Environmental Encroachment studio promo shot for the Electric Bunny Tour, 2006-7, Photo by Dan Merlo
Yup, that has been my week this week. Writing, writing and more writing, the fruits of several interviews last week. Writing news stories for the December issue of Teaching Music. Interesting topics all. From the Society for Music Teacher Education Conference to the return of the World's Largest Concert next March.
Oh and we have a new book, Fit as a Fiddle which MENC is publishing in November in conjunction with Rowman Littlefield Education. The author, William Dawson, is a physician as well as a musician. The book offers tips on dealing with medical conditions that can impact playing and also preventative measures. I interviewed Dawson and he knows his stuff. Nice guy, too.
Any who, before I get back to writing (wait a minute. I am writing this. Oh, you know what I mean), I wanted to share with you a radio story I heard, a story that reminded me there is music life after high school and college band.
Music as street theater, though? Yes, indeedy. I heard this great story on the American Public Media show Weekend America that aired on many NPR stations last weekend. On its Web site Environmental Encroachment says "Chicago performance art group EE uses circus theatrics, live music and costumes to create unique entertainment environments, parades, processions, shows and punk artist marching band encroachments and art happenings."
EE at Wizard of Oz Children's Parade, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL, 2000photo by Alyce Henson
EE produced Honkfest, what they called an "Awesome street punk marching band fest" in Boston Oct 5-7. Honkfest even attracted a band from Rome. If you listen to the radio piece, Mike Smith, a trombonist and EE founder, describes its beginnings, accompanied by an infectious soundtrack of drumming and horn blowing. It sounds like people playing music for the sheer joy of playing. Some 20 bands played all over the town, from subways to parks in Boston last weekend.
In the Weekend America piece Smith confesses he did not play in high school band because he didn't discover the value of music until later. He said his grandfather did play drums in John Phillip Sousa's band, so the genes won out eventually. Better late then ever.
EE at John Cage's MusiCircus, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, July, 2005photo by Bob Goins
"Our band has a 19th year-old college student as well as a 59-year-old grandfather," Smith said, adding that each person in the band brings something different to the mix. They play everything from John Coltrane to Duke Ellington to (no surprise) "When the Saints Go Marching In" to original compositions. Music as a part of lifetime learning. I love that
Long live the marching band.
Oh, well back to writing (you know what I mean).
Ta Ta Til Next Thursday
RF
