Posts Tagged: effesenden

I had a conversation with a friend once where we showed our true cards about what music meant to us.  For him, it mattered not if there was an audience as long as he had his instrument and uninterrupted time to create.  For me, the hours spent in preparation would not be worth it if I didn’t see an opportunity to uplift or encourage a listener on the other end.

Why Acoustic Christmas?

Acoustic Christmas is the embodiment of what I strive for—the chance to gather with an ensemble of like minded musicians and use our gifts and time to help people experience joy and community during the busy holiday season.  To be honest, I struggle with Christmas. I love it so much and yet I battle the nostalgia and the sense that the years are passing by much to quickly.  Rather than being some sort of anti-holiday Grinch, each year I run in the opposite direction, hoping that I can just do something good with all the blessings I’ve been given.

And so for the 9^th consecutive season, a wonderful group of musical merry makers will gather together to present a series of concerts in local venues throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington.  The concerts are free and meant to be enjoyed by families—come as you are.  Don’t worry if your kids are wiggly.  Mine will probably be dancing in the aisles.  The concerts are free not because they are "cheap" or poorly done, but because in this present age of mass consumerism where everything has a price, we wanted to create a space where you could just be free from that stuff for a while.

What People Are Saying:

"Just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the concert that you and your ensemble provided for all of us in the Pearl.  I found your concert to be the perfect Holiday gift…it was absolutely beautiful and what so many need…community."—Sarah

"Your concert was the highlight of our Christmas season."–Deb & Tim

"A soothing antidote to the holiday hubbub."–Nancy

Our Nine-Piece Ensemble:

Wendy Goodwin, Noelle Sisk & Alex Kazmierowicz:  Violin & Fiddle
Owen Hoffman-Smith:  Cello
Nate Macy:  Guitar & Banjo
Aaron Pruitt:  Piano & Vocals
Nolan Staples:  Bass
James “Jimmy” Watson:  Percussion
Bethany Cibolski:  Soprano

Concert Schedule:

(For addresses & map links please click here)

Tuesday, December 18^th 7:00 p.m.  West Hills Friends Church
Wednesday, December 19^th 7:00 p.m. Newberg Friends Church
Thursday, December 20^th 7:00 p.m.  Cherry Grove Friends Church
Friday, December 21^st 7:00 p.m.  St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church
Saturday, December 22^nd 7:00 p.m.  Tigard Grange

Happy Fall!  Right now I am metaphorically raking leaves as I gather together materials, schedules, artists and publicity for upcoming concert series.  I use this analogy because those gorgeous reds, yellows, purples and golds inspire my creativity with their simple beauty and it is so much a part of the process of nature– just as the planning is imperative to the making of good art.  And so… I am thankful for it all.

Specifically, I’m excited to be collaborating with guitarist/vocalist Nate Macy on an evening of music to be held at Metolius Friends Church in Central Oregon on Sunday the 28th of October at 6 p.m.   We will be sharing original music from our recent album releases encircling the themes of rest and space.  We’ll be joined by Noelle Sisk (violin/mandolin) and Nolan Staples (acoustic bass.)  There is no cover charge.  We really hope that if you live in the area that you will join us!

Central Oregon is one of the places I love most in the world.  There’s a certain point when driving Hwy 22 over the Santiam Pass that I have to roll the windows down regardless of the weather because the delicious smell of pine and juniper just make me so happy.  It’s been this way for years.  I have to add Sisters Coffee Company and the Blackberry Cobbler at Deschutes Brewery to my list and then of course the sweeping views of the Three Sisters, Broken Top and more.

I’m on the verge of being able to report specific details about our upcoming Acoustic Christmas series.  I’m excited that we’ll be returning to some wonderful venues and also thrilled to be playing at some brand new ones.  We’re moving forward with the live CD from last year’s concert series and I’m so happy about that as it’s been something we’ve wanted to do for so long!    So please check back soon and I’ll have much more to report.

Until then, hope that you are enjoying all that the Fall has to offer both visually and as a chance to reflect.  Blessings.

Looking for a family outing the week of Christmas that is affordable, relaxing and fun for children and grown ups alike?  Look no further than the 2011 Acoustic Christmas series with Wendy Goodwin & Friends!

