Acts Creative: Introduction

Dr. Brett Reed, Music Faculty

Dr. Brett Reed, Music Faculty

Long-time friend, collaborator, and schlagzeuger, Doug Nottingham, greeted me last week with the declaration, “I’m committed to doing a creative act every day of the summer break.” I wasn’t surprised at this comment, its a great idea, but I was at first puzzled - how is this different than our usual practice? Most days of an active musicians life has to be this way to teach, present concerts, make recordings and get better at our craft. 

After mulling it over for some time here are the ways this proclamation is different than our typical modus operandi. First, for those of us whose body clock shares DNA with the academic calendar, this statement suggests that the summer break is not for finding the nearest couch and the remote that is sure to be on the arm rest. Second, and more importantly, the concept is rooted in commitment, in acknowledgment, in some form of accountability. There is a lot of power in owning something no matter if in the arts or any other aspect of life. Lastly, the pledge also suggests priority; to pull it off would take energy, planning, and active participation.

Consideration over, because it is a great idea and for how it coincides with other current things I have been chewing on about what it means to be a successful artist I, and fellow music faculty member Keith Kelly, have decided to take the same oath as Doug. Over the coming weeks each of us are going to post on weekly basis about what we get up to and share with you our progress, sources of inspiration, finished works or anything else that illustrates our acts creative. 

I hope that at least you will find it interesting, better still it might encourage you to take the plunge with us and do the same, no matter your field, area of the arts, or otherwise. As a warmup here is clear documentation of a creative act, shared by Keith and I in the making of his most recent record: 

Enjoy the music, see you next week.
 

Animal Tails: A Play Created by THP151 - Theater for Youth

Written by Craig Kosnik, PhD, instructor of Theater for Youth

This past spring twelve brave students and one instructor set out on a journey to create and adapt a brand new play for k-2 audiences - and all in one semester! Animal Tails was adapted from the folk tales of four different Native American cultures: Rainbow Crow (Lenni Lenape), How Rabbit Lost His Tail (Wabanaki), Coyote Stories (Cheyenne), and Rabbit Calls a Truce (Wabanaki). The instructor wrote the prologue, transitional scenes, and an epilogue to tie the four tales together. In these scenes, the PVCC students took on roles as second grade students who were preparing to act out the folk tales. After creating the script, the class had a few weeks to rehearse and then presented the production to over 1,000 people during school day performances and during the PVCC Festival of Tales.

 

W R I T I N G  T H E  S H O W 

Theatre is all about telling stories—to record our history, to teach life lessons, and to entertain us. We started our developmental process by reading other theatre for youth plays to see how they were structured and to identify what aspects of them we might want to incorporate into our own work. Then the creative writing process began. From the start, this has been a collaborative effort. First, we read a group of stories from several Native American tribes and decided on four that we wanted to adapt. This was based on a number of factors, including: the theme of each story, their potential for drama and theatricality, the inclusion of a variety of tribes/nations, animal characters that would be familiar to Arizona children, ease of portrayal, and, of course, the fun factor. 

The Paradise Valley students were divided into four groups, and each group produced a script adapted from one of the Native American stories. The group members worked together, contributed ideas, and formatted and proofread the scripts, which were then incorporated into a final script that included a prologue, an epilogue, and transitional sections written by the instructor. We decided that having the play take place in a second-grade classroom would make the audience feel at home. 

In adapting these tales, we took into consideration the language level appropriate to the target audience (K-2) and simplified some of the language in the original tales. The characters in each tale remained the same in our script with an occasional addition of other characters to make the transitions smoother. The tales were woven together by moving the action in and out of the classroom setting and through several characters who reappear throughout the play. Finally, we added some contemporary references, just for fun and to allow the audience members to relate easier to the material at hand. 

 

P L A Y  S Y N O P S I S

Miss Watuchi’s 2nd grade class is a group of rambunctious children. They are easily distracted and easily entertained. However, today is a special day for Miss Watuchi’s class. Principal Garfield has come to tell Native American folktales to the class, and the students are going to act them out. Follow the kids on a wonderful journey as they learn folktales through trickery, transformation, and friendship. 

