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Our Friend, Frank Rossi - by Tom Koch
We have often had the Pittsburgh Banjo Club on our shows and shared the stage with them in various performances around the Pittsburgh area. So, I thought maybe you might like to get to know their director, Frank Rossi, a bit more. Here is a reprint of an article found on "The National Four-String Banjo, Hall of Fame" Museum web site. www.banjomuseum.org.
Frank Rossi
Promotion
Hall of Fame 2001
An enthusiastic promoter of the banjo, Frank Rossi has made a great contribution to the renaissance of interest in the banjo and earned recognition for its importance to the country's musical heritage. He is often quoted as saying, "If we keep the banjo amongst ourselves, it will die amongst ourselves."
His love for the banjo and its music started as a hobby years ago, and has turned into a full-time effort to keep the banjo and its music alive. He was president of the Long Island Banjo Society in New York. After moving to Pennsylvania, he became the founder of the Pittsburgh Banjo Club. He produced three Banjo Spectaculars in New York and five Pittsburgh Banjo Jams to showcase the instrument. His events attracted banjo players worldwide.
He is truly a tireless promoter of the banjo, serving as president of Banjos Unlimited, an international organization of professional and amateur banjo bands and players. He also serves as the volunteer editor of the Resonator, the newsletter of Banjos Unlimited sent worldwide to banjo enthusiasts. His ongoing project is to have the U.S. Postal Service issue a commemorative stamp honoring the banjo, America's native instrument.
Frank Rossi simply loves banjo music and the people associated with the instrument. His enthusiasm and convictions are always aimed at the progression and promotion of the banjo art and industry.
Visit their web page at:
http://home.earthlink.net/~theresonator
The Power of Music
I'm sitting here at my desk watching an 83-year-oId gentleman with significant memory loss singing along with "My Wild Irish Rose" on the stereo. He knows his name, and a good many tunes and that's about it.
Once every two weeks, I go to the local nursery home to play for Alzheimer Group's Sing-Along Hour. When I enter the room, three of the 21 residents might actually look at me - the rest are in a misty world. But when I begin to play "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" or "Let the Rest of the world Go By," those tunes become - my one and only connection with them, and most of them begin to sing.
What is it about music that makes such a deep impression? Is it the melody? The lyrics? The emotion? A combination of things?
On one occasion we did an experiment with the Alzheimer's exercise class. Everyone was asked to
imitate the instructor as she raised her hands high. No one responded. She repeated the maneuver a number of times, as animated as possible speaking first in a soothing tone of voice, then in a lively voice. No response again. Then we passed around rhythm instruments. Tamborines, bells, sticks, etc., were put into the hands of the residents. Then with the accordian, I would simply play a waltz beat with the bass keys - oom pa pah - and immediately 75% would respond. Faces would begin to lighten up, and rhythm instruments would begin to shake. As I'd begin the melody, "Casey would waltz with the strawberry blonde," and the instructor would ask everyone to imitate her and raise their hands in the air and shake the instruments, again approximately 75% would respond, doing what they were asked to do.
Music is such an effective catalyst.
At the other end of the stick, I've gone into many classrooms noisy with active, challenging kids, and asked everyone to come and sit down on the mat for a few songs, and had little response because no one was paying attention or could hear what I was saying. But if I begin to play a song on the guitar, and singing the instructions, to come and sit down on the mat, I have everyone's cooperation.
And some schools no longer have a music program!
I'm sure you've recognized this effect on seniors when you sing in the homes. Can you explain it?
Mary Knox, Royal City Ambassadors, Guelph, Ontario
-- from the harmonet
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