Hot Times at Old Town

Appearing below are selections from the hard copy Hot Times. The objective is to highlight activities at the School and in the larger community, especially those featuring or of special interest to teachers and staff. Your suggestions are welcome. Enter a comment (under any item); it will come to me rather than automatically appearing.

U. Utah Phillips and his last post

The man has passed. U. Utah Phillips died in his sleep on Friday, May 23rd. Those who knew and enjoyed his music, even from a distance, will miss his presence. He was known and loved by generations, and he reveled in having a wide community of friends at every level of society. While Utah was dependent for his income on folks in the middle and upper middle class, his heart was with the poor and homeless. He was proud of being a Wobblie, a member of the International Works of the World – an early 20th century group still in operation, committed to bringing workers to advance the cause of change.

If you missed seeing Utah in person,, the school has posted a video clip from his last concert at the school, in August 2006 at http://www.oldtownschool.org/video/2007/02/13/utah-phillips-test/ To read the biography posted by Utah’s family, see www.utahphillips.org.

Utah’s last blog entry, dated May 14th and posted by his son appears below. While long and rambling, it will give you a feeling for the man and for the loss felt even by those who knew him only from the audience: « Read more »

Filed under: Interesting elsewhere by Skip | June 2, 2008 | Comments (0)

Blues legend Corky Siegel: Workshop Debrief

Thanks, Strummer folks! Great, great workshop!

What might have been a whole lot of book signing and a mini workshop on Saturday, May 31st, was just the reverse. Corky gave a full two hour free workshop, then hung around mostly to chat and answer questions. He signed a few books, but mostly he came to teach. The content — given free — was just a different take on the earlier ($!) workshop that banjo guru Michael Miles credited with making a major improvement in his playing.

About 20 folks attended, some sitting in the chairs that had been set up by the front window and some standing behind. Most stayed the whole time. Corky’s points, delivered with fervor, can’t be captured in a few words, but they had to do with focusing on your own playing (even when playing with others), using dynamics, and getting out of your comfort zone. He invited volunteers to come forward and then coached them as they played.

His book, Let Your Music Soar, is available at the store for $20. It’s the result of his years of playing/teaching, the book he says it was his duty to write. It’s worth buying the book AND attending one of his workshops.

Filed under: Interesting at Old Town by Skip | June 1, 2008 | Comments (0)