Not true of all modern composers of course, but worth a thought. Original source unknown but I got this through Stan's TYWKIWDBI

Yarrow's voice

Yarrow's on YouTube again! This time she's singing The Eagles' Hotel California. (We needed to record her singing a song for an audition for voice & singing workshops). Lovely voice, Yarrow ... And as Uncle Marc wrote when he heard it: "Little girl with a big voice: WOW!!!! Well, her timing and her diction are better than Don Henley's, and he wrote it!"

Yarrow is on YouTube!

For years Yarrow has been playing guitar with the Northern Rivers Conservatorium Arts Centre. Not that she plays a lot now, but she's made some great and close friends through the Con. Recently they made an television advert, and Yarrow's in it! See if you can glimpse her two microsecond appearances. You can click on the YouTube picture above to view the advert. Of course, it's best with the sound on!

The url is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV2okosgU54