Gulf Coast New Horizon New Music Program

Music Compound is excited to have a program exclusive to adults with an interest in playing music and being part of our music community.

New Horizons Music programs provide entry points to music making for adults, including those with no musical experience at all and those who were active in school music programs, but have been inactive for a long period. Many adults would like an opportunity to learn music in a group setting similar to that offered in schools, but the last entry point in most cases was elementary school. We know that for most of the last century, about 15–20 percent of high school students nationally participated in music. From that, we can estimate that at least 80 percent of the adult population needs beginning instruction in order to participate in music-making. New Horizons Music programs serve that need.

New Horizons is an International Music Program. MC is starting a local chapter and known as Gulf Coast New Horizons Music.

 

50 and up welcome. No experience needed.

Information Session: September 23rd 10AM

Venue: Music Compound

Classes begin the week of October 11th.

 

Benefits: 

Active participation in music fills important needs for adults—the need for challenging

intellectual activity, the need to be a contributing member of a group, and the need to have exciting events in the future. For many people, music can serve these vital needs better than anything else.

 

Adults participating in such a music program meet new friends and become an important part of a group. They have events to look forward to—concerts to play, concerts to attend, and trips. Such goals give added meaning and purpose to life. Strong friendships are formed in New Horizons programs (and there

have been several marriages).

 

A New Horizons Band or Orchestra is a new kind of Community Band or Orchestra (CBO). Traditional CBOs provide enjoyable musical opportunities for their participants and are important parts of the cultural life of their communities. Nearly all the people who play in them, however, were able to read music and play an instrument before joining. In some CBOs, most participants have music degrees, and auditions are required to participate. In most cases, CBOs are not appropriate entry points for beginners.

Performances

New Horizons groups become well known in the community through performing in many different settings. Some of the main types of performances are:

• Joint concerts with school, community, or university ensembles

• Shopping malls, especially during the holidays

• Open rehearsals (especially good for a first performance)

• State music conferences

• Parades (usually with a truck or pontoon boat)

• Formal concerts

• Summer concerts in the park

• Retirement centers

• Senior centers

• Nursing homes.

Pricing

Ensemble Participants: $100 monthly for a weekly 2-hour rehearsal

Group Lessons Available: $60 per month for a weekly 45-minute lesson

Participants will receive 10% off regular monthly private lesson rates.

Instruments, music stands, performances, and books are not included.

Registration fee required for all participants: $45  (includes a MC shirt)

About David DeWitt, Director

Education: BS in Music education – Nazareth College of Rochester

MM in Trombone Performance – University at Buffalo

Assorted classes in Theory and Arranging – Eastman School of Music

 

David DeWitt taught in the Rochester and Buffalo city schools for 35 years and served as lead band director at the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts. There, he directed a wind ensemble, jazz ensemble, and jazz combo, and taught music theory, music history, and brass performance. Under his leadership, BAVPA’s jazz ensemble became the first high school band from Buffalo invited to perform at the Rochester International Jazz Festival. He also served as an adjunct professor at Canisius College in Buffalo where he directed the school’s jazz ensemble. His retirement in 2016 and subsequent move to Sarasota brought new opportunities to perform as a trombone and tuba player. His musical versatility and larger-than-life personality have quickly made him among the most in-demand brass players in the region. He is very excited to be taking on the helm of the Gulf Coast New Horizon’s Band, and looks forward to seeing this unique ensemble develop and grow.