Blog [with]tv

Using the Power of the Arts to Promote Acceptance!

Music and art therapy are treatment modalities which enable individuals with developmental disabilities to express their emotions creatively while helping them gain awareness of themselves and others.  It helps to improve self-esteem and psychological well-being, while stimulating intellectual and cognitive abilities. 

West Hurley NY is home to Potential Unlimited Productions, offering workshops and weekly classes continue throughout February and March.

Check out the new and ongoing classes and learn about low-cost fees and schedules by visiting www.potentialunlimited.org. Sign up now for the Spring Music Day Camp at the Potential Unlimited Art Center, April 18-22, 2011.

Creating Penelope

Submitted by: Laurie Rubin

The experiences I've had as a classical singer have been incredibly rich ones thus far.  I've been blessed with wonderful mentors, lucky to get some of the wonderful and fun gigs I've gotten, and so fortunate to collaborate with some very fine composers and to sing with some of the best singers and instrumentalists in the field.

As a singer who is blind, I have done recitals and chamber music more than I have done opera.  This is due mostly to a minor logistical difference between me and my sighted counterparts.  Since opera is a business that needs to be run smoothly like anything else, artistic directors are concerned with productivity and tasks getting done as quickly as possible.  When they see me, they envision a situation where it would take longer for me to learn a stage, they think it would take more people to guide me around the stage, and they often think of lawsuits should I manage to find myself falling into the orchestra pit during a rehearsal.

However, things are slowly changing, and I am finding more and more that directors are wanting to think outside the box.  They can envision a situation where a character in the show would be blind.  Well why not?  It is never mentioned in the libretto that she specifically has sight.

The Blind Boys of Alabama

The Blind Boys of Alabama
The following article is borrowed from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Origin     Alabama, United States
Years active     1939–present
Website     www.blindboys.com

The Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel group from Alabama that first formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939. The three main vocalists of the group and their drummer/percussionist are all blind. As of 2008, they continue to tour nationally and internationally, led by the soulful Jimmy Lee Carter singing lead vocals. Mr. Carter is one of the original members from the Alabama Institute for Negro Blind and the Happyland Jubilee Singers (the precursor to the Blind Boys of Alabama). In 2006, Clarence Fountain, the group's former long-time lead vocalist and founding member limited his touring for health reasons. A third founding member, George Scott, died on March 23, 2005 at the age of 75.

Releases by the group in recent years have been favorites at the Grammy Awards—they won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album every year between 2002 to 2005. The Blind Boys of Alabama were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

Have You Heard? Laurie Rubin

Through my volunteer work at [with]tv I've had the pleasure and the privilege of *meeting* (in cyberspace) and corresponding with Laurie Rubin. 

Laurie is an accomplished Mezzo Soprano.  Listen to this CBS interview I just discovered and you will learn more about this "world class opera singer" who has "performed in the White House and in some of the worlds finest Halls..."

(Photo description: Laurie is on stage performing in her New York recital debut with pianist David Wilkinson.  Wearing a teal evening gown, she looks quite beautiful.  She's standing in front of a grand piano; David is wearing a black suit.  We can see the backs of the heads of her audience in Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall, March 2004.)

Laurie has released a CD of art songs by Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Beethoven, Brahms, Hahn, Bizet, Copland, Rorem, Harbison and some beloved Yiddish pieces with pianists Graham Johnson and David Wilkinson on the Opera Omnia label.

"Faith in Spring" can be purchased via this link on Laurie's web site.

A music critic I am not but I know what I enjoy, and Steve and I enjoy listening to this often...

Laurie, we look forward to the day when we can actually experience your musical gift in a live performance.  We'll be keeping our eyes on you!

Till then!

Connie Kuusisto

Cross-posted on Planet of the Blind

An Evening of Music with Laurie Rubin and Friends

If you're in New York and happen to be reading this post, this is a reminder for an event this evening (click here for more info)

Sunday, April 13 at 7:30pm at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery NEW YORK ­

Musique à la Mode, a new chamber music ensemble, will be performing the third concert of its debut “Musique at the Bowery” season, a celebration of women composers from the baroque through the present featuring the world premiere of Margaret Anne Schedel’s “Albedo .12” for bass with gut strings and amplifyer.

