The Medicine Hat & District Live Music Club â
April 2008
Editor. Billy Jones 526-4564 beej30@shaw.ca
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PRESNOTES
Hello again,
It seems like the act of waking up and getting mobile is getting harder
to do every day. I have a mind that is going a mile a minute but the old body
is not co-operating. Shucks!
I had no idea that this DVD project was going to be so time consuming. But,
when I was reviewing these Bar 10 TV tapes, I began to realize more and more
how valuable they are to our Club’s history. There are people on these shows
that are no longer with us. These DVDs can provide us with a visual memory of
our friends. On these discs, they come alive again in living colour and we can
watch and hear them as they were.
I watched Dave Hillier, Ronnie Keen and good old Hymie and got a lump
in my throat. I also got to appreciate Jan Schmal’s ability to back up singers
and support other musicians. David Hillier’s technical bass playing was awesome
and Ronnie Keen’s, very laid back, playing made it look easy. Johnny Wardman played
chords on his guitar that we didn’t know had been invented. Bill Coffey, who
joined the band, late in the season, was an exciting powerhouse. Bill Coffey, Johnny
Wardman and drummer Randy Schmidt gave the band an unforgettable lift.
There are others but our favorite country DJ and host, Ron Larson was
the glue that cemented the entire show. His easy relaxed and confident manner
put the show right in a country kitchen. Muriel Erick our queen of country and
one of my personal favorites sang beautifully. Quint Friemark was full of vim
and vigor added the extra cowboy flavor to the cast.
These discs, numbering 18 per set so far, are labeled and list who is
on each. I figured that, by the time they are completed there should be, in the
neighborhood of 25 per set.
***
LMC
Meetings at the Moose
I arrived at the
Moose on Monday night April 7th to replace one of our amplifiers,
the LA 400, with one of my own, a
While I was there,
I had the opportunity to trade questions and answers with the powers of the
Moose. We agreed that there was a lack of communication that has upset both of
our Clubs. I was told me that there was confusion on their part because they
had no confirmed information to pass on. Consequently, we were in the dark as
well.
I explained our
position in detail and was informed that the open door policy will resume after
the move. This move will begin to take place in the middle of May. Our
relationship with the Moose has not changed and that they look forward to our
future together. We may not be able to hold a general meeting at the Moose in
May but we still have our spring and summer projects to consider. We still have
our 7 member board that can meet anywhere and we still have our newsletter to
keep in touch. We can discuss our options during the April meeting.
***
As I See
it
My father was my hero. I believed that he was the wisest man alive. He
was a musician too. He wasn’t the greatest but he loved playing his bass or
banjo in his own band called the Spring Valley Riders. He had sayings like: “If
you can’t say something nice about a man, don’t say anything.” Or “I’ve never
met a man that I didn’t like something about.”. He was a great man and, if had
lived, he would be celebrating his 100th birthday on May 4th.
Many years ago, I played for the Hank Williams show or on the Hank
Williams show, if you will. Some years later, a rumor was going around that I
played for Hank Williams. I never thought much about it until people began
asking me what it was like to play for Hank Williams. I felt that it was a
harmless rumor that hurt no one until then. It was hurting me and if I let it
go I would have to lie. I couldn’t do that. The truth is. Yes, I played on the
Hank Williams show. A singer named Danny Willkinson
and I opened the Hank Williams show. It was that simple but the rumor traveled
ahead of me across the country because I became fairly well known. It wasn’t
serious but I’ve been doing damage control ever since. Never-the-less, they
were half right. I was there.
I find myself trying to do damage control again because people who believe
what they hear, pass it on without knowing how true it is. If it is a good
rumor, it does little harm but if it is damaging, the victim can suffer
greatly. Make sure you know the truth. Good men and women have been devastated
and ruined. Some children have gone so far as to commit suicide.
My mom used to say “Don’t believe anything you hear, just half of what
you see.” I love you guys.
Take care and keep well.
See you on the 16th.
Billy (Pres 2008)
***
The
following article, written by Betty Bischke, explains why there are so many
musicians, singers, singer song writers and garage bands recording and making
available their own music.
The
computer, which was originally no more than a glorified typewriter and
calculator, has evolved into a super hi-way of information. You don’t have to
leave your living room to visit or talk to anyone anywhere in the world or
gather information. Beyond that, it has become your family album and your
personal recording studio.
Just
think, you can record your family history, your music, save all your photos and
design and create just about anything on just one book sized machine.
Betty is
a classical music teacher that has ventured beyond to explore other areas of
music. She has also taken her music to the stage where she performs both
classical and popular music. Betty is certainly an asset to the Live Music
Club. … (ed)
The
‘Puter .. a Useful Tool
Betty Bischke
What an amazing time we live in. I don't
think it has ever been easier to learn to play a musical instrument. For
those that read music, almost any song you could possibly want to learn is
available in printed form. The music stores have the latest hits on sheet
music, and the Golden Oldies have found themselves in massive volumes of music
from yesteryear. My favourite books of this type are the Reader's Digest books.
