Kids Around the Bay

Lisa Petrie on February 27, 2011
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The Schick Machine

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What is music, if not a collection of sounds? The increasing tempo of a spinning hoop as it tumbles to the floor, a jingling bell, flapping suspended metal sheets — these noises, made by common objects and sound sculptures, broaden our awareness of music and sound. The captivating percussionist Steven Schick tells funny stories, while demonstrating invented instruments like the Hurdy Grande, the Tumbler, the Peacock, the Field of Flowers, and a deconstructed pipe organ played by a giant electrified music box, in a theater piece sprung from the imaginations of Paul Dresher (composer and instrument inventor), Rinde Eckert (director/writer), Schick himself (virtuoso percussionist and solo performer), Matt Heckert (mechanical sound artist), Daniel Schmidt (instrument inventor and builder), and Tom Ontiveros (lighting and production design).

Says Dresher: “This work, with its visually and sonically amazing large-scale instruments and sound sculptures and Steve’s engaging yet virtuoso performance, is really a perfect match for audiences from toddlers through seniors. At the end of the performance, we invite the whole audience to come up on stage to play and experiment with the instruments themselves.” The Paul Dresher Ensemble has been a staple of the Bay Area experimental music scene for over 25 years. This family-friendly show is a revised version of the original, commissioned by Stanford Lively Arts and Meyer Sound Labs in 2009. Don’t be surprised if your kids are banging on your pots and pans after seeing this quirky and creative marriage between theater and music.

See our calendar for information on showing dates and times. Special school performances can still be arranged by contacting Michele Fromson at [email protected].

Youth Open Mike at the Starry Plough

Youth Open Mic
Youth Open Mic

Calling all divas: The Starry Plough club in Berkeley announces an open mic opportunity for youth, starting March 1. It runs on selected Tuesday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m., followed by the regular open mic session for adults, hosted by Joan Pez. That music has traditionally been in the folk or rock vein, but Coordinator Kelleth Chin says: “We would really love to have some young classical musicians perform. Many kids and teenagers lack exposure to classical music, and it would help enrich our event. Ideally, we’ll have a wide variety of styles, including spoken word performers, so everyone is welcome.” The venue invites kids and teens as well as their families to hang out and share their talents, whether it be as solo singers, guitarists, chamber music groups, or poets — and dinner is also available. RSVP to participate in the next few open mics on March 15 and March 29; email [email protected].

Visit Youth Open Mic for more information.

LAB Choir Lifts Off

Louis A. Botto Choir

Chanticleer’s youth choir, called the Louis A. Botto Choir (LAB Choir for short), is in the midst of its outreach performance season, the second three-month session since its inception last fall. Its conductor, former Chanticleer singer Ben Johns, is thrilled to work with this talented inaugural group of 22 singers, of mixed voice ranges. The program provides excellent small ensemble training for the area’s top young singers (ages 14 to 20) and offers free performances to communities like retirement centers and underserved schools. Johns encourages interested singers to contact him regarding participation in the next spring session. He says, “Each singer brings unique strengths to the table, which creates a wonderfully diverse group. I focus on what it is they bring, and what they love about singing.” The members come from as far away as Davis, Gilroy, and Santa Rosa to spend six hours on Saturdays rehearsing, meanwhile earning college credit through Sonoma State University for their efforts. Catch them in a special St. Patrick’s Day concert together with the McBride Irish Dancers, Sunday, March 20, at 2:00 p.m. at Sir Francis Drake High School in San Anselmo. Admission is free, but donations benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer fund.

Visit Chanticleer for more information.