Strings Magazine recently had an article about drones. In it the author spoke of drones in improvisation, and particularly talked about a technique for teaching improv in a group: you get the students each to come up with a sentence and start out by playing the rhythm of it in an octave with the drone; when the rhythm is set, the creator then makes the sentence melodic as well, leaving the drone to the other members of the group (always starting from the drone note in octave and returning to it at the end of the improv).

Since the Performance Party last Saturday featured such a wonderful example of improv, especially by the beginning violinist Heather and by Matt Haimovitz, the article set me to wondering if there are teachers out there who have used this "sentence" technique for stimulating improvisation, and if so what they think of it. Possibly an interesting way, among other things, to encourage musical identity making?

I have to confess I was trying it out today, with a simple sentences like "Matt Haimovitz is an awesome cellist and cool," and before I knew it a lot of time had slipped away!

Karen Romer- CMW Board member

Has anyone else had experience using drones as an improv tool? Check out the Strings Magazine article by clicking here.

Chloe Kline (moderator)

Matt Haimovitz played a concert with the Providence Quartet and McGill University students (UCCELLO) last night at the Carriage House in Providence.  It was a wonderful event – sold out, even in the heavy rain, and the crowd energy was palpable. (Not to mention Matt’s energy!) Several people who spoke to me were struck by the originality of Matt’s playing.  He seems to be an utterly unique musical voice – not shaped by any specific tradition or school.  Any thoughts??
Chloe Kline (moderator)

One student’s reaction to Anthem, Matt’s Jimi Hendrix-inspired riff on the Star Spangled Banner at this afternoon’s Performance Party in Olneyville Square: "That’s messed up. His cello’s not supposed to sound like that!"

Heath Marlow, CMW staff

Last weekend, the Providence Quartet presented a house concert in the idyllic bedroom community of Warren, RI. Included on the program, between Wolf’s Italian Serenade and the Schubert Cello Quintet, was the Quartet’s first performance of William Stalnaker’s String Quartet No. 1. This piece is one of two string quartets composed by Sara’s grandfather; his Quartet No. 2 was performed by the PSQ at the RISD Museum earlier in the month.

According to Sara, William Stalnaker always wanted to be a full-time composer, but he had "mouths to feed" and held a variety of jobs in Portland, Oregon until he retired and was able to pursue his first love. These jobs ranged from Professor of Musicology, to choirmaster, to first grade teacher, to the local Fuller Brush man at a time when he was just scraping by financially.

The Providence String Quartet is working up both pieces for a recording date in early March. Sara’s father and grandfather will be flying in from Portland for the recording session, and while in town, Sara’s father Bill (a professional French Horn player) will be leading a Friday workshop for CMW students on practice techniques.

Heath Marlow, CMW staff

Lord Nelson and Count Chocula supervise Jesse’s Sunday practice session.

Last Friday, Jessie Montgomery’s husband Jumaane Smith brought a couple of friends to town from the Big Apple for a Musical Workshop at the Met School. Two of the afternoon’s highlights were James Marcil joining the guests for a number on electric guitar and the entire assembled group of CMW students and teachers providing a 12-bar groove for Jumaane & Company to solo above, as parents and friends watched and tapped their toes in approval.

It is the Monday following the annual Chamber Music America conference and the Providence String Quartet’s successful journey to perform Franz Schubert’s exquisite Cello Quintet in New York City. As good a day as any to begin a reasonable attempt at compiling the stories and images of the day-to-day successes and challenges that the Providence Quartet faces while building its permanent home in Providence, Rhode Island.