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Community Based Quartet

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I am excited to see the tremendous growth of our organization. I think we are at a perfect time in NASA's growth and history to discuss options to grow the exposure to community based groups. What is a community based group? To get the conversation going, I will throw out my ideas. A Community Based Group -- a group formed by non-professional saxophonist, for the pleasure of performing with the group, performing for community events and promoting music. Members generally hold other non-saxophone focused careers. Additionally, the group may consist of members who are not native saxophone performers. The group however is focused, organized and active. I confess, I fashioned this definition straight from my own group's mission, vision and makeup. I don't think our group, [URL="http://keystonesaxquartet.homestead.com"]The Keystone Sax Quartet[/URL] is that unique. As a group, we are proud of what we have accomplished and what lies ahead. After hearing the many incredible players and quartets at the conference last year, we know how much we have to learn. As such, we don't confess to be exceptional performers. But, we are very serious about our efforts and dedicated to our mission. I would love to hear your thoughts on how we can attract more "Community Based" groups. Or, if this effort is the type of effort that others feel has value to the organization. I look forward to our conversation. Mark Burke

Mark's definition of a community based saxophone ensemble fits mine perfectly. I belong to two such saxophone quartets. One is formed from members of the saxophone section of the Austin Symphonic Band (a volunteer concert band). The mission of the overall band is consistent with Mark's comments. The ASB SQ was formed to allow us more experience in playing in a small ensemble. I was a saxophone major way back when but my career took me in a non-musical direction. Over the years, I've maintained my interest in music by continuing to play in community groups, putting together an occasional saxophone quartet concert, and continuing to arrange for saxophone ensembles of various sizes. The more years that go by, the harder it is to stay active. The love of the saxophone (and for me, in particular, the classical saxophone) keeps me going despite the lack of time available and my declining skills. Some of the skills that have suffered over the years (and not reinforced in playing with a large ensemble of 90-100 players) are exactly those that you can't get away with in a small ensemble (e.g., true teamwork versus being conducted, subtle expression via dynamics and phrasing, refined intonation, etc.). So, for me, forming the quartet gave me an additional avenue to build some of the skills back while having fun at the same time and bringing live music to audiences that wouldn't ordinarily have the opportunity. We were therefore promoting the saxophone, entertaining our audience, and meeting our personal goals all at the same time. Who could ask for more? The 2nd quartet was formed for different reasons. In this quartet, each member typically plays a different member of the saxophone family or woodwind family. We formed it to get playing time on members of the saxophone family that we aren't regularly getting play time. We formed this quartet last summer and rehearse every other week. After floundering for a while, we decided we needed a goal. We then arranged a first performance just after New Years in Sun City, TX (a retirement community - a small town actually). To keep the concert manageable, we shared the concert with a woodwind quintet (the alto player in the quartet is principally an oboist and he played in both groups). As evidence of the desire to hear live music, we were surprised to find that 75 appreciative folks came out on a Sunday afternoon to attend a concert of chamber music. We also played the same program at an assisted living center the day before as a "warm-up" performance. It occurred to me afterward, that this might very well have been the first time most of the audience members have experienced the sound of a saxophone quartet. Now that I've explained a bit about where I'm coming from, I'll make a few comments about Mark's question: [QUOTE=drivenx;416]... I would love to hear your thoughts on how we can attract more "Community Based" groups. Or, if this effort is the type of effort that others feel has value to the organization. ... Mark Burke[/QUOTE] To get more community based groups into NASA, here are some ideas that ring true to my experience: [LIST]Education about repertoire - since adult musicians come from many walks of life they therefore come from many different salary levels and amounts of time available. I have the luxury of having built a respectable libary of quartet music and recordings over the years so I can pick pieces that are likely within scope of an ensemble. However, I also know that many groups don't have this luxury or the ability to figure it out in trial-and-error fashion. Accumulating a library of "reviews" of quartets that are accessible to a community based group would be great benefit. Just a description of the difficulty level, particular challenges to prepare the piece, and any experiences in performing it and the audience reception of it would be useful information. Offering this as a perk to joining NASA would like result in some additional membership. [/LIST] [LIST]Going one step further, perhaps a library of public domain pieces could be made available to groups as a starter library. Since the pieces are public domain, including a recording would be helpful too. This removes one of the barriers to starting a quartet. [/LIST] [LIST]Promoting performance opportunities as stretch goals. In the band world, getting an invitiation to play at an event like the Midwest Clinic in Chicago is a big deal. By proactively including community groups at national and international events, we could serve a similar role that the Midwest Clinic serves for community bands in addition to the mainstream of the conference, ensembles from educational institutions. [/LIST] I've rambled on more than I intended, so I'll cut it off. Like Mark, I'm interested to hear the thoughts of others on this subject. Thanks for listening,

