Plan your convention schedule with the following unified timeline. Hover, click, or tap on the workshop titles or the workshop codes for more explanation. For a more detailed schedule, check out the on-line program under “Sign-in” above/in settings here and the resulting “Convention” tab.
Tuesday, Oct. 28
12pm – 6pm: Registration Area Opens
7pm – 9pm: Pre-Convention Workshops
Register for optional pre-convention workshops to explore advanced techniques with expert instructors in an interactive sessions:
- Vincent Beer-Demander: Technique through Animals,
Mount Adams - Werner Ruecker: Guitar Technique,
Garden B&C
Wednesday, Oct. 29
11am – 1pm: Pre-Convention Workshops Continue
More options pre-convention workshops are offered through the morning.
- Werner Ruecker & Fiona Horbach: Ensemble Skills,
Mount Adams - Fabio Gallucci: GDAE Mandola Technique,
Garden B&C
1:30pm – 2:45pm: Workshops Begin
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During this workshop we will be working on techniques and tips to improve your tone, whether picking or playing tremolo (our mandolin super power!). The musical excerpts we are going to explore will include excerpts of compositions by this year’s Composer in Residence, Werner Ruecker. Bring your mandolin and join in!
Fiona Horbach: It’s the little things: mandolin technique and tips
Mount Adams
P, H, L/D, M, AL
playing, handouts, lecture/discussion, mandolin-only, all-levels -
This workshop will use some mindfulness techniques to help alleviate stress and improve your practice experience. Some alternative practice techniques may unlock new creative channels. The 2.0 version of this workshop will include more communal musical experiences. Bring a special item that can be used as a percussion instrument.
Jim Bates: Practice as Meditation 2.0: Six Journeys
Saint Helens, D
L/D, AI, AL
lecture/discussion, all-instruments, all-levels -
For those of you looking for music outside the bowed cello and viola repertoire, I have a bundle of music in our special clefs—not treble, not transposed—for plucked CGDA instruments. These include new compositions, new publications, and duets in the ‘cello and ‘dola ranges. We will read through some examples and work on at least one for the open mic.
Jim Imhoff: New music for CGDA mandocello and mandola in bass and alto clef
Garden A&B
P, H, L/D, MC,LC,MDL,AL
playing, handouts, lecture/discussion, mandocello, liuto-cantabile, c-mandola, all-levels
3pm – 5:30pm: En Masse Rehearsal
Don’t be late for the first rehearsal! We’ll figure out seating and Maestro Bates will lead us through our “first reading.” Practice your part ahead of time so it’s not literally your first reading.
8pm – 10pm: Welcome Party
Come meet your colleagues over light dinner and aperitivo. Dress casually, but be sure to wear your best smile.
10:00pm – 11:59pm: The Bach Double
Garden A&B
10:00pm – 11:59pm: The Improvartorium
St. Helens A
Thursday, Oct. 30
8:30am – 9:45am: Sectional Rehearsals
Begin your day with your section mates and your instrument. Your section leader will provide technical details regarding your en-masse part.
10am – 11:15am: Workshops
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Learn to play duets based on Vincent Beer-Demander’s “Children’s Book.” Simple but fun music.
Vincent Beer-Demander: Crazy Duos from Livre d’enfants
Mount Adams
P, H, L/D, MF, AL
playing, handouts, lecture/discussion, mandolin-family, all-levels -
TBD
Jeff Brumley: Creating an engaging concert program
Saint Helens D
H, L/D, AI, AL
handouts, lecture/discussion, all-instruments, all-levels -
TBD
Fred Pike: Moveable chords
Garden A&B
P, H, L/D, AI, AL
playing, handouts, lecture/discussion, all-instruments, all-levels
11:30am – 1pm: Solo & Small-ensemble Open-mic Performances
We’ll cheer on our intrepid solo performers over boxed lunch. You can reserve a boxed lunch before October 21.
1:15pm – 2:30pm: Workshops
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I’ve had literally thousands of conversations over many years with musicians of all levels discussing this very question….. is there an answer? This session will look at defining which is which and the techniques for learning a new piece of music, how to engage with it and broaden your musical horizons.
Werner Ruecker: Which comes first…the notes or the music?
St. Helens D
P, L/D, AI, AL
playing, lecture/discussion, all-instruments, all-levels -
We will work on a few studies by Calace, Munier, Marucelli, Graziani, as well as an easy warmup for left and right hands.
Fabio Gallucci: Masters of the Italian classical mandolin technique
Mount Adams
P, L/D, M, OM, AL
playing, lecture/discussion, mandolin-only, octave-mandolin, all-levels -
A workshop on arranging for solo performance, based on the presenter’s arrangement of Astor Piazzolla’s Oblivion. Music in treble clef ONLY. This workshop is for advanced players; if you have any doubts, please watch my YouTube video. Limited to 15 participants.
Robert Margo: Oblivion for One
Garden A&B
P, M, OM, LC, Adv
playing, mandolin-only, octave-mandolin, lecture/discussion, advanced
2:45pm – 5pm: En Masse Rehearsal
We’ll work through Saturday’s En Masse Orchestra program again.
8:00pm – 10:00pm: Evening Concert
Invite your friends and family for a free concert. The evening entertainment begins with a duo performance from Fiona Horbach and Werner Ruecker, followed by solo performance from Fabio Galluci.
10:00pm – 11:59pm: The Great American Songbook: Sightreading
Garden A&B
Hosted by Andy Blitzer. All instruments and levels are welcome. Read and play quartets from the treble, alto, and bass clefs. Some tunes also have chords provided.