 

A N I M A L  T A I L S  S T U D Y  G U I D E 

In addition to the Animal Tails script, students created a Study Guide for use by teachers and students. It contained information on the show itself, the tribes highlighted, audience etiquette tips, a list of resources, and pre and post show activities to use in the classroom to investigate what the children will see in the show. This study guide was wholly created by the students of Theatre For Youth after they examined study guides from professional children’s theatres from around the country. They weighed the pros and cons of each one, and as a class, decided what would be best and most useful to include in our own study guide. You can view the study guide here!

Study Abroad PVCC: Introduction to Art in Havana, Cuba

HAVANA HIGHLIGHTS; INTRODUCTION TO ART IN HAVANA CUBA

June 15, 2016 - June 23, 2016

Professor of Art at Paradise Valley Community College, David L. Bradley, along with Professor of Art History, Tomi Johnston will lead this group on a fantastic experience to Havana, Cuba.

Total Fee: $3271.00*
 

sign up now > 

 

* Tour Fee increases by $25 December 16th, 2015

T O U R   I N C L U D E S

  • Tour of Havana and entire island
  • Round-trip airfare
  • 8 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms
  • Breakfast daily
  • Lunch daily (except on Day 1, 2 and 9) 
  • Dinner daily
  • Note: On arrival day only dinner is provided; on departure day, only breakfast is provided
  • Full-time services of a professional Tour Director 
  • Meaningful person-to-person educational exchanges with Cuban citizens
  • Note: Tour cost does not include airline-imposed baggage fees, or fees for any required passport or visa.

Registration, FAQ & More Information

David Bradley
Office: M-East, Room 165
Phone (602) 787–6615
Specialty: Ceramics, Figurative Sculpture, Drawing
Email: david.bradley@paradisevalley.edu
 

Tomi Johnston -Art History/Art Humanities
Office: M-East, Room 171
Phone: (602) 787-6596
Speciality: Art History, Art Humanities
E-mail: tomi.johnston@paradisevalley.edu

Dr. Christopher Scinto honored at Annual Employee Recognition Luncheon

 

The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation (MCCF), the fundraising arm of the Maricopa County Community Colleges (MCCC), each year recognizes MCCC employees who have made outstanding contributions to the MCCC District's mission.

This year, five awards were made to individual employees at a luncheon held April 28, 2015 at the Foundation’s offices.  Dr. Stephen Helfgot, CEO/President of MCCF presided over the luncheon and remarks were made by Dr. Rufus Glasper, Chancellor, MCCC and Heidi Schaefer, Chairman, MCCF Board.

Congratulations to PVCC's own Dr. Christopher Scinto,  Division Chair of Fine and Performing Arts, who was one of the five honorees.  Under Dr. Scinto’s leadership students have flourished and demonstrated success in the arts; significant community partnerships and notable scholarships. In just the last five years, PVCC Center for Performing Arts has provided over 625 performances, drawing over 69,000 community attendees.  Through various benefit events, more than $40,500 has been raised for Fine and Performing Arts scholarships.

Congratulations!

A B O U T   D R .   S C I N T O

Christopher Scinto's compositions have been featured on music festivals in Germany, Italy, Spain, and throughout the United States. His works, performed by the ASU Symphony Orchestra, the Cleveland Chamber Symphony, the NYU New Music and Dance Ensemble, and the Phoenix Chorale, have received awards and grants from the Long Island Composer's Alliance, Meet the Composer, the MidAmerican Center for Contemporary Music, and the National Association of Composers, USA. He holds degrees from Arizona State University (BM & DMA) and Bowling Green State University (MM), where his studies included composition, saxophone performance, and conducting. Currently, he is completing a work for saxophone and percussion, titled Octet, and is collaborating with nationally acclaimed poet and PVCC faculty member Lois Roma-Deeley on an opera, The Ballad of Downtown Jake. In addition to his artistic pursuits, Scinto is the Division Chair of Fine & Performing Arts at Paradise Valley Community College and is the founder and artistic director of the contemporary music ensemble Crossing 32nd Street. 

