No Experience Necessary Series: Free Workshops During the Month of June @ PVCC

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY!

The music department at Paradise Valley Community College is pleased to present a new series of hands-on musical opportunities for students, staff and members of the community.

All events in this series are FREE and only require an interest to learn something new and have fun.

Tuesday Evenings: Brazilian Drum and Dance Workshops
6:30pm-8:30pm, KSC 1000A • June 7, 14, 21, and 28

Learn to play and dance to the exciting rhythms from Brazil.
All Drums provided. Joe Goglia and Samuel Peña instructors.

Wednesday Evenings: Music Technology Workshops
6:30pm-8:30pm, CPA 120 • June 8, 15, 22, and 29

Learn techniques in Studio Recording, Electronic Music and more!
Brett Reed, JCK Music / John Keenan, and Tsone (Tony Obr), instructors.

Thursday Evenings: Singer/Songwriter Open Mic Night
6:30pm-8:30pm, CPA Lobby/Gallery • June 9, 16, 23, and 30

All styles of music, spoken word and poetry are encouraged.
Performers will need to sign up at 6:00pm to perform.

Free Art Workshops for PVCC Veterans

We are pleased to offer a series of free workshops for PVCC veterans that will provide creative activities in the Fine and Performing Arts disciplines: Visual Art, Dance, Music and Theater. Workshops will be taught by PVCC faculty. No experience is necessary.

 

TIPS FOR BETTER PHOTOS

with Jerry Sieve

Friday, February 5th

1:30-4:30pm

E150

 

MOVEMENT WORKSHOP

with Susan Bendix

Friday, February 26th

9am-12pm

CPA Mainstage

 

INTRO TO PHOTOSHOP

with Kip Sudduth

Friday, March 11th

130-430pm

E150

 

INTRO TO STAGE COMBAT

with Andrea Robertson

Friday, March 25th

1pm-3pm

CPA Mainstage

 

SOUND RECORDING WORKSHOP

with Brett Reed

Friday, April 22nd

9am-12pm

CPA Music Hall

 

Pre-registration is required. For more information and to register, e-mail David L. Bradley, david.bradley@paradisevalley.edu or call (602) 787-6115.

The Ensemble Experience at PVCC

The Music Department at Paradise Valley Community College is pleased to offer a wide variety of music performance ensembles for the Spring 2016 semester. The music ensembles are open to music students and community members of all ages and abilities. The spring offerings include Concert Band, Jazz Big Band, Latin Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Vocal Ensemble, String Ensemble, Cello Ensemble, Piano Ensemble, Contemporary Music Ensemble, Clarinet Ensemble, Multimedia Ensemble, Brazilian Percussion Ensemble, Student Rock Band and much more!

Music Ensembles are listed in the course catalog under the prefix MUP and course number 160, 185, 181, 190.

Music Ensembles meet once per week in the late afternoon and evenings in the Center for the Performing Arts.

The ensemble experience at PVCC provides students with community: our ensembles are a mix of high school students, college-age students, community members and retired professionals. Students and instructors collaborate to select repertoire for public performances held in the Center for Performing Arts. Students gain practical and performance experience in instrumental, vocal, and mixed ensembles.


Spring 2016 Ensembles at PVCC:
MUP 163 Jazz Ensemble: Jazz Big Band
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Union Jazz Institute
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Jazz Combo
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Latin Jazz
MUP 190 Percussion Ensemble: World Music
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Multimedia
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Openscore
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Flute
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Cello/String
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Brass
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Band
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Recording
MUP 181 Chamber Music Ensemble: Classic Piano

Register for Spring 2016 at classes.sis.maricopa.edu

Jazz Under the Stars | Student Review by Sarah Toth

The Jazz Under the Stars event held on Tuesday October 13th in the PVCC outdoor amphitheater was a night of toe tapping entertainment. Between the two “Big Band Music” groups, there was a variety of slow, to moderate, to fast tempos of music. Any age could go out and enjoy the lovely music being played. The causal environment made the whole atmosphere a family-friendly setting. The bands helped each other out on stage during the performance, and the director openly made jokes about himself and the band. The casual setting also made the performance all the more enjoyable. The entire performance was outstanding.

THE INSTRUMENTS BATTLED EACH OTHER IN DISSONANCE AND THEN RESOLVED THEMSELVES IN HARMONIES. MOST BANDS TRY TO STAY CONSTANT WITH THE OTHER SECTIONS, BUT JAZZ IS FREER THAN THAT. 

