Mandolin Symposium 2008

Ronda and I just returned from the 2008 Mandolin Symposium at the University of California at Santa Cruz.  If you'd like to see some photos (fresh out of the camera), they're here: http://gallery.mac.com/djcoffey#100119

Wow, what a week!  I'm still processing it all.  In spite of professing that I wanted a variety of experiences, I found myself attending most of Caterina Licthenberg's classical classes.  It was too good of an opportunity to miss, although I did attend a class on doublestops in blues led by Rich DelGrosso and a class on simple break improvisation led by Tony Williamson and Paul Glasse and attended Mike Marshall's "finger-busters" class.

The instructor to student ratio was fantastic - 150 students, 9 instructors - so you were really up close and personal in any class you chose to attend.

Beyond that, there were incredible concerts every night featuring some set of the instructors (Mike Marshal, David Grisman, Andy Statman, Herschel Sizemore, Ron McCoury, Danillo Brito were the others featured).

Ronda and I played in the classical ensemble.  I think Caterina and the rest were surprised by the number of people wanting to play classical - there were around 15-20 of us (forgot to count).

I'm sure Ronda will have some good observations about what we learned at the Symposium and her experiences!

Tunes for summer concerts

I've been working on set lists for our summer concerts. Here are three preliminary lists. You'll notice that each set ends with a golden oldie. Comments, anyone?


Edina


Where No Mandolin
Goldfinger
La Tipica
A Tear
First Minnesota Regiment
Crystal Ship Waltz
Wedding March Set
Sunset on the Pawtuxet
Vus Vet Zayn
Ragtime Dance
Children with Bad Dreams
Battle Royal
Joropo de Lara
Santa Lucia

Como

La Tipica
Sunset on the Pawtuxet
Italian Suite
Goldfinger
Crystal Ship Waltz
Asleep in the Deep
Battle Royal
Joropa de Lara
(intermission)
Where No Mandolin
Vus Vet Zayn
Ragtime Dance
Children with Bad Dreams
Wedding March Set
Waltz for Bill Monroe
Ob-La-Di

Harriet

Where No Mandolin
Goldfinger
Italian Suite
A Tear
La Tipica
Waltz for Bill Monroe
Wedding March Set
Joropo de Lara
Philippino Waltz #1
Ragtime Dance
Vus Vet Zayn
Battle Royal
Sunset on the Pawtuxet
Children with Bad Dreams
Asleep in the Deep
First Minnesota Regiment
Jota

Entry of the Gladiators

By popular demand, here is a link to the 1993 CMSA convention playing Entry of the Gladiators. Notice the small group. CMSA convention En Masse orchestras now have well over 100 players. Those of you who have been to a convention will recognize the animated and talented Mike Schroeder (sp?) in the first chair. Jim Bates is a great conductor to work under - almost as good as our own Lon Hendricks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vp_WLlB2MYs

Recommended Local Luthiers?

I know some of you have had Kevin Schwab at Hoffman Guitars work on your mandos, so this is no surprise, but in case others are looking for a good luthier, I highly recommend Kevin. A few years back he dressed my frets and installed a Brekke bridge. This week I had him dress my frets again and set up the mando for the heavier J-75 strings I've been using. In both instances he has done a great job and I highly recommend his work - he isn't the cheapest but if you paid big bucks for your mando, you don't want some hack working on it. Another thing, he promised me the job would be done in one week but he finished it in two days!

I had Marty at the Podium install a pickup in my ax and he does good work too. I don't have any other experience with him though. Anyone else had good experience with a local luthier?

Round-back mandolin auction

This came to me by way of the Chouinard home:

Hello,

A few years back, I inherited a rather mind-bogglingly large collection of bowlback mandolins, and have since been working to get them back out into players' hands. Due to a lack of time and space, I've decided to 'cull' the collection significantly by means of a silent auction website - with 100% of the profits going to our local chapter of hospice.

I encourage you all to stop by, have a look, and maybe place a bid!

And please, if at all possible, spread the word!

Warmest regards,Chris Logan
www.brokenbowls.com

Promoting the MMO

I use the Chanhassen Library twice a year to hold a software user group meeting. The staff likes when I give them leftover food, so they remember me. I just sent my contact person our MMO flyer for their bulletin board. I'm wondering if we can/should take 30-40 flyers to our local libraries, or just have them post one flyer on their bulletin board. I'm not worried about the cost of printing. I just want to promote the MMO. Should we come up with a different flyer format that's more "postable" so that it's all on one side of the paper? Maybe even index-card sized? This would not replace the flyer we distribute at concerts - it would just be a condensed version for postings at libraries , our places of employment, our local grocers, etc. I am a regular at two local libraries (Apple Valley and Lakeville), so I can drop off flyers if this idea is approved.