Resa's Pieces Concert Band

Hoon Kim

While many of you were still in God’s plan, I tried out our school band in 60’s. I was given a cornet and my friend, a clarinet. This young friend of mine was crying, believing that he should play the trumpet. Hoon gave his trumpet to his friend. A few decades later, my son who was missing his old friends and community in a small rural area started a new school in a big city and as a distraction from this homesickness, he wanted to try clarinet! After two weeks of lesson, he took sick. His father decided to fill in for his son and went to the lesson. His son did not want to go back later. As you know, the lesson is monthly and the rental, for semester (3 months) and they had paid for all these. Now the Kim’s had a problem. The solution? Hoon continued. Don’t you agree that it is providential that Hoon plays the clarinet for his old friend and his son?

Luckily he had a sabbatical and he wanted to do something that he did not normally do. He sought out a community band and an art studio. He found Resa’s Pieces on the Internet and after a brief audition (or an interview secular people would call it) over phone with Ruthie, the band president, he joined it. It was 2010 and he has made a lot of noise around his home, of course, for extra household chores for that.

He enjoys the community as a whole and the small talking group called “the clarinets.” The group contributes in a very modest way to occasional reminders from our patient conductor: “Stop talking!” “Practice at home!” or “Look at my stick!” There is one home work which I do faithful but is not helpful for my playing, that is, “Practice [even] while sleeping!” or I have not figured out how to do it.

Can you guess how much we enjoy each other and of course the music too?

Kathryn Chirametli

I heard about Resa’s Pieces first from campers who attended the Lakefield Music
Camp for adults in the summer of 2010. My woodwind instructor, Martin Van de
Ven, was teaching Klesmer music at the camp and suggested I try out the Klesmer
band at the Jewish Community Centre. Members of that group also mentioned
Resa’s Pieces so I filled out an application form. Lucky for me, there was an opening
for 3rd clarinet and I was able to attend my first band practice in January 2011.

I studied piano and got my grade eight with the Royal Conservatory while in high
school. In grade 10, I asked the music teacher if I could learn another instrument
and play in the school orchestra. He didn’t think it was a good idea since I’d already
missed a year of study. I always regretted that I didn’t get to play in a band but I
never expected to have another opportunity to join one.

In 2009, I started taking private clarinet lessons in hopes of some day joining a
community band. I’d tried playing the recorder in my 20’s and thought I’d like to try
a wind instrument. Last year I also joined the New Horizon’s Band, a beginner band
for adults, conducted by Dan Kapp at Long & McQuade. I started off learning to play
the alto saxophone, but switched over to the clarinet this year. Although it was fun
playing both instruments, I wanted to focus on the clarinet.

Playing with other musicians in a community band is a real thrill for me. Resa
has so much patience and good humour, and provides clear instructions for each
section. Ruthie and the other clarinet players have been especially encouraging to
me as a new band member. And the music sounds great.

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.

Ruthie Fishman

Before joining Resa's Pieces, I didn't play my clarinet since high school. In fact, I never touched a musical instrument even after completing my Grade 8 piano Certificate with the Royal Conservatory of Music.  That all changed over 12 years ago when Resa shared her idea of starting an adult band. Without any hesitation after hearing Resa's idea,  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”.  But, one month later, I received a phone call saying,  “Come out Wednesday night, it’s starting”. 

I love claiming that I am one of the original "Pieces" and so glad that playing my clarinet is once again a big part of my life. Being with the Band all this time has been and continues to be an amazing personal journey!

I am also thrilled to be serving as first President of Resa’s Pieces and am currently serving a 2nd term.  It’s been  an  exciting and most rewarding experience over the last few years working with Resa and Resa’s Pieces’ Board. What a privilege getting to know so many like-minded people from all walks of life. 

I look forward to taking the Concert Band & Resa's Pieces Strings to new heights and further success in the future.



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.