 

 

THIS WEEK (and next) IN THE CPA – 5 Free End of Semester Concerts

Join is this week and next in the Center for Performing Arts for 5 FREE end of semester concerts.     

 

Alex Mullins performing at the CPA

Alex Mullins performing at the CPA

JAZZ BIG BANDS CONCERT

May 6th at 7:30pm. Free Admission.

Featuring performances by PVCC’s Tuesday and Wednesday Night Big Bands

 

CLASSICAL ENSEMBLES CONCERT

May 6th at 7:30pm. Free Admission.

Featuring performances by PVCC’s new Community Band, Flute Ensemble, Piano Ensemble and Cello Ensemble.

  

PVCC BATTLE OF THE BANDS WINNERS' SHOWCASE

May 7th at 7:30pm. Free Admission.

Featuring performances by CENTRAL DIVIDES and the ALEX MULLINS BAND

 

MULTIMEDIA ENSEMBLES CONCERT

May 12th at 6:00pm. CPA Music Room, CPA 115, Free Admission.

The multimedia ensemble will be sharing what we've worked on this semester. During this sharing session the multimedia ensemble will be creating live music to the video games Limbo and Flower, as well as demonstrating mods for L4D2 (Left 4 Dead 2). Anyone who at-tends will have the opportunity to play video games and hear live music accompany the gameplay or play a game with modded audio.

 

OPENSCORE ENSEMBLES CONCERT

May 14th at 7:30pm. Free Admission.

Performing new arrangements of works by Steve Reich, György Ligeti, and ensemble member Aleksey Izotov.

 

Encounters with Music: A Book List

by PVCC Music Faculty Dr. Lee Chivers

One of my favorite places to spend an afternoon is the local bookstore. I love books, the feel of a real book in my hands! Whether you feel the same way, or whether you prefer your tablet as a "reader", I encourage you to check out the books I'm listing below. These are all books that are somehow about music, but reflect the author's encounter with music in some way, rather than discussing "music" itself. So really, more thought-provoking fodder than analysis! I'll give brief notes about each book; check them out sometime when you're looking for something to think about, but has a musical twist!


Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller

Each chapter feels like the author reflecting on life, spirituality, and most often, music and the arts. He hails from Oregon, so there's a sense of that locale in his descriptions. Thoughtful, often deeply moving, and always colored by the blue of jazz.


Music and the Mind by Anthony Storr

I suggest you read this when you're wanting to be deeply philosophical about life! The author compares the philosophy/psychological approach of Nietsche/Freud to Schopenhaure/Jung in their views on music...and life. It's deep, heady stuff, but well worth the reading on a rainy weekend afternoon, in front of a fire with a cup of your favorite hot beverage.


The Soloist by Mark Salzman

This is a work of fiction, but I think at least in part based on the author's real experience. And this is NOT the soloist that was turned into a movie a few years back (Jaime Foxx, et al). This is the real story of a child prodigy who experiences crushing failure, and finds his way back to music through teaching a child prodigy. If you've ever experienced failure, humiliation, and taken the long road back....much of this book will resonate with you. And - if you just like a good story with interesting characters, you'll enjoy it!


Practicing: A Musician's Return to Music by Glenn Kurtz

I just started reading this one. A friend on Facebook posted an article about the book, and I knew I had to read it. Much like The Soloist, it is a musician's journey back to music, told through his study in the practice room, both in memories and in the present. Here's the link to the article I read; maybe you'd like to check that out first.


The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green/ W. Timothy Gallwey

The Inner Game was all the rage in the 70s, and Barry Green came to the idea in a very interesting way (I'll let you discover that for yourself). He modified the ideas from "The Inner Game of Skiing" using his own experience as a musician, and talking with the Inner Game's author Timothy Gallwey. I just found an article that discusses why this concept works in all parts of life, so even if you're not a musician, there might be ways this can work for you! Maybe you'll begin your own exploration of your "inner game".

