Music 2002-2003

Music Committee News 2002-2003

October 2003

RECYCLE THOSE INKJET AND LASER PRINTER CARTRIDGES

We are recycling used inkjet and laser printer cartridges. Proceeds will go to the Grand Piano Fund. If you have any cartridges to donate, there is a box located under the mailboxes in room 103. If you have any questions, please see Karen Osborne.

CALL FOR HYMNALS

We need additional hymnals to keep up with our growing numbers! A new hymnal costs $28. Dedication plates can be fixed to the inside cover, so you may donate a hymnal in memory or celebration of someone. Contact Rebecca Maze at 266-2246, or you may leave a check and note in an envelope in my box in room 103.

August 2003

UPDATE ON THE GRAND PIANO FUND

Lots of you are interested in the progress of our grand piano fund. We have over $12,000 now, and our goal is around $20,000. With all the upheaval going on in our church, our only fundraiser for some time may be the ink cartridge collection in room 103. (Look for the box under the mailboxes.)

It is necessary that the piano be of the appropriate size for our small “auditorium”. It should have a beautiful tone and good action (the response of the keys when you play them). It should be well constructed, to withstand many years with no major repairs. In order to find a good piano that will fulfill the above at a reasonable price, I believe a used piano of excellent quality would be best.

Picking a piano is not going to be an easy task, and it is obviously not something I intend to do on my own. Playing piano is quite a different skill than purchasing a piano, although I am doing my best to inform myself. There is tremendous variance in the workmanship, construction, and materials used in the many brands available, and there are even good and bad pianos of the same “make and model”. It would be helpful to have several church people with a bit of knowledge and experience to bring this purchase about as the fund draws nearer to our goal.

For our new church, we want a piano that will:

	enhance the musical aspect of our services
	attract artists for church and community benefit concerts (not just classical)
	increase the desirability of our space for rental
	be a draw for district conferences using music
	be a good investment for the church
	have a long life

Thanks to all who have supported this effort. Collecting this much money has happened much faster than I originally reckoned on – it’s only been about four years. I never imagined it would take less than 10! I am amazed at your generosity. I hope to form a Grand Piano Committee as soon as our situation permits, and begin the search in earnest--Rebecca Maze

November 2002

Mark your calendars! The Live Oak choir will be performing a holiday concert on Sunday, December 15, during the regularly scheduled service times. You won’t want to miss that Sunday!

Have a love of singing but can’t regularly commit to the choir schedule? Here’s your chance! The choir will be performing some relatively easy, yet wonderful music on Christmas Eve and you are invited to join us. Previous experience reading music is recommended and the ability to make one or two rehearsals will be necessary. A rehearsal schedule will be in next month’s newsletter.

We continue to make steady progress raising funds for a grand piano. To date, we have raised about $7,000! Another bake sale is scheduled for November 17, between and after services. If you can contribute a baked item to sell, that would be great. Otherwise, plan on buying something delicious to take home!

Our next fundraiser will be a church garage sale on January 25. Please consider saving and donating any unused items (with the exception of clothing) lying around your house or garage that we could sell.

April 2002

QUILT RAFFLE

How would you like to be the proud owner of a unique handcrafted quilt made by the loving people of Live Oak? And how would you like to contribute to the grand piano fund so that we can have Rebecca's beautiful music come from a beautiful instrument? If you answer "yes," then you need to join the quilt raffle! Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Purchase tickets in the foyer or contact Janet (431-2222) or Alice (335-1138). We will pick the winner at the Services Auction in May.

January 2002

A NOTE FROM OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR

An interesting fact about Live Oak is that there has always been a choir of some kind, even when we were a small group. Originally started by Tina Cordes-Thomas, the choir had (I'm guessing) 4-10 people singing in unison, with an accompanist. This is something to be proud of, as many small churches do not have a choir. When I first began leading the music program I had very little directing experience, and had ignored my piano for 15 years. I'm so thankful that when the need arose, there was no one more qualified than me available for the position. What a door opened for me, and what a labor of love it's been.

Our church has grown and matured since then, and I think the music program has done an acceptable job of keeping up with that pace. I must tell you though, that as the sole "leader" in the music realm, I am finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with the details of the programs we have in place now, because of that wonderful growth. Although the music committee is supportive and helpful, a vital choral program, inclusion of children and adults from the church, and fund-raising for the grand piano may be stymied if we do not get an infusion of leadership from a few other church members.

In the "old" days, choir business was conducted over the phone or face-to-face. No one who sang could hide from me in our smaller congregation! Now we communicate via email. My appeals in the newsletter can easily be skimmed over and I am not even able to meet all of our interesting and talented people, much less enlist them in the choir! It's just not in my nature to be an aggressive, high pressure, "power-crazy"-type of choir director. However, I need to say, the music program needs you! I am aware that all of us have many things requiring our time, and I can easily accept "spotty" attendance if people warn me. A total commitment is something I'll never force on you.

And performing in the choir is not the only way you can contribute to the music program! One of the joys of being a music director is the ability to offer all musicians in our church the chance to play for an accepting, enthusiastic audience. Keeping tabs on Live Oak folks who would enjoy playing what and when is a task that would fall to the music committee chair, if we had one! Without one, I'm afraid many musical possibilities are hard to bring about, because people are timid about mentioning their talents and I forget anything that I don't write down!

Fundraising is another area where I could use your help. Our person in charge of fundraising has recently moved (a great loss). Our bake sales and other projects need coordination since I am occupied with the choir between services, when most fundraising events take place. It makes my heart sink when we have opportunities to increase our grand piano fund (as with the Spring Service Auction) but are forced to miss them because there is no one to lead.

So are you hearing my plea? I hope so! Singers, come forth! Musical, or simply music-appreciating people, we need your energy! There are new musical paths I would like to see our church take, but to do so without more "people-power" would weaken those paths we are already traveling on. Music is a vital component of our church life - help us stay joyful and noisy!

Rebecca