Crankin' out the duets!

And today I added a version of Swing Low, Sweet Chariot to my violin/viola duet collection. I've added the partner song, When the Saints Go Marching In into the mix, and if I was writing for string quartet, I'd add This Train is Bound for Glory, and I'm Gonna Sing, I'm Gonna Shout! All four go together.

Church Musician

Feeling a little like the old-fashioned church composer. I was asked at the last minute if our trio would play during our Ministry Faire next Sunday. Since Pat is not a member of the church, I could not, in good faith, ask her to give another freebie. But Edris and I both play, and were willing, so I rearranged Precious Lord, Take My Hand for violin and viola, and to top it off, arranged duets of I Will Arise and Go to Jesus and Be Thou My Vision.

Gamelan!

Yesterday I went to the first rehearsal of the year for the Harvey Mudd College Gamelan, along with 7 students and two profs. In 1997 I played in the Pomona College Gamelan for a semester, but this one is different in that we read music instead of learning by rote. I thought that might be easier, but it actually isn't, at least at first. I have to learn which notes are which on the various instruments instead of just calling them by a number name. I started out on an instrument reading bass clef and then tried one out in treble.

Hymn Arrangement

I now have a video on youtube of an arrangement I wrote of Precious Lord, Take My Hand. You can see it here.

New Website

Please check out my new website on the right - Van Ryswyk Studio. I am ready for new students!

West Coast, Left Coast

Today the single-concert tickets went on sale for the LA Phil, and Hal got us tickets to see Gustavo Dudamel conduct on Thanksgiving Sunday afternoon. We will be treated to one of the West Coast, Left Coast concerts with LA Variations by Esa Pekka Salonen, Lou Harrison's Piano Concerto, and the new City Noir by John Adams. I bought the LA Variations and have listened to it once, and I'm sure that I'll familiarize myself with it more before November, and then really enjoy a live performance of it.

New School Year Starting

After a summer hiatus from teaching, this week I have started planning my fall. On Wednesday we had a meeting at the school district about the instrumental music program, and the schedule for that is being hammered out. Today I am starting to redesign my website, revise my private lesson policies, think about a new business card and promoting my private studio. After being off for 2 1/2 months, I am ready to go again!