Good Morning! Love this thread. The Atomic Guppies (after the Nuclear Whales) is a community based group. We are actually a quintet with 4 sax players and a tuba. Sometimes we are a sextet but since one member had to move for a job, he generally can't get back for a weekly rehearsal. We play in a variety of venues, churches, nursing homes, community theaters, have concerts on our own and with the Tawas Community Band, area summer concert series,etc. WE really play for the love of the sax. All of us play soprano, alto, tenor, bari, and I have the sopranino. Our library is quite varied with some classical stuff, a lot of swing, some americana stuff, and generally a fair amount of pieces that we like. I do a lot of arranging since we have such an eclectic group in terms of instrumentation. We started as a sectional for a traditional Big Band - the Sound Waves. Our mission is more related to getting people interested in playin music. We support the high school ensemble (Molecular Minnows) and the Jr. High sax players (The Glowing Roe). We also really push getting folks who played in high school but not playing anymore to get a horn out. Our other rationale for that is here in Michigan schools are getting strapped and music programs are being sliced and cut down. In order to save programs we have to have community support. So we try and get out and be visible in the community to remind people that music is valuable....... None of us make a living in music. We have a retired teacher, retired quarryman, a high school counselor, a plastics worker, and a Nurse Practitioner and an art teacher (when he can). We share the love of the saxophone and love the energetics of making music together. We are still excited about a successful performance, still hypercritical of ourselves but can laugh, sometimes thrilled to just get through a piece. I think it great to have a forum like this to exchange ideas, common problems, music, and perhaps having a "Sax on the Beach" in Tawas and have other community based groups come up and stay and play!

This is such a worthwhile discussion and a topic with which I support whole-heartedly. After a hiatus professionally, in order to care for 4 young children, it was the "community based groups" that got me playing and performing again. I have discovered - both in "non-professional" quartets and in volunteer concert bands - that the majority of these musicians have a love and passion for music combined with a work ethic and commitment that I find nothing short of inspiring. They bring music to children, the elderly and infirm and with selfless service, they offer another venue of the education and promotion of our instrument. At the risk of sounding more like a politician, I believe the cultivation, inclusion and nurturing of these community based groups is vital to the continued growth of our organization. Kudos to Mark for introducing this topic (check out the Keystone Quartet web site - it's fabulous!) and to all who have replied thus far. All the Best, Lois Hicks-Wozniak website

Thank you to everyone for the thread support and ideas. I have pulled the ideas out of everyone's posts to start a master list of thoughts. [LIST=1] [*]Repertoire Reviews / Levels / Descriptions [*]Library of Public Domain Music [*]Performance Opportunities [*]Share Successful Outreach Efforts / Ways of Marketing Ourselves [*]Gathering in the tropics of Michigan:) [/LIST] I'll keep the list updated. Mark PS - Lois -- thanks for the website comments - I will share with the group.

I also lead a community based group called San Fran Sax Co. We range anywhere from a quartet to a nonet, with up to 2 sopranos, 3 altos, 2 tenors, 1 bari, and 1 bass. We're an offshoot of the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band and maintain a loose affiliation. We've been up and running for just over a year and we have public performances on average once every month and a half. Membership is open to anyone who wishes to join us. The only requirements are having your own instrument and the willingness to join a Veteran's organization (required by the rehearsal venue). We take our inspiration somewhat from groups like the Nuclear Whales but only in the broadest sense in that we want to be more entertaining than just a bunch of musicians sitting and playing music. Our goal is to be "accessible" to our audiences so to that end we play a lot of popular music. One of the members is a very talented arranger so we tend to gravitate towards what he puts together for us especially since there are few commercially available arrangements for groups with our instrumentation.