Great Coverage of Marlee Matlin on Dancing with the Stars by Fookem and Bug (Week 2)

Here again you will find excellent coverage of Marlee Matlin's performance on Dancing with the Stars, complete with video and transcript.

Musique a la Mode

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CHAMBER MUSIC ENSEMBLE MUSIQUE A LA MODE TO PRESENT AN EVENING OF MUSIC BY WOMEN COMPOSERS, FROM THE BAROQUE THROUGH THE PRESENT

Submitted by Laurie Rubin. 

Laurie Rubin is a mezzo-soprano who has sung at The Kennedy Center, The White House, and Carnegie Hall.  Born blind, Ms. Rubin has always advocated for people with disabilities.  She serves as Director of Curriculum in PWdBC' s Summer Institute of The Performing Arts.  You can visit her personal web site at http://laurie-rubin.com/.

Inquiries: Contact Laurie Rubin at (212) 874-1516 or [email protected]

FEATURING THE WORLD PREMIERE OF “ALBEDO .12” BY MARGARET ANNE SCHEDEL

Concert to Also Feature New Music and Appearance by Renowned Composer Gabriela Lena Frank, Pieces by Rebecca Clarke, Libby Larsen, Barbara Strozzi, Shulamit Ran, and Pauline Viardot And a Performance by Baroque Ensemble Callisto Ascending

Sunday, April 13 at 7:30pm at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery NEW YORK ­March 10, 2008 Musique à la Mode, a new chamber music ensemble, today announced the third concert of its debut “Musique at the Bowery” season, a celebration of women composers from the baroque through the present featuring the world premiere of Margaret Anne Schedel’s “Albedo .12” for bass with gut strings and amplifyer.  Schedel, a prominent composer and cellist specializing in the creation and performance of interactive media, will share the stage with world-renowned composer Gabriela Lena Frank, who will perform her “Cuatro Canciones Andinas” with the ensemble, and with Baroque ensemble Callisto Ascending, who will perform "L'Astratto, Voglio sì vò cantar", cantata, Op. 8 by Barbara Strozzi with authentic instruments.  The concert, which also features the Musique a la Mode ensemble performing "Prelude, Allegro and Pastorale" for viola and clarinet by Rebecca Clarke, "Barn Dances" for piano, flute, and clarinet by Libby Larsen, "Soliloquy" for piano trio by Shulamit Ran, and three songs ("Hai Luli", "Havanaise", and "Les Filles de Cadix") by Pauline Viardot, will take place Sunday, April 13, 2008 at St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery (131 East 10th Street at Second Avenue in Manhattan’s East Village.)  The concert begins at 7:30pm.

Tickets are $10.00, and $5.00 for students and seniors.  They can be purchased at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/30797 or by calling 1-800-838-3006.

Inquiries: Contact Laurie Rubin at (212) 874-1516 or [email protected]

Black Friday Deals on Amazon!

This year you can avoid the crowds and shop online at Amazon.com from the comfort of your own home.  (Or from Grandma's house...)  And when you do, you can help support the [with]tv mission by using this link: www.amazon.com/blackfriday

"While we don’t have a cold, dark parking lot for you to line up in, we do have a bunch of great deals to help you get your holiday shopping done for less. Be sure to check back here on the day after Thanksgiving to see our Black Friday 2007 specials. This year we’ve created a Black Friday page for holiday shoppers at www.amazon.com/blackfriday. Amazon.com will be offering hourly deals from 6am to 6pm PST along with thousands of products on sale for a limited time. Also, customers will get gift wrapping for $.99 per item."

So please, feel free to bookmark this link and if you wouldn't mind, spread the word!  Your family and friends may appreciate the link as much as we do.

Thank you!

Cross-posted on Planet of the Blind