It amazes me that last week only had 5 days because it seems like a much longer time. Though it really did fly by, each day had so many special moments in them and both Brad and I were intent on savoring everything.
Continue Reading Add comment April 14th, 2008
I was recently given what may be my favorite gift of all-time, an iPod. I know. I’m late to the game. The iPod has been around for years. I should have had one long ago, but the truth is, an iPod is not a necessity. I can’t eat it and it doesn’t protect me from the elements. An iPod is a luxury item, and once you’re a father with two daughters (i.e. future shoppers) it becomes quite likely that you will never purchase another luxury item for yourself as long as you live.
My iPod was a gift for being a groomsman in my buddy’s wedding. This little miracle of modern technology has changed my life. Prior to having an iPod, I was burdened with the grim reality of life on this foolish planet. By simply adding some music to the equation, things have changed.
Continue Reading Add comment April 12th, 2008
Aspen Music Festival and School Director of Educational Outreach Debby Barnekow has been blogging from around the Valley this week. Today is the final day of her in-school residency with guitarist Brad Richter.
As this residency with Brad Richter comes to a close, and we head into the Music and M.O.R.E. concert at 6:30 tonight at Harris Concert Hall, a higher level of intensity was needed to get all of the student groups ready for the performance. Often it is difficult for young people to assess their own potential and abilities. Their performance opportunities are not frequent nor often well attended. I hear young people say to me often that they feel invisible, that adults don't even notice them. I have a most wonderful job that lets me observe their incredible skills, imagination and creativity and hear their powerful solutions to difficult world problems.
Tonight I am proud to not only present Brad Richter with a world premiere among the pieces he will play but to also present students who have worked hard to reach a new plateau in their playing. For some, this is their first time to ever play together in an ensemble.
The past two days we worked with Basalt High School's guitar classes, Aspen Community School's 3rd/4th grade guitarists and Aspen Elementary's 4th grade class, taught by Natalie DeFelice. The high schooler's rearranged their classes in order to have one more extended rehearsal with Brad to perfect their piece-a Led Zeppelin song, Kashmir. ACS guitarists have a Beatle's song, I've Just Seen a Face, that is not often heard. The AES 4th graders worked on perfecting the form of their poem with Brad's music-it will be amazing to hear. I invite you to join us for a wonderful concert- again, the time is 6:30 at Harris Concert Hall.
Add comment April 11th, 2008
Steve Skinner and the Natives rock out Steve's Guitars in Carbondale on January 24,2007. Check out Louie Girardot on keyboard...
Add comment April 9th, 2008
Aspen Music Festival and School Director of Educational Outreach Debby Barnekow writes about her second day in the Valley schools with guitarist Brad Richter.
At Basalt High School there are 3 guitar classes, part of an every other day schedule like band, choir, math, biology, etc. Principal James Waddick believes this is a necessary avenue of expression for some of his students and indeed it is-a beginner, intermediate and advanced classes. Brad met with all 3 classes today to work on getting some of them ready for performance on Friday's Music and M.O.R.E concert. For nearly all of them of the students, this will be their first time to perform and there were many who are a little uncommitted. Brad's answer is to keep practicing the Led Zepplin song, Kashmir that they are to play.
After school we met with Harris Jackson, a 13-year old guitarist at Glenwood Springs Middle School whom I met during the Stars of Tomorrow competition last week. Harris is self-taught which makes his musical accomplishments all the more amazing-he composes, arranges and plays. He played for Brad who gave him pointers on how to get more efficiency from his hand positions and how to work on speed. At Brad's invitation to play on Friday's concert, Harris was overjoyed. He will be a nice addition to the program.
Add comment April 9th, 2008
Aspen Music Festival and School Director of Educational Outreach Deborah Barnekow is on the road again this week with guitarist Brad Richter. The week-long school residency ends this Friday with a free community performance at Harris Concert Hall. The following is Debby's daily blog:
Continue Reading Add comment April 8th, 2008
At a time when immigrants are under attack for “spoiling” America, a popular TV show turns out to be a fine example of our collective tolerance toward other cultures and races. Liberals are all in a tizzy over the possibility of an African-American winning the presidential nomination, but pop culture is way ahead of politics when it comes to acceptance of people based on their abilities, regardless of their ethnicity or country of origin.
Continue Reading Add comment March 16th, 2008
Aspen Music Festival and School Director of Educational Outreach Deborah Barnekow is on the road with the Colorado State University Concert Choir this week. The following is a today's entry from Glenwood Springs:
There is something so exhilarating in bringing a large group into the schools. The Colorado State University Concert Choir arrived last night in Glenwood for 2 exhausting days working with the high and middle school choirs in the valley and to perform for our two PLUS (adopted) schools. I have such respect for the choir directors and their dedicated students.
The first hurdle is finding them a place to stay and some food along the way during the day. In asking families to host choir members in their homes, I have met many new and generous people to whom I am grateful. My thanks also to Aspen and Basalt High Schools for hosting the group for lunch the two days.
As I climbed on board their bus upon arrival last night to welcome them, I was a bit overwhelmed by their faces of dedication to the task I am asking of them. I look forward to getting to know each of them. They will perform a free concert on Tuesday night, March 11, at the First United Methodist Church in Glenwood Springs at 6:30 pm. I hope to see you all there.
Add comment March 10th, 2008
A folkie in punk’s clothing, Ani DiFranco battled successfully against the Goliath of corporate rock to emerge as one of the most influential and inspirational cult heroines of the 1990s. Her songs tackle complex and emotional issues with insight and compassion, her music’s empowering attitude and anger tempered by the poignant candor of singer/songwriter confessionalism. Ani is touring in support of her first career retrospective, “Canon,” released on Sept. 11, 2007.
Continue Reading 1 comment March 6th, 2008
“Here at last we have a major pianist using the brilliance at his disposal to illuminate what the composer wrote, rather than himself.”―John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune
ASPEN, Colo. — Pianist Stephen Hough is widely regarded as one of the most important and distinctive pianists of his generation. The renowned pianist brings his extraordinary touch to the beloved repertoire of Mendelssohn, Beethoven, and more in Harris Concert Hall, Thursday, March 6 as part of the Aspen Music Festival and School’s 2008 winter recital series.
The program includes Mendelssohn’s Variations sérieuses in D minor, op. 54; Webern’s Variations for Piano, op. 27; Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, op. 111; Weber’s Aufforderung zum Tanze (Invitation to the Dance), J. 260, op. 65; Chopin’s Waltzes; Saint- Saëns’ Valse nonchalante in D-flat major, op. 110; Chabrier’s Feuillet d'album; Debussy’s La plus que lente; and Liszt’s work from Valses oubliees, and his Mephisto Waltz No. 1, “The Dance in the Village Inn.”
Continue Reading Add comment March 4th, 2008
