monthly newsletter - accordion-club-sandiego.org · being a musician from the early age of 10 has...

Being a musician from the early age of 10 has been a truly rewarding musical growth experience for me and many of my friends during our growing up years.

Octoberfests are excit-ing, with great people, mu-sic, dances and food. ALSI each year has enjoyed pre-senting this type of event. The date for this year’s ALSI Octoberfest in Balboa Park is set for Sunday, Oc-tober 14th from 11 am to 3 pm. Many ALSI accordi-onists and the ensemble will be performing great selections This day we will play traditional October-fest theme music. If you have questions about your music choices, call me di-rectly. I can help you make song selections.

I am personally getting excited to play for my ALSI friends at our month-ly meeting. For the friends of the accordion, music teachers and guests who are planning to attend, I am preparing a packet with music you will take home after my showcase con-cert. Everyone of any mu-sic background is very wel-

(continued on page ten)

by Gordon Kohl

Hi Everyone:

S imply Marvelous ! Astonishing! Fantastic! Per-plexing! Well it is all of that. This year, 2012, has seen an increase in accordi-on events, concerts, and conventions. Accordion-ists, some even for the first time in years, are partaking of these fun, educational, entertaining, and super de-lightful occasions. People are enjoying coming to-gether listening and partici-pating in accordion orches-tras, competitions, show-cases, stage performances and the list goes on. Some twenty years ago many of us, accordionists, teachers and convention dreamers, were hoping that the ac-

cordion would keep its popularity and grow among adults like it once did with young people in the 1940’s thru 1965.

This Summer has been a wonderful opportunity for so many music friends of the accordion to come together! Thousands have had days of fun playing and listening to fellow friends come to the USA from many countries to share heritages and musi-cal talent.

Get ready, the Fall sea-son is a blast. My favorite time of year to play music, such as Octoberfests by day and by night! I get to play those new polkas, waltzes, schottisches, and march polkas for this spe-cial season.

Look for a fun festival where you live and enjoy the cheer and partake of the super bratwurst, red cabbage, potato salads and wow apple strudel or plum cake with vanilla sauce. Are you hungry yet? I am! The apple ci-der and beer or even soft drink all add to the cheer and “Ein Prosit” Cheers! You will hear this sung out many times each hour.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

SEPTEMBER 2012

September 2012Volume 19 Issue 9

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Inside this issue:

President’s Message

1& 10

General Info. 2

Happiness at ALSI

3

Meeting Photos 4

Showcase ReviewGarret Kasler

5

Coming This Month

6

Member’s Corner 7

Polka Music 8-9

Credits 10

Calendar & News 11

Playing Around 11

Harold J. Estok FounderALSI and REED BLOCK

President:Gordon Kohl619-395-0454

Presidents Emeriti:(Founder) Harold Estok

Ron GriffinKjell HolmesGloria Ensign

Vice President:Mary Lou Erwin

619-448-9588

Meeting Coordinator:Bill Barr

619-337-1111

Editor/Secretary:Helen Estok Schoell

619-584-4970

Treasurer &Ensemble Director:

