[Harp-L] Howard Levy Performance and Workshops

[John Shirley <john_shirley@xxxxxxx>]

Hi all.

It was great to finally meet a bunch of you at SPAH this year; I had a great time and can't wait for next year!

I am writing the list to announce that Howard Levy will be giving a concert at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell on the 28th of this month, where he will be performing works for solo and duo piano as well as harmonica (including a new piece of mine for solo, electronically-processed harmonica). This concert is free and open to the public.

In addition, Howard will be giving workshops and seminars all weekend long, starting Friday evening the 25th (see announcement details below).

Come if you can. This is a great opportunity to see Howard doing new and exciting things, and to discover his theories and methods relating to piano, improvisation, and composition.

Hope to see you there.

- John

---
The UMass Lowell Music Department is proud to host multiple grammy award winning pianist/composer/harmonica-player Howard Levy for 3 days of workshops and a special concert. Mr. Levy is a founding member of the Flecktones and has played on over 250 albums and numerous movie soundtracks. The workshops begin Friday, Oct. 25th at 7pm with "A World of Possibilities; Patterns in Music and Improvisation" which is open to the public and free of charge. There will be a sign up sheet available during this first workshop for the following four workshops, occurring Saturday and Sunday (details below). 

Howard Levy's visit to campus will culminate in a concert on Monday, October 28th at 7:30pm in the Durgin Concert Hall. He will be performing solo pieces from various genres as well as in a duo with UMass Lowell piano faculty member, Meg Ruby. Mr. Levy will also be performing the world premiere of a new piece for digitally processed harmonica by UMass Lowell Music Department Chairman, Dr. John Shirley. This concert is free and open to the public.

For more information contact the music department at 978-934-3850 or email amy_dinsmore@xxxxxxxx 


Howard Levy Workshop Information

Friday, Oct. 25th, 7pm - Durgin Concert Hall
"A World of Possibilities; Patterns in Music and Improvisation" (An introduction into the musings of Howard Levy)
This workshop is open to all.

Saturday, Oct. 26th, 9am-12pm - Durgin Recital Hall*
- Boogie Woogie basslines, 
- Soloing with the right hand while playing left hand patterns on the piano
- Blues/shuffle
- Montuno patterns
- Modal improvisation
- Utilizing the drone
- Odd time signatures

Saturday, Oct. 26th, 1:30-4pm - Durgin Recital Hall*

- Polyrhythms
- Improvisation over an ostinato in odd time signatures
- Experiential Exercises

Sunday, Oct. 27th, 9am-12pm - Durgin Recital Hall*

- Pentatonic exercises
- Montuno in odd time signatures
- Western and Indian inspired improv techniques
- Learning to play Howard's compositions, "Extension Chord" and "Sweet Pomegranates" (from the last Flecktones album, Rocket Science) on the piano


Sunday, Oct. 27th, 1:30-4pm - Durgin Recital Hall*

"The Melody of Rhythm" - exploring the relationships between these two fundamental elements of music.

*Participation in the Saturday and Sunday events is limited; sign up sheets will be available at the Friday evening workshop. Though Howard will be presenting these four weekend workshops primarily from the perspective of piano, the underlying concepts apply to all: all instrumentalists and composers are welcome to attend.