About the Author

Lee Ann Chivers is an active performer and teacher. Dr. Chivers currently teaches flute and flute choir for PVCC, and served as flute instructor for both The Master's College and La Sierra University in California.  She also served as a teaching assistant at Arizona State University, where she completed a Doctorate of Musical Arts in flute performance.  Her experience includes several awards for solo performance, performances in chamber and orchestral settings with various groups across the Southwest, as well as performing at several National Flute Association conventions. She currently works with both Arizona Chamber Music Experience and Recreative Art Center in the role of Music Director, and performs with MusicaNova Orchestra here in Phoenix.

www.azchambermusic.com/Faculty.html

www.recreativeartcenter.com/instructors

nevalleynews.org/807/paradise-valley/paradise-valley-community-college-offering-music-fine-arts-courses/

AZ Dance Group Presents: Visiting

AZDance Group, under the artistic direction and founder Kenda Newbury, presents their spring collection concert during VISITING on Sunday May 3, 2015 at Paradise Valley Community College. 

Guest artists along with the professional dancers of AZDance Group and their children's, apprentice and dance program for both at-risk teens and young adults with disabilities brings seasoned audience members and newcomers delightful, inspiring and creative works for all ages.  

In VISITING, the company brings a positive message of support and caring in their remaking of excerpts from Moving Through Domestic Violence(premiered 2009, financially supported in part by the City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture, The Hansen Trust and generous anonymous supporters), excerpts from Water (premiered 2014), and familiar & brand-new works by choreographers Kenda Newbury, Katie Rennell, Deserae McCall, Nicole Person-Rennell, Ray Vogel and others. 

Tickets $20 adults, $12 seniors/students, children 10 and under FREE*

An Evening of Flamenco Guitar with Daniel Ward

Friday, April 24th at 7:30pm

Performance held in Studio Theater/M-East Building

Click HERE to purchase tickets $5-$10 Admission.

*$4 additional ticket fee at the door 1‐hour prior to performance.

Daniel Ward is an accomplished musician, composer and educator, who has become one of the countries top clinicians and performers on the ‘ukulele circuit’.  He is known for his command of Latin styles and teaches right hand techniques, adapting his style and knowledge from the classical and flamenco guitar.  He has been a featured performer and workshop instructor at festivals across the country, including: Reno Ukulele festival, West Coast Ukulele retreat, Wine Country Ukulele Festival, San Diego Ukulele Festival, Port Townsend Ukulele festival, Albuquerque Ukulele festival and many More.  With his wife, Heidi Swedberg, he has performed as an artist in residence at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix AZ, and performed at Children’s Music Festivals around the country, including concerts in Los Angeles, New York City, Kansas City, Oklahoma City, and the Austin City Limits Festival. Heidi and Daniel we also featured performers at Music China in Shanghai in 2012.

As a guitarist, Daniel has toured the world playing flamenco guitar with Ottmar Liebert  and Luna Negra (1997-2000) as well as performing with the flamenco dance ensembles of Maria Benitez, Dance Espana, and Yjastros (1994-present),  and 20 years playing rock-n-roll electric guitar for Celebrity Enterprises  corporate entertainment (1994-present).

As a commissioned classical composer, Daniel has penned two string quartets for the Del Sol ensemble of San Francisco, and a four-hands piano piece.  He has scored music for film, television and video. 

In the field of recording he has won awards (Parent’s Choice NAPPA, NM Recording Arts, Fids and Kamalies) on both albums he collaborated with his wife and is a sought after producer and arranger.  His own CD “After the Storm” is an award winning virtuosic performance of original compositions masterfully played on electric and flamenco guitar.

 

Radium Girls (play) - Based on a True Story

In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. 

RADIUM GIRLS (play) by DW Gregory
DIRECTED BY GARY ZARO

April 17th - 26th
Friday & Saturdays 7:30pm
Sundays 2:00pm

$4-$10 Admission.
Click here to purchase tickets
*$4 additional ticket fee at the door 1‐hour prior to performance.