Each band kept the same tone throughout their movements. Hearing the instruments battling each other out in dissonance to resolve themselves in harmonies was a new experience. Most bands that play will try to stay constant with the other sections, but jazz is freer than that. For example, some pieces played were originally written for other instruments, such as the alto saxophone, but were manipulated for other instruments like the trombone. With each band, it was obvious that for some pieces, certain instruments were the focal point. With other pieces, adding an instrument made a huge difference. The addition of an instrument was the difference in making a classical piece modern.

Each band had soloists in every selection they performed. To highlight the soloists, they would stand and use a mic to amplify their instruments. Not only did the mic help the solo clearer, but the rest of the band would back off the notes and harmonies, just to crescendo back into the piece. In the first band, they had a key soloists perform with them. He is a professor at the University of Central Florida, Mr. Mike Wilkinson. Mike performed in several of the performances and added a new feel to the band.

The first band was bigger than the second band. They had larger sections for the instruments, as well as had more soloists. The first band is what you would think of with a stereotypical jazz band. The second band had an all around new style to the way they performed. The director was an actual band player himself and played in the performance. In this band, there was a more prominent feel to the revolutionary styles of jazz, and added more modern instruments, drum sets and a bass, to modernize the sets. Although the second band had fewer members, the power behind the instruments was well known. In the first band, the crescendos were powerful, and the sound carried throughout the amphitheater. Where the second band lacked in power, it made up for it in the difficulties of the music.

THE FIRST BAND BROUGHT A PROFESSIONAL TROMBONE PLAYER TO ASSIST THEM, WHERE THE SECOND BAND HAD A REALLY COOL ADVANTAGE OF HAVING A COMPOSER IN THEIR SET. 

Each band also brought something different to the table. The first band brought a professional trombone player to assist them, where the second band had a really cool advantage of have a composer in their set. The second band always tries to play a piece of his every show, this shows being titled Burk the Baby.

Jazz Under the Stars was a very fun experience. From learning about music in class, to really hearing it live and in person is a whole new experience. From a college band, that amount of perfection put into these pieces was amazing. You wouldn’t have been able to tell if this was a class, or if it as a group of people doing what they love. Jazz Under the Stars was a really good all around experience.  

Hands-On Music Series - Free Events & Workshops at PVCC

The music department at Paradise Valley Community College is pleased to present a new series of hands-on and interactive musical opportunities for students, staff and members of the community. All events in this series are FREE and only require an interest to learn something new and have fun. No Experience Necessary!


Tuesday Evenings: Afro-Latin Drum and Dance Workshops

6:30p-8:30p, KSC 1000A • June 16, 23, 30 • July 7, 14, 21

Learn to play and dance to the exciting rhythms and music from Cuba and Brazil.

All Drums will be provided. Featuring Guest artists Joe Goglia and Jesse Joaquin Parker.


Thursday Afternoons: Concerts with Faculty and Guests

11:00a-12:00p, Studio Theater/M-East Bldg

June 18: The Rattler Hot Jazz Orchestra

June 25: Paradise Winds (Location TBD)

July 2: PVCC Faculty Jazz Ensemble

July 9: Dr. Ashley Oakley, piano

July 16: Tribute to West Coast Jazz

July 23: GCC Guitar Ensmbles, under the direction of Chuck Hulihan

Concerts are family-friendly. Bring your lunch and enjoy the music!

Acts Creative: Introduction

Dr. Brett Reed, Music Faculty

Dr. Brett Reed, Music Faculty

Long-time friend, collaborator, and schlagzeuger, Doug Nottingham, greeted me last week with the declaration, “I’m committed to doing a creative act every day of the summer break.” I wasn’t surprised at this comment, its a great idea, but I was at first puzzled - how is this different than our usual practice? Most days of an active musicians life has to be this way to teach, present concerts, make recordings and get better at our craft. 

After mulling it over for some time here are the ways this proclamation is different than our typical modus operandi. First, for those of us whose body clock shares DNA with the academic calendar, this statement suggests that the summer break is not for finding the nearest couch and the remote that is sure to be on the arm rest. Second, and more importantly, the concept is rooted in commitment, in acknowledgment, in some form of accountability. There is a lot of power in owning something no matter if in the arts or any other aspect of life. Lastly, the pledge also suggests priority; to pull it off would take energy, planning, and active participation.