The concerts are free admission and feature a 9-piece acoustic band of professional musicians including violins, fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass, percussion, piano and vocals.  The material is a collection of beloved holiday songs known to elicit toe tapping and the occasional boogie move from the toddler set (which is of course more than welcomed by the band.)  In it’s 8th consecutive season, Acoustic Christmas with Wendy Goodwin and Friends has become a cherished holiday tradition for many families since 2004!

Two concerts take place in Portland cafes offering a relaxing atmosphere for sipping a warm beverage and enjoying the season in community.  For a full listing of Acoustic Christmas concerts as well as Wendy’s complete holiday performance calendar, visit Wendy’s production company website: effesenden music.

CLOUD SEVEN CAFE CONCERT
WHEN:  Wednesday, December 21st at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: NW 10th & Johnson—on Jamison Square park in the Pearl
Street parking free after 7 p.m. or hop on the streetcar with a stop just steps away from the cafe!
DETAILS:  Doors open at 7 p.m.  The concert lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Beverages, local wines and pastries will be available for purchase.
www.cloudsevencafe.com

TABORSPACE COMMUNITY COFFEE HOUSE CONCERT
WHEN:  Thursday, December 22nd, at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE:  SE 55th & Belmont—SE Portland
DETAILS:  Doors open at 7 p.m.  The concert lasts about 1 hour and 15 minutes.  Coffee drinks and pastries will be available for purchase.  Free, easy parking in the adjacent parking lot.
www.taborspace.org

Last month I played at Wilfs with the incomparable drummer Ron Steen and pianist Joe Millward.  It was my first time playing with Joe and definitely an experience I hope to repeat!  I was able to record several of the songs we did and have posted them on Youtube.  What a fun and musically fulfilling night this was!

K Bay—working title—is a song I wrote about Honaunau Bay in Kona.  Two of my greatest loves are music and being outdoors.  Honaunau Bay is an incredible place to snorkel.  I found the area to be very mystical—partly because the way the light would beam down through the deep waters below me and partly because it is adjacent to a Hawaiian historical site called Pu’uhonua o Honaunau which is loosely translated “Place of Refuge.”  It is a place where Hawaiians accused of a crime could basically exile themselves and escape punishment—which in ancient Hawaiian culture seemed to have typically been one of a few different brutal executions! 

Parlor Music- a piece I wrote back in the spring of 2009 for my daughter.  It begins with a short classical piece called Ständchen by Franz Schubert.

The CD is done!  The promotional material is out and we head to Germany in late October for a series of concerts.  I cannot wait to play with these wonderful musicians again soon!  We’ll also be appearing together at Christmas time in the Pacific Northwest.

The album will be released on September 13th but you can preview it here.

I’m looking forward to Wednesday, July 13th when I’ll be playing and singing with Ron Steen at the Jazz Club Wilfs at Union Station!  Last time I played at Wilfs was for Tasha Miller’s CD release party and it will be good to be back enshrouded in the vintage, red velvet look and feel of this classic Portland club.   It always makes me think of… yup, you guessed it, White Christmas with Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen…. which is a good thing!!!  Here’s a short video from last summer when I so enjoyed playing with Ron Steen, Kevin Deitz and George Mitchell. 

In this society, if we can’t label it neatly, we don’t know what to do with it… and yet when it comes to art and music the very thing that can make a work so special is its ability to move, to stir, to teach in a way that is all at once personal and startling.

Recently I’ve had the privilege to be creative with an outstanding group of artists for an upcoming CD that has been loosely called Coram Deo (translated: in the presence of God.)  Jeff Johnson, Brian Dunning, Janet Chvetal and Marc Gremm are the core musicians with an excellent supporting studio cast.  We’ll be doing some touring in the Fall and Winter 2011 with a scattering of individual dates this Spring.

When I’ve tried to explain what the music sounds like to friends and family, I find myself at a bit of a loss.  It’s not Classical, it’s not Celtic, it’s not…it’s not… but what I can say is that I love it!  As I worked on my parts, I have to admit that the occasional dimly lit cathedral with a hobbit wandering through flashed through my mind. 

I tell you what?  Come to one of our upcoming concerts and let me know how you would describe the music.  I can’t tell you how to package it but I do believe that it will stir your soul.  For my local friends, the concert at the Grotto on April 16th is going to be really special!  I know that some of you might find the idea of such a formal setting daunting for a spring afternoon, but if you have never been to the St. Mary chapel, it’s like being transported into an old European cathedral (less the nasty airline food and 13 hour flight!)  And it’s right here in NE Portland! 