Vicki Eriqat619-563-5586

Recording Secretary:Sharon Marotte

619-286-3948

Newsletter/Webmaster: Bob Page

760--815-4783

ALSI MEMBERSHIP AND GENERAL INFORMATION

MEMBERSHIPS: current member renewal for twelve month term; the fee is $100 Gold, $25 U.S.A., $26 Canada, $27 for International delivery. (Current members can upgrade to gold membership at any time). For new members; partial year memberships can be purchased. Use this calculation as follows: Subtract $2 for each month that has elapsed for the calendar year. Therefore, if you are joining with a USA club membership in July, six months have elapsed, so 6 times $2 would be $12 to deduct and the formula would be: $25 - $12 = $13, thus the payment would be $13. Make check or money order payable to ALSI and send to: Helen Estok Schoell, at P.O. Box 151357 San Diego, CA 92175. The REED BLOCK is published once each month for delivery to members prior to the next meeting. (Meetings are the second Sunday of each month). Your input to the REED BLOCK is invited and should be submitted to Helen Estok Schoell or email to Bob Page at [email protected] or email to Mary Lou Erwin at: [email protected]: Unless otherwise indicated, all articles were written by the Editor. Unless so stated, no article is to be construed as an endorsement. Articles not written by the Editor may contain comments that do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or ALSI. If you disagree with anything in The REED BLOCK or to post corrections, please let us know in writing.SPECIAL NOTICE TO RECORDING ARTISTS: If you have an audio/video tape cassette you would like reviewed and written up in The REED BLOCK, please send us a professional copy and a short biog-raphy of the artist; include names, dates and places to the ALSI address above. Please include the price of the item including shipping and handling. If you want the package returned after the review please include return postage with the package.CUT-OFF DATE: All contributors to The REED BLOCK please note: For next month all material is due fourteen days before the next meeting, accordingly the due date for the October 2012 issue is: October 1, 2012. This includes all items such as articles, upcoming events, playing around, accordion workshops, ad-vertisements and ensemble schedules. Please make sure your material is received, in writing or email, no later than that date. Please submit your input to Helen Estok Schoell (at above ALSI address) or email to Bob Page at [email protected] or Mary Lou Erwin at [email protected]. Thank you for your cooperation. ADVERTISEMENTS: Members may place one small ad per year at no charge, business cards are $6/per issue or $60/per year, quarter-page is $15/per issue, half -page is $25/per issue, full -page is $50/per issue, one -page event flyer is $25/per issue. Cost is doubled for ads placed by non -members. (All ads must be accordion related).MEETINGS: The club normally meets at 1:00 - 4:00 P.M. on the second Sunday of each month at the Mt Miguel Covenant Village, 325 Kempton Ave, Spring Valley, CA.

STEERING COMMITTEE; Next meeting on September 12th at 10 am in the Brothers Restaurant at 5150 Waring Road, San Diego. (Please note the change in restaurant.)

NEXT CLUB MEETING will be on Sunday, September 9th at 1:00 pm in Bailey Hall at Mt. Miguel Cove-nant Village, Spring Valley.

AccordionFunnieswith

Garfield<===

Volume 19 Issue 9

HAPPINESS AT ALSI

by Sharon Marotte

Sunday, August 12, 2012 was a hot day but cool AC inside Bailey Hall for our ALSI meeting. Our players around the village were: Cafeteria – Vicki Eriqat, Brandel – Kari Andrews, Crider 1 – Al Piselli, Crider 2 – Marty Weinstein. Bill Barr was the MC for the day and, as always, he does a great job.

� Al Jacobs (piano) & Leslie Sanders(harmonica) played several American songs to entertain folks at the begin-ning of the day.

� Diane Polinski played for us next. She is a new player, stands up & plays without music. She also dresses in very colorful attire and is bubbly & happy. Her songs were Hukilua, Ha-waiian War Chant, Espiritu Cantu. We look forward to hearing her play again soon.

� Next player was Al Jacobs, playing so-lo. He played a variety of songs to in-clude: Autumn Leaves, Russian Medley, LaViene Rose, Sabor a Mi, Amapola. Folks like to sing along with Al.

� Next we welcomed Ted Hill to the stage. His songs were Penboza & Rel-ative Samba. Always good to have Tedentertain us.

� Our last player for the day was Bob Page. Mr. Elegance played Memories of You, Besume Mucho, & Moonglow. Bob’s music is played so beautifully

with sweet chords and lots of feeling.� The entire audience sang Happy

Birthday to Larry Kaiser for his 80th

birthday. Larry also acknowledged the other August birthdays: Al Jacobs, Bert Watton, Al Pace, & Lora Holmes.

Mary Lou Erwin reviewed the ByLaw Changes & Amendments, Standing Rules, etc with the assembly. These items will be voted on in September.

After our cake/coffee/lemonade break on the patio, we all gathered back inside even though it was rather comfortable on the patio.

During the break, the Ensemble set up their stands, stools & music and played several songs to open the second half: Finn Polkan, Life in the Finnish Woods, Soldiers March, Skyline March, Summer Medley, Vive L’Amour, Spirit of Freedom. The group played well with the help of Jim Kilduff, drummer and Bob Page, amplified bass.

After the Showcase by Garret Kasler, Al Jacobs (piano) & Diane Polinski(accordion) played lots of songs as we packed our things and said good bye. It was great to see Juergen & Heldegard Rosenfeld once again.