Consideration over, because it is a great idea and for how it coincides with other current things I have been chewing on about what it means to be a successful artist I, and fellow music faculty member Keith Kelly, have decided to take the same oath as Doug. Over the coming weeks each of us are going to post on weekly basis about what we get up to and share with you our progress, sources of inspiration, finished works or anything else that illustrates our acts creative. 

I hope that at least you will find it interesting, better still it might encourage you to take the plunge with us and do the same, no matter your field, area of the arts, or otherwise. As a warmup here is clear documentation of a creative act, shared by Keith and I in the making of his most recent record: 

Enjoy the music, see you next week.
 

Dr. Christopher Scinto honored at Annual Employee Recognition Luncheon

 

The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCF), the fundraising arm of the Maricopa County Community Colleges (MCCC), each year recognizes MCCC employees who have made outstanding contributions to the MCCC District's mission.

This year, five awards were made to individual employees at a luncheon held April 28, 2015 at the Foundation’s offices.  Dr. Stephen Helfgot, CEO/President of MCCF presided over the luncheon and remarks were made by Dr. Rufus Glasper, Chancellor, MCCC and Heidi Schaefer, Chairman, MCCF Board.

Congratulations to PVCC's own Dr. Christopher Scinto,  Division Chair of Fine and Performing Arts, who was one of the five honorees.  Under Dr. Scinto’s leadership students have flourished and demonstrated success in the arts; significant community partnerships and notable scholarships. In just the last five years, PVCC Center for Performing Arts has provided over 625 performances, drawing over 69,000 community attendees.  Through various benefit events, more than $40,500 has been raised for Fine and Performing Arts scholarships.

Congratulations!

A B O U T   D R .   S C I N T O

Christopher Scinto's compositions have been featured on music festivals in Germany, Italy, Spain, and throughout the United States. His works, performed by the ASU Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the NYU New Music and Dance Ensemble, and the Phoenix Chorale, have received awards and grants from the Long Island Composer's Alliance, Meet the Composer, the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music, and the National Association of Composers, USA. He holds degrees from Arizona State University (BM & DMA) and Bowling Green State University (MM), where his studies included composition, saxophone performance, and conducting. Currently, he is completing a work for saxophone and percussion, titled Octet, and is collaborating with nationally acclaimed poet and PVCC faculty member Lois Roma-Deeley on an opera, The Ballad of Downtown Jake. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Scinto is the Division Chair of Fine & Performing Arts at Paradise Valley Community College and is the founder and artistic director of the contemporary music ensemble Crossing 32nd Street. 

 

 

An Evening of Flamenco Guitar with Daniel Ward

Friday, April 24th at 7:30pm

Performance held in Studio Theater/M-East Building

Click HERE to purchase tickets $5-$10 Admission.

*$4 additional ticket fee at the door 1‐hour prior to performance.

Daniel Ward is an accomplished musician, composer and educator, who has become one of the countries top clinicians and performers on the ‘ukulele circuit’.  He is known for his command of Latin styles and teaches right hand techniques, adapting his style and knowledge from the classical and flamenco guitar.  He has been a featured performer and workshop instructor at festivals across the country, including: Reno Ukulele festival, West Coast Ukulele retreat, Wine Country Ukulele Festival, San Diego Ukulele Festival, Port Townsend Ukulele festival, Albuquerque Ukulele festival and many More.  With his wife, Heidi Swedberg, he has performed as an artist in residence at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix AZ, and performed at Children’s Music Festivals around the country, including concerts in Los Angeles, New York City, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and the Austin City Limits Festival. Heidi and Daniel we also featured performers at Music China in Shanghai in 2012.

As a guitarist, Daniel has toured the world playing flamenco guitar with Ottmar Liebert  and Luna Negra (1997-2000) as well as performing with the flamenco dance ensembles of Maria Benitez, Dance Espana, and Yjastros (1994-present),  and 20 years playing rock-n-roll electric guitar for Celebrity Enterprises  corporate entertainment (1994-present).

As a commissioned classical composer, Daniel has penned two string quartets for the Del Sol ensemble of San Francisco, and a four-hands piano piece.  He has scored music for film, television and video. 

In the field of recording he has won awards (Parent’s Choice NAPPA, NM Recording Arts, Fids and Kamalies) on both albums he collaborated with his wife and is a sought after producer and arranger.  His own CD “After the Storm” is an award winning virtuosic performance of original compositions masterfully played on electric and flamenco guitar.