Wonderful Performance Featuring Ed Saindon

Today we were fortunate to have the amazing Ed Saindon as a guest artist on the NIU campus. Ed presented a jazz improvisation workshop in the afternoon, and performed this evening at one of our local music venues, The House Cafe. Performing with Ed this evening was my colleague Rodrigo Villanueva on drums, our fantastic alum Doug Stone on tenor and soprano saxes, and another fabulous alum on bass, John Tate.

Ed's been one of my favorite vibraphonists since I first heard him play, sometime in the early 1980's I think it was. I met Ed for the first time in 1990, and the past couple of years we've been in touch more. He is a warm, genuine human being who happens to be an absolutely incredible musician. Immediately following one of his solos tonight, before any clapping could start, one of the audience members yelled "WOW!" I'm pretty sure that sums up how everyone in the audience was feeling about Ed's playing. It was so great to see Ed and to hear him play again. I hope you get the chance to see and hear him, too.

New Position at NIU!
(and other assorted percussion stuff)

Avid readers of this blog know that since July I've held the position of Acting Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at Northern Illinois University. I'm extremely excited to report that following a several-month national search, I have been offered, and accepted, the position as Dean of the CVPA.

I am looking forward to continuing the work on the several initiatives in which I've been involved in this year as well as pursuing new ones. We have so many wonderful things going on in the arts at NIU, it's a real honor for me to know I'm now the permanent Dean.

If you care to read the official press release, it's here.

I can hardly believe it's been nearly two months since my last post. Just a few of the goings-on since then: I was an adjudicator at the National Percussion Festival, run by Music For All, in Indianapolis in March. The other adjudicators were John Tafoya, Cort McClaren, and my good friend Jim Campbell. It was a great time - great friends, great music, and for a great purpose. I was also able to spend time with my good friends Michael Kenyon and Scott Deal.

My colleagues here at NIU, Liam Teague and Robert Chappell, performed a recital in March. I played on one tune - Robert and I revived our old "Dueling Xylophones" schtick with several changes and updates. The recital is online here. To get to the piece I'm on , you can click on the bottom scroll bar to move ahead - the piece begins at the 47 minute mark.

MY NEW BOOK!

My new book is now available! "Majoring in Music - All the Stuff You Need to Know" is published by Meredith Music Publications and distributed by the Hal Leonard Corporation, the world's largest music distributor. The official release date is March 1, but it is available now at Amazon, Tower, Borders, Barnes and Noble, and Target for pre-sale, most with a deep discount. (I also see it's for sale by some Japanese book sellers!)

The book is divided into three main sections: The Academic Stuff, The Musical Stuff, and the The Life Stuff. In those sections are subheadings dealing with advising, time management, studying, practicing, music theory, music history, aural skills, positive attitude, health, roommates, and many other similar items that are of importance to the ultimate success of a music major. Each of these includes tips and strategies for improvement.

I was very fortunate to get some wonderful quotes from leading university music educators and administrators that are found on the back cover of the book. Here are parts of the quotes:

"Rich Holly's guide is direct, succinct, and to the point; a must read for both prospective or current music students and those who support them (parents and others). "

"...an invaluable guide for all prospective and matriculating music students...covers every important aspect of their college lives in an informal, enjoyable, direct and perceptive manner."

"...terrific suggestions will help young aspiring musicians. My own 17-year old son is contemplating a music career, and it will become required reading for him."

"...written with the compassion of a caring advisor (and parent), with wit and real-life anecdotes, Holly presents invaluable lessons and wisdom...."

"...provides a wealth of knowledge for any student who wishes to pursue a degree in music...."

Many thanks go out to the several readers I had and to my research assistant, Kerry O'Brien, and to my family for allowing me the time to write and edit. If you know anyone who is considering majoring in music, or has already made the decision to do that, this book is meant for them.

FANTASTIC ILLINOIS DAY OF PERCUSSION

Okay, I might be biased since my colleague Greg Beyer here at Northern Illinois University hosted the event, but today was one fantastic Day of Percussion for the Illinois chapter of the Percussive Arts Society. For most of the day we had 250 attendees, and for the evening concert the attendance was over 300.

The day began with an "uncontest" for middle school and high school players to play their solo and ensemble pieces for a judge to get comments on improvement so that they're more prepared in a few weeks when the state solo and ensemble contest takes place. Several dozen students took advantage of that great opportunity. We then had a terrific clinic by Vadim Karpinos of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, an amazing masterclass by She-e Wu, a truly unique and engaging performance by Aiyun Huang, and then several of the universities in the state performed individually and then together in a wonderful "summit" of Illinois percussionists.