What a fun day. —

MEETING PHOTOS

Volume 19 Issue 9

SHOWCASE REVIEW

GARRET KASLERSunday, August 12, 2012

by Sharon Marotte

We enjoyed a great program presented by Garret Kasler. He is a student of Gordon Kohl and has studied with Gordon for many years. He is now a 2nd year student in college. He has also completed the requirements for Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts. He had quite a fan base - his family and friends attended this Showcase event to sup-port him. He looked great in his cool hat!! (I will attempt to give him justice by writing up his per-formance. Bob Warner was not able to attend so I will try my best.)

Garret played a song called Stepping Stones. He played his Concer-to accordi-on and made good u s e o f switches as he played. Char ade was the next selec-tion fol-lowed by

three Irish songs: Irish music is Garret’s favorite genre of music – He used good expression and the tempo fit the music.

What I Did for Love was arranged by Gar-ret’s teacher, Gordon Kohl. It was a nice arrange-ment with great bass work, sweet chords & phras-ing. Next Garret played a contemporary French song, La Noyee. Oblivion, ia song arranged by Frank Marocco, was played with great power and also sweetness. There were challenging runs, and changes of rhythm. Great job! Clarinet Polkawas fun as we all clapped along – we always love a polka! First Harvest was a musette piece writ-ten by Dave Thomas, a French composer. So Nice had a jazzy rhythm followed by several se-lections from Garret’s favorite video games!! Very interesting, loud & busy!!

A French piece was written by Yann Tiersen,

September 24 — 27Las Vegas International Accordion Con-vention at the Gold Coast Hotel. This event stars Dick Contino, Stas Venglevski, Mary To-karski, Mario Pedone, Gordon Kohl and other great accordionists. There will also be the Fifth Annual Accordion Orchestra Directed By Profes-sor Joan Cochran Sommers. Exciting and informa-tive workshops will also be held. For more infor-mation call: 800-472-1695.

La Banquet. Two John Denver pieces followed: Anne’s Song & Take Me Home Country Roads. The songs were nicely played. Garret wrote a song, his first original tune: Square One Waltz. This song has an Irish feel to it and the basses were up & down the keyboard – goodness!Beer Barrel Polka was a favorite, all of us singing along. The encore piece was Edelweiss. The Garret Showcase was great and we hope he comes back to play for us again! —

(

C U S T O M C R A F T E D —

COMING NEXT MONTH

Sunday1:00 -4:00 PMMT. MIGUEL

VILLAGE 325 KEMPTON AVE

SPRING VALLEY

Sunday, 2:45 - 3:45 PM September 9, 2012

Featuring: GORDON KOHLGORDON KOHLGORDON KOHLAccordionist and Teacher

Gordon Kohl is the Pres-ident of Accordion Lov-ers Society International (ALSI). It is with great pleasure that ALSI pre-sents Gordon in a rare showcase for our club.

Gordon’s showcase will feature the potential of the accordion. He will display its versatility with a variety of music styles.

Be prepared to be amazed by Gordon’s musical arrangements. He will be demonstrating layering of more than fifty (50) samples of digi-tal instrument voices with the awesome acous-tic reed character of the instrument.

His instruments will include the Concerto 255 digital Accordion and the Petosa P 900. These instruments en-hance every musical tune

and arrangementThere will be two

free hand-outs of Gor-don’s new songs to all in attendance. Both need registration choices and digital instrument voices which will be included on the music.

Next generation MIDI technology allows layering 10+ MIDI chan-nels at once on an ac-cordion with extra con-trol features and affects like reverb, chorus, oc-tover, and touch sensi-tivity. Now, adding the diversity of the reed instrument may combine mixed tunings for song stylizing.

Accordionist from all of Southern California are encouraged to come and experience the wiz-ardry of the accordion. Anyone who enjoys a

variety of music styles will gain improvisation, ideas, and electronic music tools for building their musicality. Gordon mixes the reed and digi-tal instrument exclusive-ly as a musician. Feel free to bring video and recording devices to the showcase.

Come and enjoy a most memorable show-case from 2:45 PM to 3:45 PM performed by the extraordinary Gor-don Kohl at our ALSI meeting.