Friday, Oct. 31
8:30am – 9:45am: Sectional Rehearsals
Practice make perfect. Wake up early to polish your en-masse part with your sectional colleagues and leader.
10am – 11:15am: Workshops
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We will work on rhythm, chords, techniques, melodies and arrangements of south Italian music.
Fabio Gallucci: South Italian traditional music
Garden A&B
P, H, L/D, MF, AL
playing, handouts, lecture/discussion, mandolin-family, all-levels -
This masterclass targets the conductor with some experience. Participants should bring their own score and audio of the excerpt they wish to conduct. Conductors should consider performing passages that are problematic, such as those containing tempo changes, fermatas, articulation variety or expressive requirements.
Jim Bates: Gesture for musical communication
Saint Helens, A
L/D, AI, Int/Adv
lecture/discussion, all-instruments, intermediate-advanced -
Come join us as we celebrate and play the repertoire of Rudy Cipolla (in his hometown!) Pieces that we will work through include: Babbling Brook, Onde, La Civetta, Iona waltz, La Biondina polka.
Sheri Mignano Crawford: The Music of Rudy Cipolla
Saint Helens, D
P, L/D, AI, AL
playing, lecture/discussion, all-instruments, all-levels
11:30am – 1:30pm: Gala Banquet & Raffle
President Brumley will announce the annual awards and reveal next year’s convention location over a banquet lunch. Reserve your partner’s lunch when you register to share the fun…. AND BUY LOTS OF RAFFLE TICKETS. Proceeds support scholarships and programming at future CMSA conventions. You might win a the grand prize, a new mandolin, or take home albums, strings, or other musical accessories.
1:45pm – 3pm: Workshops
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The position between the more commonly used first and third positions is sometimes passed over in our playing. When is it useful? Today we will be working on improving your skills in this position so that when you have an opportunity to use it in the future you will feel more confident. A new etude composed especially for this workshop by the up-and-coming Australian composer, Brent Keogh, will be the basis for this workshop.
Fiona Horbach: Second position – often overlooked, but not today!
Garden A&B
P, H, L/D, M, AL
playing, handouts, lecture/discussion, mandolin-only, all-levels -
Tips, tricks, and secrets to improve your playing and overcoming plateaus.
Kristen Stiteler: Strengthening your Practice:
Saint Helens, A
P, H, L/D, AI, AL
playing, handouts, lecture/discussion, all-instruments, all-levels -
Come learn the ins and outs of why your instrument sounds the way it does.
Matthew Lewis: The Physics and Acoustics of the Mandolin Family
Saint Helens, D
L/D, H, MF, AL
lecture/discussion, handouts, mandolin-family, all-levels
3:15pm -5:30pm: En Masse Rehearsal
It’s a lot of work to prepare 120 plucked-string musicians for the En Masse Orchestra performance, but more importantly, it’s a lot of fun.
8:00pm – 10:00pm: Evening Concert
More free concerts! The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra will show off their talent and set the stage for a solo performance from Vincent Beer-Demander.
10:00pm – 11:59pm: Rudy Cipolla Jamming
Sheri Mignano Crawford will lead a late-night impromptu Rudy Cipolla tribute band to play in Garden A/B. Bring your instrument!
Saturday, Nov. 1
8:30am- 9:45am: Sectional Rehearsals
It’s the last day to buff those rough edges from your technique with your colleagues.
10am – 11:15am: Workshops
-
Learn how to arrange a simple piece of music for yourself, based on a score. Learn how to compose.
Vincent Beer-Demander: Compositions and arrangements for plucked strings
Mount Adams
P, H, L/D, MF, AL
playing, handouts, lecture/discussion, mandolin-family, all-levels -
In this workshop, Werner will chronicle the history of the modern mandolin orchestra in Australia and the development of its repertoire and composers.
Werner Ruecker: The Mandolin Down Under
Saint Helens, D
L/D, H, AI, AL
handouts, lecture/discussion, all-instruments, all-levels -
TBD
Clark Nichols: TBD
Garden A&B
P, H, L/D, AI, AL
playing, handouts, lecture/discussion, all-instruments, all-levels
11:30am – 1pm: Large-ensemble Open-mic Performances
Cheer on the large-ensemble open-mic participants over a box lunch. You can reserve a box lunch before October 21.
1:15pm – 2pm: General Membership Meeting
Do you want to know what your CMSA Board Members do all year? Do you have questions for them? Do you have ideas for future activities? Come attend the General Membership Meeting!
2:45pm – 5:15pm: En Masse Rehearsal
It’s a dress rehearsal in name only…. except that you must dress! Just don’t worry about the black shirt and slacks/skirt/dress until the evening. We’ll run through the En-Masse program once more before the final concert.
8:00pm – 10:00pm: Evening Concert
The featured event of the convention is another free concert beginning with solo sets from Vincent Beer-Demander and Fabio Galluci. The headliners are you — the CMSA En Masse Orchestra, and directed by Dr. Jim Bates. En Masse performers, the dress code is black.
It’s a free show, but CMSA appreciates (tax-deductible) donations taken at the door. We’ll have a cash bar to help your audience celebrate.
10pm – ???: After Party
We’ll keep that cash bar around for the after party. Unwind with your colleagues and new best friends and enjoy the exhilaration of completing the convention program with your fingers intact and mind only slightly overflowing with new melodies and rhythms.