They are in a hardcover format, and have pretty nice arrangements.
For those musicians who play by ear, it is easy to
find a copy of the song you are working on. Whether you order a CD from
your local CD outlet, or buy on-line, pretty much anything you could want is
out there. Not sure of the words to a song? Gone are the days where
musicians sat by the radio to write down the lyrics of the latest hits.
An internet search for lyrics makes this job a whole lot easier.
Technology has entered my music studio in the form
of my new laptop. It sits on top of my piano and I plug it into the
stereo for better sound quality. Pretty much any of the traditionally
"classical" tunes that my students are working on, can be found on YouTube. My students can watch and listen to another
student playing a Bach Minuet, or a Beethoven Sonata. Some performances
are good, others not so good. Together we can listen for certain details
that may, or may not be there. My goal is for students to take more of an
interest in the music they are working on and do some critical listening.
Last week, one of my Grade 7 piano students was quite impressed by what
she saw and heard, and vowed to practice more.
My laptop also came in useful at this months
Registered Music Teacher's Meeting. We had been contacted by a teacher in
The new MacBook was used
to record Bill and myself, as we practiced on Twin Pianos. My son Michael
brought over mics, cables, preamps and plugged them
into my computer. He used the program GarageBand
which came with my Mac. I wouldn't have a clue on how to do this, but
Michael had everything plugged in and ready to go in less than 30 minutes.
(Of course, he's a genius!)
The recording, quality wise, was very impressive.
The performance, on the hand.... Let’s just say that like my students, I
did some critical listening, and I too have some things to work on! … Betty
***
Remember!!!
Our next meeting in the Moose Lounge … will on April 16th
See you there?
***
Highlights
of the March 19, 2008 Meeting
Meeting
called to order by President Bill Jones at
Minutes
Adopted as read by Brian Bowery … Seconded by Darlene Wardman
Errors
– Ken Chisholm noted that M&M’s fundraiser is May 10th (not May 17th)
… CARRIED
Treasurers Report
– Adopted as read by Betty Bischke …Seconded by Alfred Hauck … CARRIED
Correspondence
Brian Bowery read letter from LMC to Moose Lodge and (reply) letter from Moose
Lodge to LMC regarding concerns of our home in the Moose Lodge.
Motion
– Bill desBarres – LMC Appoint Bernie Girardin and accompanist to meet with
Moose
Executive
and determine the relationship between the LMC and the Moose Lodge.
Seconded
by John Wardman … CARRIED
Motion
– Bernie Girardin – Start looking for other places for LMC
home/jams
Seconded
by Bill desBarres … CARRIED
Note:
Bill desBarres noted that the Medicine Hat Legion will welcome us.
Committee Reports
M&M Meats
– Ken Chisholm – confirmed
ALS
- Ken Chisholm – confirmed
Cactus Communications
– Otto Seufert (not present)
Casino
– Brian Bowery – nothing to report (dates April 7th & 8th
2009)
Note:
Possibility of being bumped ahead to first quarter of 2009 (Jan, Feb, March 2009)
United Way
– Otto Seufert (not present)
Talent Show
– Carol Eisenbarth (not present)
Western Music Concert
– Alfred Hauck (
Fiddle Contest
– Bill desBarres – College will not be undergoing construction so received
contract
for
Motion
– Bill desBarres – LMC to sign contract booking
for
July 5th2008 Seconded by Ken Chisholm … CARRIED
Note:
Betty Bischke will check on SOCAN fees for the fiddle contest and will be
included in budget
Youth Fiddle Group
– Betty Bischke (Nothing to report)
Stampede Breakfast
– Carol Eisenbarth (not present)
Note:
Bill desBarres said the Co-op indicated that they would like us to participate
again
(not
confirmed)
Scholarships
– Ron Larson (not present)
Newsletter
– Bill Jones nothing to report
Monday Jams
– Otto Seufert (not present)
Note:
John Wardman has been looking after jams during Otto’s absence.
Portable Stage
– Bill desBarres – Stage request received from BMF Gospel Jamboree for Kin
Coulee
July 18,19th 2008
Motion
– Bernie Girardin LMC to accept contract for the BMF Gospel
Jamboree for Kin Coulee
July
18,19th 2008 … Seconded by Ken Chisholm … CARRIED
Social Activities
BBQ
- postponed
Christmas Party-
postponed
New Business
Betty
Bischke will contact Patrick O’Brien, President of the Medicine Hat Folk Music
Club about a presence of the LMC at the Tongue on the Post and Singer Songwriters
night.
ADJORNED
at
***
Folk News
The Prickly Pear
presents
The Folk Music Club’s Singer/Songwriter night
every month
Watch for it !!
This month… April 11th