Posts Tagged: Wendy Goodwin

Things can look great on the outside but if there isn’t quality underneath, what’s the point?  A few years ago, I was in a house fire—we awoke at about 3 in the morning to confusion…smoke so thick you could hardly see your hand in front of your face.  It was complete mayhem as we rushed out of the house with what we could carry, waited for the fire trucks to arrive in the cool Autumn east coast night and watched most everything else be either charred or saturated beyond recognition.  The next day we learned that it was because of the thick, old fashioned beams that this attic fire had not collapsed the ceiling on us while we slept. Good internal construction saved our lives.

Quality ingredients, carefully prepared equals better end result.  This is just something I believe to be inherently true in life…and in music.

So lately I have not been as active with shows on the performance calendar but I have been working hard at my music and have been taking part in some recording projects including a Christmas album for Jeff Johnson which I cannot wait for you to hear, and a jazz album by sultry vocalist Tasha Miller which is still in production. 

I’ve been honing my jazz vocals—combing material for what feels true and works with my voice, and thinking about what it is I’d like to play as a jazz violinist who is more enamored with beautiful lines and tone production than churning out slick hooks.

I’ve also been crossing my T’s and dotting my I’s in regard to my albums licensing, my status as a songwriter and my presence on the web.  It’s not always as much fun as playing and singing for a live audience, but I think it’s very very important to make sure that I’m going about things in the proper way.  It frustrates me immensely that so many artists record and distribute cover songs without getting permission.  While one can argue that it’s the “big record companies” and all that nonsense about the little struggling artist, one can make the same case for stealing stuff from a large department store or not paying taxes.  Okay…maybe some of the same people do that too!  At any rate, I am trying as best I can to make sure that I do things right.  I’m thankful that the people who built the cottage I slept in on that October night a few years back chose to properly construct the beams or I might not be here to be blogging today about my musical journey!

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!

NEXT WENDY GOODWIN SHOW:  THURSDAY, AUGUST 5th at Sherman Clay Moe’s Pianos  7-8:30 PM

I’m struggling to find the right adjectives to properly convey how much I loved singing and playing with George Mitchell, Kevin Deitz and Ron Steen last night at Wilfs.  For one thing, it’s as if these three gentlemen of jazz share a collective brain when they are playing-each giving authoritative pizzazz yet always playing as a team.  As a guest artist, it’s the musical equivalent of being supported by 3 pairs of strong arms… not so scary to lean out over the edge when you’re in such secure company!

I was also blessed to have such a great group of friends come out for the show.  Looking out and seeing the familiar faces dotting the landscape who support and encourage me in so many ways was awesome.

To top it off, some other fantastic jazz artists were at the show and performed a few tunes—the iconic drummer Dick Berk and smashingly talented vocalist and pianist Laura Cunard.

If you are just getting acquainted with me, and wondering why you haven’t seen me around town, it has to do with a few things-

1.  I tend to play in unrelated genres—right now, I’m working with Celtic/Contemplative Seattle based artist Jeff Johnson and Puck Fair Flutist Brian Dunning.  While these two gentlemen actually have plenty of connections to the Portland Jazz Scene, the Celtic trio performs in churches and concert venues and tours seasonally.

2.  I play a LOT of private events—after finishing school, I started Effesenden Music, a wedding and event music company.  Effesenden gives me the opportunity to play lots of styles of music with a variety of musicians.  It gives me an excuse to do a lot of arranging of pop music for strings, and it gives me the chance to help people with a special day in their lives.  And to be totally honest… I LOVE weddings! 

3.  I have played in bands and appeared as a side woman with many different artists including Rising Violet, Lori Willcuts, Drew Grow, Kelly Jones, Nate Macy, Michael Allen Harrison, Michelle Tumes, Laura Gibson, Tasha Miller, Adam Sweeney, Bryan Clark and more, but have only recently begun appearing under my own name.  Though I love performing, I have always been sort of embarrassed about drawing attention to myself.  In the past I’ve often appeared under the name Effesenden.  When I started writing music though, it seemed natural to start appearing… well…as myself!

I’m looking forward to what lies ahead—in a couple of weeks I’ll be at Sherman Clay Moe’s Pianos (August 5th 7-8:30 p.m.) If you’d like to be kept in the loop of future shows, drop me a line. 