I'd propose that there be a gathering of folks who play in community groups like this at the next biennial, wherever it may be. Swap scores, stories, performances and strategies, and generally enjoy each others' company. Also sounds like a great opportunity for adult beverage consumption. Regional conferences should be an excellent opportunity for getting together like this as well.

I'm really glad to see this thread. Back in the day, when I ran for NASA President, my platform was 1) get a web-site working for NASA, and 2) EVERYONE SHOULD PLAY THE SAXOPHONE. I didn't mean that only tongue and cheek. The future of our instrument - and music in general - lies in the hands of amateur musicians. They support what we as professionals do at every level, from funding, to attending concerts. They make what we do possible. Being in a position of privilege (teaching at universities, making a living playing the saxophone), we often forget that it is we that really should be serving the community. Everyone should want to play the saxophone. In Holland, where I lived for several years, there was at least one community saxophone orchestra in every city or town I ever visited. They would meet every week. Often members of these groups planned their weeks around their rehearsals and had attended nearly all of their lives. It's a monument to the power of music in one's life, and something NASA can encourage through some of the initiatives listed in this thread. Bravo!

I think it a fascinating idea about adding community groups as a meeting in the bienniel. It is always fun to be able to chat and swap ideas and arrangements and techniques with other folks. we had a "Guppie concert" last august and invited the high school sax ensemble and a couple of 7th and 8th graders and then did a 17 piece choir with community folks, the kids, and anyone able to pick up a horn. It was such a hoot. And the kids are so pumped. It wasn't a performance that was perfect in any way. Intonation wasn't too bad, and people were challenged by the pieces. We rehearsed for a couple of hours before the concert, had a social hour, and then went and did our thing. We have to keep music alive in our communities. With all the cuts that schools have been forced to make - especially in rural communities, our kids may never get the chance to play and know the joy that it brings. Our rural kids have a hard time competing against folks from '"big schools" who have had private lessons since they were born. So a lot of the teaching is left to us in the community. That is why it is so important to have this "contact" group for questions, etc.....

[QUOTE=gcampbe;449]I'd propose that there be a gathering of folks who play in community groups like this at the next biennial, wherever it may be. Swap scores, stories, performances and strategies, and generally enjoy each others' company. Also sounds like a great opportunity for adult beverage consumption. Regional conferences should be an excellent opportunity for getting together like this as well.[/QUOTE] Griffin -- I think this is right on target. I would also add that anyone attending the Regional Conferences coming up could meet. I should thank Michael I (Region 8) for adding some fuel to my desire to begin this conversation. So, I plan on reaching out to him regarding ways to get a conversation going -- Michael, check your email. Mark

I've been away from the forum for awhile. In prep for the Regional 8 Conference Lunch Time session on "Community Based Groups" - details TBA, I'll be posting some additional conversations over the next few weeks. For all interested, we will be holding a lunch-time session to discuss ways to grow/integrate/highlight/include/support community-based groups. Great ideas have already been shared. The goal of the session will be to collect additional ideas and to begin the process of turning ideas into attainable objectives. So, stay tuned. Mark Burke

[QUOTE=drivenx;423]... I have pulled the ideas out of everyone's posts to start a master list of thoughts. [LIST=1] [*]Repertoire Reviews / Levels / Descriptions [*]Library of Public Domain Music [*]Performance Opportunities [*]Share Successful Outreach Efforts / Ways of Marketing Ourselves [*]Gathering in the tropics of Michigan:) [/LIST] ...[/QUOTE] Regarding one of the items above, I've posted a collection of saxophone quartet transcriptions (along with some duets, trios, quintets, and saxophone choir pieces) at: [URL="http://www.classicalsax.com/ClassicalSax/Ensembles/SaxophoneEnsembles.htm"]http://www.classicalsax.com/ClassicalSax/Ensembles/SaxophoneEnsembles.htm[/URL]

Eddie -- thanks for posting. Mark