Admission is $5 for ages 17 and above. Under 17

are free.

For further information, contact Mary Lou Erwin

at 619-448-9588

(Music Mystery Words “da capo” or D.C. means from the head or from the begin-ning.)

Special points of interest:

� FREE ACCORDION MUSIC AVAILABLE

� MIDI TECHNOLOGY DISPLAYED

� CONCERTO 255 DIG-ITAL ACCORDIONFEATURED AND

� PETOSA P 900 AC-CORDION

� OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN IDEAS AND ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Showcase Concertwith

Accordion Music

Volume 19 Issue 9

MEMBER’S CORNER

by Mary Lou Erwin

Who is Dr. Raymond Parkinson? Dr. Parkinson is a psychiatrist living in Canada. He is also a long-time supporter of ALSI, an accordionist, a collector and a man with a very interesting history.

Dr. Parkinson has been a member of ALSI for about seventeen (17) years. He has corresponded with Helen Estok regularly regarding our newslet-

ter, and he has become Helen’s Pen Pal. Dr. Parkinson enjoys read-ing “The Reed Block” and he's states, it is the best newsletter he has seen.

Dr. Parkinson has a long history with music and the accordion. He

was exposed to music by his mother who taught piano. Dr. Parkinson had his first piano recital at the age of two. In 1930, he attended a large music school. Even though this time was in the depres-sion, the accordion was very popular in the school.

He was about eight years old, when he started playing the accordion. Ever since then, the accordi-on has been a passion. He has played his accordion in Vaudeville, in the military, in the Canadian Legion, and in a minstrel show, during his teens. His min-strel group performed “Blackface”. He played the accordion and some girls sang. He has played the accordion for nearly eighty (80) years now.

Not only does Dr. Parkinson play the accordion, but he is also a collector of many things. He, of course, collects Accordions and related instruments like Street Organs which number in the hundreds. His collection of music boxes range from standup music boxes to the typical size music box from all over the world and he has hundreds of these. His collection of Banks numbers well over four hun-dred. He has dedicated rooms in his house for each of his treasured collections. However his favorite instrument is still the accordion and he desires to play it forward.

Two decades ago he started rescuing accordi-ons from different shops and accordion auctions. He has them fixed up and likes to give them to peo-ple. Dr. Parkinson receives great pleasure in giving

some of these accordions to students. Dr. Parkin-son is fondly called “The Accordion Man.” Other tidbits of his history is interesting as well,

He was born in Winnipeg, March 22, 1922. While in the R.C.A.F in 1940 he was one of the first medics and served on Annette Island in A l a s k a ,

which was all boardwalk and tents over the “muskeg”.

He then attended the University of B.C. to ob-tain his Bachelor of Arts (honors “Psychology and Philosophy”). His School of Medicine was at the University of B.C. which he was in the first class of medicine offered by the school.

His post-graduate work was done at a variety of medical and mental health centers. Dr. Parkinson has had an outstanding career as a psychiatrist. Some of his appointments included: B.C. President Medical Association, Psychiatry Section, and Con-sultant for Mental Health Services and the Narcotic Addiction, Foundation. He also has done continu-ing Education for Physicians, been a Board member for organizations and a staff member at prestigious hospitals.

He was not only active in his medical career but in a political career as well. He stated “I wanted to serve my country”.

Currently, Dr. Parkinson’s role is Grandfather. He plays his accordion while his grandchildren ac-company him on their violins. I leave you with Dr. Parkinson’s parting statement to me. “Through the years, playing the accordion has been my constant outlet.” I am sure many of you feel the same way.

Now that you have been introduced to Dr. Par-kinson, I hope you will remember him as a psychia-trist who plays the accordion. Also as a man that loves our club and is an avid collector with an in-teresting history. And as a man who has played the accordion for over eighty years.