My favorite scene in any movie of all time can be found in White Christmas.  Wallace and Davis (aka Danny Kay and Bing Crosby) have just come to see the Haynes Sister act (aka Vera Ellen and Rosemary Clooney.)  Hoping sparks will fly between the workaholic Wallace (Crosby) and the mother hen (Clooney), Danny Kay and Vera Ellen’s characters leave the dinner table to share a dance sequence that starts on the ballroom floor and works its way outside culminating on the roof of a veranda.  In the old movies and the musicals, there is angst and love, friendship and conflict but the emotions are ALWAYS big and you know what they do when they are trying to figure things out?  They sing about it! 

In jazz there is that element of history—the old movies, the gorgeous evening gowns, the debonair man in the smoking jacket, combined with that “in the moment” improvisation and style—never the same way twice!  With jazz, you’re not trying to sound like so and so’s amazing Carnegie Hall recording… you’re trying to give the song what it needs at this exact second.  You’re trying to sound like yourselves… and it’s a communal effort.  You listen, you respond, you musically converse. 

To prepare, rather than practicing a passage over and over again until you can play it exactly like Joshua Bell or sing it like Kathleen Battle, you dissect the song until you understand its very fiber.  You explore what could be.  Then you take your ideas and you tuck them in the back of your head because everything could change in the moment with the collective creativity of the band, the house, the magic in the air. 

THIS is why I love jazz!

There’s been so much going on lately, I haven’t had a chance to write.  But I hope that you’ll mark your calendars for a few particularly exciting shows coming up–

Wednesday, July 14th from 7:30-10:30  I will be playing and singing jazz for the first time at Wilfs Restaurant on the invitation of the amazing drummer and jazz community instigator Ron Steen.  I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to it!  You can check out the Upcoming Shows page here on this site for more details about parking and location.

Thursday, August 5th:  First Thursday at Sherman Clay Moe’s Pianos in the Pearl:  I’ll be joined by Aaron Pruitt on keys as well as special guests and friends.

 
As any of my former high school classmates who saw my “notes” in AP European History back in the day, can vouch, I’ve always loved to draw and create visual art.  As of last month, a dream that I thought I would have to set aside to fully pursue music came to be—I am now a published illustrator!  Check out Cocoa’s Collar, a very special book written to help special needs kids deal with grief—written by Garyanna Stalick.  I did these illustrations several years ago and had all but forgotten about it when this past winter, Garyanna called to see if it was okay to pursue publication…why yes, of course it was!  I have enjoyed picking up my sketch pad again of late.  Having a house filled with toys again certainly doesn’t hurt the inspiration factor!
Here’s the link:  Cocoa’s Collar Website

First off, let me say that Wine Unwind is a really cute little shop in Portland’s Pearl District.  The ambiance, the acoustics, the owner… it’s truly special.  Reminds me of the awesome independent book store in the movie You’ve Got Mail that Meg Ryan’s character lovingly tends. (side note, let’s make sure that some massive wine conglomerate does not move in and crush this little neighborhood gem!) 

Our set list included a number of jazz standards—Our Love is Here to Stay, But Beautiful, Solitude, If I Were a Bell, What a Difference a Day Makes, Moondance… plus a few of my original songs.  We used the little tiny Mackie amp you can see in the video and it was totally perfect for the space. 

It’s fun playing with a big group but it’s also awesome to be able to work with just Dave—he is a really great musician and friend. 

Here’s an mp3 clip of one of my favorite standards—hope you enjoy it!

Give Me the Simple Life

Earlier on Saturday, I played at Troon Winery’s tasting room in Carlton with two wonderful musicians and friends—Nate Macy (guitar & vocals) & Bill Nippoldt (super cool hand percussion.)  We’ve done music together off and on since 1996 under the name QLO.  Nate had organized this show and his set list was eclectic and fun.  We did everything from Miles Davis’s Four to some Celtic fiddle tunes like After the Battle of Aughrim.  The music was a big hit and I’m hoping the folks who grabbed our card will remember to e-mail me about their benefit event in August. 

All in all it was a really great day and I’m thankful for the chance to go out and play and sing and for all of you who support live music!

Inspired by the cosmopolitan sights and sounds of Europe’s old cities.

Saturday, May 1st, 2010  at 8 PM
Wine Unwind: NW 11th & Lovejoy, Portland
Wendy Goodwin & Dave Iula
www.wineunwind.com
503.946.8482 for more information.

This photo, taken of the Kleines Cafe in Vienna, Austria on one of our European jaunts has been a visual reminder for me over the years of the type of music I want to create.  Romantic…nostalgic…cosmopolitan…and good!  As a lover of musical styles ranging from Renaissance to Hip-Hop, I’ve had to learn by trial and error that just because I can play something doesn’t mean I should.

Not that I’ve ever attempted to rap in public… but even within the jazz, folk and classical genres, there are things that ring true and others that I must leave to another artist to perform.  2010 in particular has been a year of really vetting what I want to play, sing and say as an artist right now. 

