Resa's Pieces Concert Band

Daniel Saraga

I've always loved music. My mother taught music and my grandmother frequently sang Yiddish songs when I was young.

I started playing clarinet when I was 12 and picked up the alto sax a couple years later. I continued playing in all of the school bands and orchestras as well as a community band up until university. After university I started back in the community band for a couple of years and stopped.

I started cooking while in university. I really enjoyed preparing meals for friends and over time I tried different cuisines and methods. Music made its way to the background for the hours I spent in the kitchen and I eventually started blogging about it at The Haggis and the Herring.

Nearly ten years later, my wonderful wife encouraged me to start playing again. I dragged my feet because I didn't know of any bands that fit into my schedule and I continued to cook dinner.

After re-connecting on Facebook with a school friend, Ashifa, she mentioned that she had recently joined Resa's Pieces. I contacted Ruthie through the website and suddenly I was playing again.

My wife now cooks dinner once a week.

Debra Bettel

Synergy is the word that springs to mind when I think about the band. Individual parts coming together to create a whole.  That is how I felt thirty odd  years ago when I was placed in the Junior High School band class.  Together we learned a new language and from sound, came music.  Through the process we created strong bonds and lasting memories. It made us feel special and privileged, plus we got to skip classes.

More than thirty years later I was invited to pick up the clarinet once again. Despite my protests and doubts I am again making music. There are some old faces but mostly new ones, yet there is still the same old fun. We laugh our way through the challenge of reading music, and trying to remember where to place our fingers to make the right sounds. Our arms and fingers and mouths get tired and sore more quickly than they used to, but the surprise and delight when we finally get a piece of music right, more than justifies the effort. For me, being in the band means helping to keep the mind agile, without repercussion for falling short of perfection.  It is about making new friendships and re-establishing old ones. It is about making music, no mater how rudimentary, because I love music and I love hearing how the various elements fit together. Most importantly it is about being part of the synergistic process, creating melody and harmony from seemingly disparate and sometimes discordant sounds.

The band in fact, is a great paradigm for peaceful co-existence; knowing when to recede and when to advance and doing so willingly, for the greater good, for the band.

Bill Getty

A long time ago, longer than I care to remember, I played clarinet in a small-town marching band for a period of three to four years. Our high-school had no music program so any interest in continuing to play quickly waned and gave way to other pursuits which were, for the most part, reasonably honorable.

But I never lost interest in listening to and exploring all types of music: classical, jazz, rock, folk, pop as well as various international forms such as flamenco, fado and tango. After all, music feeds the soul, comforts the mind and occasionally mends the heart regardless of where in the world you are.

After thirty-seven years I recently retired from the world of education; first as a classroom teacher and then as a member of the negotiations staff for the provincial elementary teachers’ union. Upon retirement a good friend and colleague gave me a clarinet that once belonged to her father and I knew immediately what my retirement hobby was going to be. My goal then was modest: to be able to play simple children’s music to entertain my toddler granddaughter.

I quickly began taking private lessons and realized that even after almost fifty years some things were still familiar but much was to be learned. After a year of lessons my terrific teacher, Michele Jacot (who coincidentally plays in the Toronto Megacity Swing Band with our very own Sydney Gangbar) told me it was time to learn to play with ensembles. And given that Michele is fondly referred to by her adult students as ‘she who must be obeyed’, I decided to cast around for concert bands that were looking for musicians without a whole lot of experience. Since September 2008 I’ve been playing with two bands, the Music Society of St. Helen’s and the Swansea Community Concert Band. By December 2008 I was seeking an additional challenge and decided to contact Resa’s Pieces.

Resa contacted me immediately. She was enthusiastic, encouraging and positive and from our communication it was obvious that she is strongly committed to getting adults back to their musical roots while ensuring that we have fun doing it. As one of the band’s newest members I’ve found that the spirit and enthusiasm of the group makes everybody want to play at an amazing level. My teacher Michele was right; one of the best ways to learn and to improve is to play with others who also love music.

And one thing is clear: at Resa’s Pieces the music is sweet and all the parts fit!

Gail Yollick

My initiation into the band experience was strictly under predjudice. Our Dufferin Heights Junior High music head each student with a listening test, recruiting those “lucky enough” who “passed”, of which I was one, into a band class.  Seeing no way out, we accepted our fate and wondered what was to come.  My assigned instrument - the clarinet - frequently sputtered out weird sounds.   That was grade 7.  By grade 8 were all proud to be “the school band”,  growing attached as much to our music sheets as to each other and hooked on sound .