Vadim Karpinos

She-e Wu

Aiyun Huang

The evening concert featured So Percussion, who played beautifully. (We were fortunate have had So in residence here at NIU for the past 3 days - the students were incredibly happy to have them here and are even more motivated than usual.)

So Percussion

In addition to how musical and inspiring all the clinics and performances were, what always impresses me the most is that the finest artists in our field are some of the most wonderful people you'll ever meet. And, as these things always go, it was great to see so many former students as well as colleagues from all over the state here and to have a chance to catch up on what they're doing.

Greg did an amazing job marketing the event and organizing the event. Everyone I spoke with had a really great time and was really grateful to be able to be here for the day.

Greg Beyer

EIGHT GREAT YEARS

Yesterday was the official end of my time as an officer of the Percussive Arts Society. I spent 2 years each as Vice President, President-elect, President, and Immediate Past President, and it's hard to believe the eight years went by this quickly. These were eight, not just great, but fantastic years of teamwork that helped raise the Society to the next level. I'm indebted to the other officers with whom I worked during this time: Bob Breithaupt, Jim Campbell, Mark Ford, Michael Balter, Kristen Shiner McGuire, Gary Cook, Steve Houghton, John R. Beck, Lisa Rogers, and Steve Beck. In particular I want to thank Michael Kenyon, the Executive Director of PAS, for his partnership, support, guidance and friendship.

I'm especially pleased we were able to move the PAS headquarters, museum and library to Indianapolis during my presidency. Already we are seeing positive results of that move that would not have been possible without the move, and I'm excited about the upcoming opening of our permanent space in downtown Indy, which should be completed summer 2009. We're working with an amazing architect (who designed several of Epcot Center's pavilions) and the space will be tremendous when completed.

Thanks, too, to the many PAS members with whom I've corresponded the past eight years, for your support and encouragement. And I really appreciate the many, many friends I've gained the world over through my work with PAS.

Starting today Steve Houghton is the new PAS President, and I know PAS is in good hands. As a Past President, I am a member of the Board of Directors for life (no rest for the wicked!), so I greatly look forward to staying involved.

Happy New Year, everyone!

RECENT BOOK RELEASE

I'm happy to announce the release of The Drum and Percussion Cookbook - Creative Recipes for Players and Teachers, published by Meredith Music. Edited by Rick Mattingly, the book is a collection of insightful strategies by a host of today's leading percussionists.

Contributing authors include: Kenny Aronoff, Anders Astrand, John H. Beck, Michael Burritt, Bill Cahn, James Campbell, Anthony Cirone, Christopher Deane, Robin Engelman, Peter Erskine, Mark Ford, Danny Gottlieb, Gordon Gottlieb, Neil Grover, Rich Holly (yes, that's me!), Steve Houghton, Glenn Kotche, William Moersch, Jeff Moore, Al Payson, Michael Rosen, Ed Saindon, Dave Samuels, Ed Shaughnessy, Ed Soph, John Tafoya, Garwood Whaley, She-e Wu, and many others.

I encourage you to visit the "What's New" section of the Meredith Music website or your favorite bookseller to order your copy today.

AND...In addition to being a part of this excellent book, I'm very pleased to tell you that this spring will see the release of my own book - Majoring in Music: All the Stuff You Need to Know, also published by Meredith Music. I'll post more information when the book is available for sale.

BACK FROM PASIC

Well, another Percussive Arts Society International Convention has come and gone, and I'm proud to say it was another tremendous convention. As usual, I got to see many great friends from around the world, and we were able to make some great decisions in the meetings I attended to further the work of PAS. Highlights for me were sharing the stage with Evelyn Glennie and Roy Burns, hearing the Ed Soph Trio twice, the Friday night Tribute to John Bergamo concert, and the leadership forum presented by a very talented speaker, Pat Richie. We also had a golf tournament on Tuesday, November 4 - the group I was in played horribly but we sure had fun!

Keep your eyes on the PASIC website - photos and videos will be uploaded over the next few days and weeks.

If you've never been to PASIC, make plans now to attend next year. We had nearly 7,000 people attend this year's. PASIC 2009 will be in Indianapolis, Indiana, November 11 through 14. The Indianapolis Convention Center is set up beautifully for our needs: there are 27 hotels, many of which are connected via walkways to the convention center (read: in bad weather, you get to stay inside!), and within a short walk of the convention center there are something like 200 restaurants - a perfect arrangement for our convention.

PLUS - the PAS headquarters and museum will be open in downtown Indianapolis, with a gala grand opening planned for PASIC 2009. Athough PAS has had an amazing collection of instruments and a museum for many years, this will be the first time the museum and convention are in the same city (and will be for many years to come!).