One more thing:  If you’ve been reading this blog, you know that I am now frequently playing with the wonderful Jeff Johnson… but you may not have had the privilege of having heard Janet & Marc….considering they live in Germany. But “Chant?” you say… “sounds boring…”  Trust me… these vocalists are in a league unto themselves.  Janet actually played Christine in the Viennese production of Phantom of the Opera and Marc has performed in Les Miserables!  Don’t be afraid of the formality—The music is intelligent but very accessible.  

We have played this song many many times but it still tugs at my heart every time.  The paintings and the “set” were created by Kathy Hastings.  The creative energy in the room the day that this video was shot felt electric!  An added bonus:  I finally learned what a dolly grip and a best boy are.  I always chuckle when I see those terms whizz by on movie credits…now I know—they are real and important tasks!

It was really special to be a part of this video—thanks Jeff Johnson, Brian Dunning & Kathy Hastings, the Johnson family, and everyone at Global Net productions who made the day go so well.

Things are buzzing here!  Yesterday I recorded the string parts on two tracks for folk singer Adam Sweeney’s upcoming release.  I crafted the arrangements at home over the last several weeks through listening to the basic tracks and dialoguing with Adam about his “vision for strings” and then yesterday I laid down the 2 upper voices.  Cello should be added next week along with some fiddle solos. 

The wearing of multiple hats is something that I would say is a strength of mine.  People often ask if there is a difference between a violin and a fiddle.  The answer is that it’s mostly how you play it.  I like being able to do both—I like that when I sit down to write a string arrangement, I actually use the music theory that I labored through in college.  Then when I’m fiddling, it’s great to be able to just focus entirely on that one feisty voice—linearly rather than horizontally.

Last month I did a combination of writing and improvising string parts for another Jeff Johnson/Brian Dunning affiliated recording project—Coram Deo.  The CD features the amaaaazzzzzing vocalists Janet Chvetal and Marc Gremm.  I first met Janet when I was still pregnant and no joke, my baby girl kicked like a cha cha dancer whenever Janet would sing! The CD is being mixed and I’ll have more to say soon but keep an eye out for concerts in and around Easter 2011.  Some of the recording was actually done at the iconic Neuscwanstein Castle in Germany. 

Also in the works is Christmas music!!!!  I’ll be touring again this year with American/Irish duo Jeff Johnson (keys/vocals) and Brian Dunning (flute/pipes/whistles…lots of cool stuff).  We’re promoting our new CD Under the Wonder Sky.  I can’t wait.  Last year’s tour was one of the most rewarding professional experiences of my entire life.  We kick things off here in Portland on the 24th of November—Sunset Presbyterian Church Thanksgiving Eve service.  This is one of the only local, free shows so take advantage of it if you’re not trying to figure out how to thaw your turkey!!!  More info at www.arkmusic.com. 

Last but not least there will be 2 Acoustic Christmas Concerts this year with my band.  This is the 7th installation—one show will be at Cloud 7 in the Pearl, the other at West Chehalem Friends Church out in Newberg.  Stay tuned—some details are still being finalized but I will be sure to blog all about it. 

For a complete listing of upcoming concerts, please visit the concerts and news page of this site. 

Blessings on  your Fall!

I am passionate about inspiring children to explore their love of music through violin.  Many programs are one size fits all …you’re paying for a lease.  You’re paying for marketing.  This is not always the best for families as a whole.  

My lesson studio is tailored to the unique interests and learning style of your child.  You don’t have to be an expert musician yourself in order for your child to succeed at violin nor do you have to drop all of your other obligations so that violin dominates your family’s life.
 
Music lessons are about building confidence, creativity, relationships with both child and family, commitment to goals and…fun!

With 14 years of experience as a private instructor, I am also an active performing musician and recording artist in not just Classical, but Jazz, Celtic and Folk.  I hold a Master’s degree in Violin and have taught in public, private and collegiate school settings.  I have a very low turnover rate amongst my students and can provide many references.  Best of all, I am a mama and I understand intimately the privilege it is to be an influence in a child’s life.  I only want the best for my daughter and know that you feel the same about your child.

I welcome enthusiastic beginner, intermediate and advanced students from age 4-19 to my NW Portland studio.  For more information including references please e-mail me or give me a call! 

Fall schedule begins the week after Labor Day!