Fast forward many decades later when 2 friends invite me to join Resa’s Pieces Concert Band.   Reluctant at first, but later re-discovering  with everyone  the old standards: “swing”, Broadway, classical. The bonus comes while you play, practicing and performing music as a sweet joyful experience, and blending rhythms with everyone to create harmony.  Resa keeps us together. 

Maja Buium

I used to pass the Jerualem Room at the Bathurst JCC each Monday and listen to Resa's Pieces practice. I dreamed for the time in my life that I could do something for myself again, and I knew that this band played at a level that was appropriate for my skill level. Finally my chance came, and I joined up. What I like most about the band (besides being a part of beautiful music) is that it is the one time in my week when I can sit back and let someone else do the thinking. It is the first time since... well, long ago, that I just sit there and do what I am told- what a high that is. This is a band that has come a long way in the short time that I have been a part of it. And we still know how to have a good time!

Harry Musicar

Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. At the age of 8 I started to play my father's clarinet after being shown the fingering  - and this was my only lesson. In public school I sang in the school choir. I did have a good singing voice and a good ear. There were only 5 males in the choir. On to high school in Parkdale where I learned to read and appreciate all types of music. My mentor was Howard Cable and he was and still is a fine musician and conductor. I became serious about playing and progressed with this band. When the war broke out, that is WWII, I was in the middle of my apprenticeship in pharmacy, so I joined the RCAF band and until the war finished. 

Then there was a hiatus of 16 years - marriage, kids, school, work etc. I thought  that was the end of my playing, until I got a call from Itz Fine to come to a rehearsal with some people some of who were pharmacists. Needless to say my music career was reborn - a little rusty, but I managed. This group became the nucleus of the "Pharmacy Five Band." We played for many years for seniors, mental rehabs, patients at the Queen St. institution and many dances  for Baycrest for the day care seniors. I also joined other bands such as the military Queen's Own Rifles which took several years. At the present time I am continuing with the North York Concert Band and finally with Resa's Pieces Concert Band. All through this career I did manage to get involved with klezmer which I love dearly. As my name indicates  music is part of my life. That's it for now.

 

                                      Harry

Ellen Levine

I was introduced to the clarinet in Grade 7 and from then until I graduated High School, being a member of the band was one of the most pleasurable things in my life. In grade 10 I switched to bass clarinet and I loved its deep rich tones. We worked hard and competed (and won) in the Kiwanis Music Festival each year. Being a member of the band defined who I was.

3 years ago I heard about Resa's Pieces and am so grateful to have the opportunity to play in a band again. It makes me feel like I have recaptured a part of my life that has long passed but was so important to me. I look forward to Monday night rehearsals and enjoy working together to create beautiful music. Thank you Resa for your dedication and creating this terrific band.

Ruthie Fishman

I am thrilled to be part of Resa’s Pieces, a community band full of smiling faces wonderful people and friends. 

Before joining this Band, I had not played my clarinet since high school. Back then, I also achieved the Grade 8 piano certificate with the Royal Conservatory of Music. But, I never touched a musical instrument after that until…

I met Resa at a fund raising dinner. Our conversation led to Resa telling me that she had this amazing idea of starting an adult band. Without any hesitation, I replied, “I’m in”!  Looking surprised by my reaction, Resa cautiously said, “Oh, it’s not going to happen for a year or two”.   One month later, I received a phone call saying; “Come out Wednesday night, it’s starting!” And that is how Resa’s Pieces was born. I can proudly say that I am one of the original members and have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Band’s evolution.

Taking time off and raising three wonderful sons it is no wonder that I had little time for playing my high school clarinet. But, I kept it all these years. I am now in the category of being an “empty nester” with a revolving door.  With a wonderful and supportive husband, I now have the flexibility, time and energy to put into my Monday night rehearsals and the operations of the Band.

With ‘Clara’ in tow, my carpool heads out Monday nights.  Band gets me through the cold, dark days of winter and makes my week shine. Who needs Botox – we
tone facial muscle for free!   

One of my heroes is Joaquin Valdepenas at the Toronto Symphony. I only recently began to appreciate how lucky I was to have taken a few lessons, many years ago, from his predecessor Abe Galper z”l, principal clarinetist for 30 years.

Here is some sample clarinet music:

Classical enjoyment

Light and Fun

I recently joined another band called KlezKonnection (sample Klezmer tune not KlezConnection)

Here is our group playing (click the grey arrow to play)

• A Nach In Gan Eden
• Serba Korobushka Katyusha Medley

I am thrilled to have recently been elected the first President of Resa’s Pieces. In this position, I plan on steering the Band to future exposures in the community, new heights and further success.