News Flash!!

Arnie just called.  There was a mistake on the date for the Serpent Lake Gig in Crosby.  It is NEXT Thursday, June 28 at 6pm.

Repeating, it's not tomorrow night, it's next week!  He hopes it will be dryer as I guess there was standing water in the park today.

Any questions, give me a call or drop me an email at akkamarie@gmail.com.

Rachel

Last of the Summer Practices

Tonight marked the last practice of the summer session.  We enjoyed Pizza, courtesy of Arnie, then went through the tunes as a "dress rehearsal" for Thursday's gig at Serpent Lake in Crosby.  Just a few reminders from Lynn and Arnie to:

Wear your yellow T-Shirt and jeans.
Bring a stand if you're going to need it.
Arrive at the park at 5:30pm, or, with enough time to get set up and tuned as we play at 6pm sharp.
If it looks like rain, check the blog.  I will try to keep in touch with Lynn, et al, and post any weather related information.  There is no rescheduling plans if it does rain, so hope for good weather!

Arnie also informed the group that funds were starting to come in for the Great Mandolin Experiment! Details will accumulate and follow, I'm sure, by next fall.

Next year's concert dates have been tentatively set as November 10th and 11th 2012, and April 6th and 7th, 2013.  We're fairly certain the times and locations will be the same as they were this year.  The fall practice season is slated to begin on Tuesday, September 18, 2012.

See you Thursday!  Tack se mycet! Rachel

Summer Board Meeting, June 18, 2012

"There's a motion" "I second it!" "All those in favor?"  Board meetings can sound like pretty dry stuff, but tonight's meeting held a special guest who works in helping Non-profit's (Like Great River Strings and the Ripple River Strings) operate with more vision towards the future.  This was accomplished with the sharing of some pretty neat ideas and visions.  One thing was unanimous, that we have a pretty darn good music operation with some fine talent!  Visions included "quality music" "financial stability" and to "keep educating musicians". The Board meets twice a year.  The next meeting will be in January of 2013.  If any orchestra members have questions, comments, ideas or concerns for the board, be sure to pass them along to Lynn Foote, Becky Jones, David Lang, Jean-Paul or myself.

Just a reminder of tomorrow night's final practice (Tuesday, June 19th)for the summer session.  Don't forget to wash the pizza grease off your fingers before you pick up your fiddles!  Arnie says to come at 6pm to eat pizza, then we'll practice after.

Our final gig will be Thursday, June 21st at Crosby Park.  Be there and ready to play at 6pm.  Don't forget a stand if you think you'll need one, but I bet you know more of these songs by heart than you think!

It was an especially pretty ride home from Aitkin to Brainerd after the meeting.

A small group gathered tonight for practice, but the tunes went well.  We went through the usual repitoire, then worked on Dorothea's Polka and the Schottis fran Blyberg.  Other items discussed this evening included the upcoming gig at Serpent Lake in Crosby.  Here's the particulars!

Here is a post of the rest of the list, the "In addition to the above" part...

Arnie also wants to end our summer practice sessions this coming Tuesday (June 18) with a pizza party.  He says to come at 6pm and be ready to eat pizza and pop.  If anyone wants to bring a dessert, that would be great!

If anyone has read the comments, Paul Wilson, who heads up the Nisswa Stamman has invited the Ripple River Fiddler's back next summer!

The next post will include some details about a Musical Memorial Tribute to Mr. Berge.

Tack sa mycet! Rachel

You'd have to call the Ripple River Fiddler's first appearance at the Nisswa Stamman on Saturday, June 9, 2012 a great success on all accounts!  All the way from the Fiddler's Parade, the Allspell, serenading the Maypole through Pioneer Village, to their 1:30 time slot in the Children's Tent, they sounded great and entertained all.  They even got an "Encore!" which they answered with "Catch that Rooster". The group looked great in their bright yellow T-Shirts and did such a good job being on time and in tune!  I'm sure we'd all like to join in a big "Tack sa mycet!"(Thanks!) to Paul Wilson for the invitation.  Many of the kids I talked to described the day as "FUN!" and hoped to be able to come back next year.  Maybe we could plan a couple "jam sessions" next spring to work on more allspell tunes??  (I have some online resources for allspell tunes that are in the public domain if anyone is interested.)

Our next gathering will be to resume our summer session with a practice on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 6pm at the Deerwood Baptist Church.  Upcoming events include the Crosby Park/Serpent Lake concert on June.....(I'll have to check the date!)  Also on the agenda, the annual potluck??