Pushing on a Rope
band
The Music Makers
Saturday marked the final concert of the Rye Town Community Band‘s short season and it was great fun. After five straight days of rain, the sun shone for Rye Brook Day at Crawford Park, and we added a brief soundtrack to the festivities. As you can see, the band members span decades in terms of … Continue reading
Making the music — and memories — last
What a weekend as Catherine’s prom and the 70th anniversary of Port Chester, NY’s Band Night/Blue Key Celebration collided. It was great — if exhausting — fun. I may need a few more days to recover. Friday night and Saturday found me much as I might have been 30+ years ago, practicing music and revisiting … Continue reading
Something old, something new
A quick post amid the Saturday morning silence … before the chaos begins. We Vanech girls are each ready for our busy day. (Well, at least I’m out of bed!) Had a blast last night at practice for today’s 70th annual Blue Key/Band Night Celebration in Port Chester, NY, last night. What fun to play again and see so many … Continue reading
Flashback Friday — On the March Again
Flashback to June 2009, the 65th anniversary of Port Chester, NY’s annual band night celebration. That’s me in the crowd, playing clarinet in public for what then was the first time in a long time. A whole lot has changed in the five years since — new career, new family members, new perspectives for me. (But … Continue reading
(Almost) Wordless Wednesday — A Little Light ‘Reeding’
Once upon a time I played the first clarinet part of this march — from memory. Perfectly. My fingers flew along the keys with ease and elan. Alas, even without the pressure to memorize, the muscle memory is short-term. My age shows with every note (and depending on which part of the transitional lenses I … Continue reading
Flashback Friday — March On!
Flashback to 1982, when most of my non-academic waking moments seemed to be consumed by band: practicing (at 7 am, rain or shine, on the dewy football field), competing in countless competitions, and performing — in parades, concerts, tattoos (yes, that is a thing). No wonder I struggle to re-create the notes as part of … Continue reading
Flashback Friday — Letting My (Band) Geek Flag Fly
May 1984, band competition in Montreal where we won a first-place trophy. Sharing this today because all week, excitement has been gearing up for Port Chester, NY’s 70th Band Night/Blue Key Celebration on June 7. People have been posting photos, videos and reminiscences of years past, so of course I went hunting for some photos of … Continue reading
Pushing on a Rope 