So when you read the newsletter, think of Dr. Parkinson reading the same newsletter all the way up in Canada. —

POLKA MUSIC

Volume 19 Issue 9

POLKA MUSIC - continued

by Helen Estok Schoell

Thanks to Mary Lou Erwin for taking good care of the sign-in sheets and collecting dues at the door. We missed Russell Camp who was away on a trip to Guatemala. Yours truly made coffee and Vicky Call helped me with setting up and cleaning up at refreshment time. Our thanks to Larry and Carol Kaiser for providing Larry’s Birthday cake and sharing it with us. Sharon picked up the birth-day cake as well as cut and served the cake. The Birdsells’ were kind enough to donate cookies. Sharon was our photographer and Jack our sound man.

God bless you all for all your help and support to ALSI. Next months’ refreshments will be provid-ed by a donation from Diane Polinski, Thank you Diane for your thoughtfulness.

come to attend our meeting on September 9th. There is plenty of fun to go around. Don’t miss out and plan to join us. Music is a passion for me!

The fantastic Las Vegas Accordion Convention is almost here and will run from September 24th through the 27th at the beautiful Gold Coast Hotel and Casino. This event will feature the accordion legend Dick Contino as well as Peter Soave, Stas Venglevski, Jeff Lisenby, Mary Tokarski, Amy Jo Saw-yer and Mario Pedone. Are you excited yet? You should be. This group of musicians will dazzle the concert audiences with beautiful and technically su-perb music.

The music pointers that I pick up each year from the artists is wonderful. We learn and share styles, music technique and flourishes from each other. This was evidenced to me by watching and listening to the expression and bellow technique that was demonstrated by last year’s performances of late Frank Marocco and Sylvia Marie Barber.

Please take time and come to this convention. I promise you that the wealth of musical knowledge that will be presented will be substantial and very helpful. See you in Las Vegas, and maybe at one of my own workshops there.

Gordon—

(Music Mystery Words)

“da capo”(answer found elsewhere in this newsletter)

A Very Happy Anniversary

Wish In September To: Happy BirthdayThis month to you all!

9/5 Charlotte Thompson9/6 Janet Martini9/16 Phil Rizzo9/10 Neil Morefield9/30 Lenitta Barrett

CREDITS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE — cont.

Volume 19 Issue 9

ALSI EVENT CALENDAR

PLAYING AROUND

“Please share date,

time and location

of public appear-

ances. Submit

these, in writing,

complying with the

cut-off date, to

Helen Estok

Schoell or Bob

Page.”

Sharon MarotteEvery Wednesday 5:00-7:00 pm in Brother's Restaurant at 5150 Waring Road, San Die-go.

Louis Fanucchi Most Wednesday’s at Romesco’s in Bonita from 7 to 10 pm.Most Sat. & Sun. from 2-5 pm at Salerno’s Winery in Ramona.

For more information call Lou at 619-948-3774. or online at www.loufnucchi.com

Kjell HolmesSeptember 7th from 5 to 8 pm at Lake Cuyamaca Res-taurant, (Kjell performs at the restaurant the first Fri-day of each month.)

Gordon KohlSat. Sept. 15 (evening meal)Sun. Sept 16 (lunch meal)For mini-Octoberfest at Lake Cuyamaca Restaurant.

Oct. 13 & 14 from 11—4 pm for Julian Octoberfest in

downtown Julian. For more info. please call Gordon at 619-395-0454.

. October 14th

ALSI Annual OctoberFest Music in Balboa Park, 11-3pm.

December 9th

Holiday/Fest(more information next month)

November 11thALSI Annual Heritage Day

in Bailey Hall.

September 9th

Showcase Concert

with Gordon Kohl2:45—3:45pm.

Monthly Newsletter

BEQUESTS: A gift through your will or living trust will continue your support of ALSI as an important legacy in our community.

ALSI Statement Of

Purpose:

� ALSI is San Diego’s forum for appreciat-ing and performing accordion music, including the MIDI electronic accordion

� We welcome mem-bers who enjoy lis-tening to or playing accordion music.

� We have an accordi-on ensemble group, monthly meetings, local concerts featur-ing local and interna-tionally famous per-formers, an annual picnic and a monthly newsletter.

SEPTEMBER 2012

EDITION

The REED BLOCKc/o Helen Estok Schoell

P.O. Box 151357San Diego, CA 92175

Join us at this month’s Gordon Kohl

ConcertSept 9th !!!

monthly newsletter - accordion-club-sandiego.org · being a musician from the early age of 10 has...

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