Yoga for Musicians: 11/15/12

BSM faculty members have many interests. We are fortunate to have such a well-rounded group of teachers at our school who share their talents, beyond music-making, with our community. Last week piano faculty member Jesse Stacken presented a workshop to high school students in the Music Access Project titled "Yoga for Musicians." An avid yogi, Jesse spoke to students about how yoga can help them focus and relax, not only in their day-to-day lives, but physically at their instruments and mentally in clearing their minds when practicing or performing.

Jesse led the students in several yoga stretches and poses.

Jesse demonstrates a more advanced pose for the students.

Jam Session: 11/5/12

On the first Monday of each month Bloomingdale offers "Jam Session"—an inclusive class experience open to musicians of all ages and levels. Students who are familiar with jazz or new to it are encouraged to attend. Designed by upright and electric bass and guitar teacher Kevin Farrell, Jam Session offers a supportive environment for students to learn how to improvise with their peers accompanied by a faculty rhythm section. In addition to Kevin, percussion teacher Jeremy Noller and guitar teacher Matt Buttermann are present at each session. Students are given the opportunity to participate on their instrument but can also just sit and listen—whatever their comfort level may be.

The images below are from the November 5th session where Jazz at Lincoln Center percussionist and teacher LaFrae Sci stepped in for Jeremy Noller to assist on percussion. Jam Session is open to anyone interested and reservations are not necessary. The next session is on 12/3 from 7-8:30 ($10 "cover" is due at the door).

Kevin Farrell listens as a student pianist improvises.

Guest artist LaFrae Sci forms a rhythm section with BSM faculty members Matt Buttermann and Kevin Farrell .
A student guitarist plays along with them. 

Hurricane Sandy: 10/29/12

There is no photo this week. For the first time in Bloomingdale's history, our doors were closed unexpectedly for a week. There are no images to share, no music was heard in the halls, no students entered our doors. Instead, we, like every one else, have been grappling with the despair of our fellow New Yorkers in Red Hook, Coney Island, the Rockaways, Long Island as well as our neighbors in New Jersey and other areas affected by the storm.

While Bloomingdale escaped the storm relatively unharmed and, as far as we know, the same is true of our students and faculty, no one could escape the effects of Sandy this week. Though our doors were closed, our faculty members were busy in their communities—donating services, time, and needed items to the victims of the storm.

But normalcy is returning to most of New York not directly hit by the storm and we are proud to be part of that. Bloomingdale may not provide shelter or rescue services but we believe that our work is important too—enriching the lives of our students and the community at large. We are happy to return to what we love to do and look forward to the week ahead.

Happy Halloween: 10/28/12

Oboe faculty member Katie Scheele and her trio, Threeds, presented a Children's Concert at Bloomingdale on Sunday, 10/28/12. The concert, titled "Tricks, Treats, & Tunes with Threeds O-Boo Trio!" featured "scary" tunes such as the opening of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter, and The Monster Mash. Audience members were in costume and included the Green Lantern, a super owl, Kermit the Frog, an alien, and a princess, among others.

Katie Scheele as Miss Piggy

Beckley Andrews, Kathy Halvorson, and Christof Knoche, performers at the concert

Concert Poster