This upcoming evening at Wine Unwind is going to reflect that.  Right now I am drawn to music that one might hear on a street corner in one of Europe’s big old cities… or in a cafe or a small concert venue.  I’m connecting more with beautiful melodies, romantic and witty words.  I want to play and sing Jazz—an American invention true but with that sense of romance that I associate with Vienna. 

I’m trying really hard too to make every single performance a total investment.  Life is busy and time is precious.  When someone takes the time out of their busy lives to listen to my music I want to brighten their lives just a little.  The only way to do that is by being really authentic and giving every song my best.

What a lovely time I had performing tonight at a benefit for Newberg’s Faith in Action organization! We did a 30 minute set that was a mixture of Celtic, Scottish, Jazz, Classical and original music.  It was exciting to be able to share a brand new song—so new that I don’t have a title.  I recorded the concert on my minidisc player and will hopefully post excerpts later this week.

Lyrics to the new song as follows-

Every day it seems another tragedy
Another war, another casualty.
Another one has fallen to disease
Another case of selfishness and greed.

Too many too much to take in.
Does the right side ever win?
Does it even matter if I try?
These are the questions I hide.

It’s not very easy to know what to do
But I’m gonna spend some time with you.
It’s not very easy to know what to say
But I’m gonna give my love away.

You give much more than you probably should.
And sometimes you feel misunderstood.
You wonder if it matters how hard you try.
Well I’m still standing by your side.

(chorus)

Is it too late to stand my ground?
Is it too late to try?
Is it too late to turn this thing around?

***

Writing this song has helped me remember that each of us has influence in our community to make the world a better place by reaching out to those around us.  Even if it doesn’t feel like much in the face of so many problems in the world…those little things add up.

Recently, a parent brought up a question about her seven year old daughter’s violin practice that I felt was worth responding to here.

Q.  “How much involvement should I as a parent be having in my daughter’s at home practice?”

The reasons for playing violin are numerous and the rewards of hard work are a beautiful tone, an ability to express colors and emotions beyond the range of some other instruments, options to play many different styles of music from Classical to Jazz to Bluegrass, chances to play in group settings like chamber music and orchestras and the process of improving self discipline.

Once a student has played the violin for a long time, it becomes a tool of expression.  When just starting out, it CAN feel like a tool of torture for both student and listener because it’s not easy to initially get a good sound.

Although I in no way want to devalue the challenge of playing the piano, when a child hits a piano key, a nice sound comes out.  When a child places bow to strings, the resulting sound is often not so pleasant at first.  There’s a lot of technique that goes into making beautiful tone. 

Posture, bow hold, angle of the arms—both right and left, violin hold, vibrato, shifting, angle of fingers, pressure of the bow hand… these are all things that even a young violinist has to take into account when playing in order to improve.  It’s a lot more like learning a language than riding a bike!  With enough practice, these things become second nature and then it becomes more about expressing the music and learning the new songs than about the physical process of playing.

A good teacher has to balance the need for keeping the material mentally interesting and fresh while staying devoted to the numerous muscular and physical areas which must be trained and perfected.

This is also why it can be a slower process for a violinist to learn to read music than a pianist—he or she is concentrating so much on the actual playing that it doesn’t leave much room for thinking about remembering notes.

All of this to say that younger kids are probably going to need a lot more parental support in their at home practice than their piano or voice lesson counterparts.

Many parents are not themselves violinists or even musically trained so it can feel daunting to wonder “how can I assist when I don’t know how to do this thing myself?”  A good teacher will highlight to the parents what to watch for at home and give some ideas for how to be of assistance to the child.

One of my favorite tools for home practice is to have parents ask the child to show them how to do a particular technique—maybe even put the instrument into the parent’s hands and have the young violinist correct “bad” posture etc.

Another tip on at home practice success is to carve out a consistent time for practice—maybe it can’t be the same time every day because of various other activities but the same time on a given day of the week—for example, Wednesdays after dinner, Thursdays before school, Saturday after cartoons.  The practice time doesn’t have to happen all at once either—3 ten minute sessions in a day is going to produce just as strong a result as one 30 minute session!  The key is regular, focused practice.

As the child becomes more advanced there will be less need for parents to be heavily involved in the practice time—the young student will have developed expectations and momentum with technique… so if you can hang in there and help lay a strong foundation, everyone will win!

To all the parents of violin students out there… thanks for allowing your kids to experience this amazing instrument.  I hope that it will bring them as much joy and fun as it has brought me over the years.  Good luck and practice hard!