The Rockport Legion Band

First Rehearsal of 2012!

rockportlegionband — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 01:41:05 +0000

Our first rehearsal in the new year will be Thursday, January 5 at 7:30 P.M. in the Legion Hall. Where does the time go??

Bob Krause should be there to discuss our options for investment. This is an important topic for our future; we hope everyone will be able to make it.

We had an excellent performing year in 2011. Let’s hope our playing in 2012 is even better!

The Rockport Legion Band is Recruiting!

rockportlegionband — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:01:13 +0000

We’re looking for additional players on ALL concert band instruments. If you were a competent player in high school or college and have “lapsed” in your playing, this is the place to get back to playing on a regular basis! If you are a current player looking for a regular rehearsal venue, this is it! If you play any of the instruments on our “Wish List” to the right, please contact us.

We do not audition or have a “play-in”. Come join us for a few rehearsals and see if you’d like to become a member. If you’re interested or have questions, please leave a comment to that effect.

You can “check us out” on any of our recording links — either Cape Ann Web or Jukebox Alive in the column on the right, or on our “Recordings” page at the top of your screen.

Help Save An American Tradition.

rockportlegionband — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:13:42 +0000

There used to be a tradition in America — the town or community band. At the turn of the Twentieth Century, there were some 20,000 community bands in the United States, each serving its individual community, and maybe neighboring areas. Now, there are only about a thousand throughout our country. We are one of that thousand groups remaining.

If you are a musician who has (1) played in the past and is thinking of returning to your instrument, or (2) is playing currently and need an outlet for your talent, please consider joining us in maintaining this American tradition.

We play a mixture of music ranging from the turn of the Twentieth Century to current popular music, including marches, show tunes, arrangements of songs by popular performers, movie music, concert music, classic overtures, and so on. There is a listing of our last several years of performances on our page of “Previous Concert Programs”.

If you’d like to leave a comment or contact us about sitting in, please do so below or by e-mail. There is a link to a one-hour documentary about community and town bands in our blog roll (in the column to the right) titled “Meet the Band”. If you’re interested, give it a viewing. It’s not us, but it builds the case for why we do what we do.

Performances for November and December, 2011

rockportlegionband — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:30:44 +0000

November and December Appearances

Friday, November 11, 2011 (Veteran’s Day) — Legion Hall, downbeat at 9:15 A.M.
(Small band)

Thursday, December 1, 2011 Rehearsal at Rockport Methodist Church, Main Street 7:30 PM
(Full Band)

Friday, December 2, 2011 Concert at Rockport Methodist, 7:00 PM
(Full Band)

Thursday, December 8, 2011 Concert at Rockport Congregational Church, 7:00 PM
(Full Band)

Thursday, December 15, 2011: Concerts at Golden Living and Den-Mar 7:00 PM, followed by RLB gathering at Legion Hall. (Split Band)

All of these dates are confirmed.

Concert For August 28 Cancelled

rockportlegionband — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 18:25:47 +0000

Due to the impending weather and local emergency personnel requests to stay off the roads tomorrow, the Rockport Legion Band is cancelling its concert scheduled for August 28, 2011. There will be no make up date because of other commitments.

Our next scheduled appearance will be October 15 at 2:00 during the Rockport Chamber of Commerce “Harvest Festival”.

Summer Concert #7, August 21, 2011 @ 7:00 P.M.

rockportlegionband — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 13:56:47 +0000

Jason Howard leads the Rockport Legion Band this week. The program will be selected from the following list which is now posted under “Previous Concert Programs”.

Summer Concert #6, August 14, 2011 @ 7:00 P.M.

rockportlegionband — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 13:56:24 +0000

Steve Thomas conducts this week as the band welcomes the Creagan More Pipes and Drums for a joint performance. Children should bring a small hand percussion instrument (like shakers, for example, or a tambourine) so they can join in on some of the marches with the band.

Music listing from the program has been moved to “Previous Concert Programs”

Summer Concert #5, August 7, 2011 @ 7:00 P.M.

rockportlegionband — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:00:48 +0000

Jason Howard leads the band this week. If the weather is inclement, the program will be held inside the Legion Hall.

The list of music performed has been moved to “Previous Concert Programs”.

Thank You For Your Comments and Suggestions

rockportlegionband — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 03:59:01 +0000

Dear Listeners:

Thank you for all of your comments and suggestions over the past few weeks. We have received many messages on both sides of the issue of the deportment of children at our concerts, and we value them all.

Many parents who have been coming to our summer programs objected to the fashion in which the issue of screaming children was “broached” at our first concert. Most of our band members agree that it was not the most politic way to address the question. They also feel that the issue did need to be addressed. The players in the band work too hard on the programs to have them seen as “throwaway” presentations, or just “background noise”.

On the other side of the question are the people who come to the programs to listen to the music and chat quietly with their friends and neighbors. They have commented that the screaming children are a great distraction to their enjoyment of our music, and many have been driven away because of them. After tonight’s presentation (7/31/11) a neighbor told the director how much she enjoyed the program, and the fact that she could actually hear the music made it that much more enjoyable.

Please feel free to bring your children to our concerts. They are always welcome and free to run around as much as they like, but remember that the band spends six months preparing for these concerts and would like to have the respect of our audiences. Most of our listeners would like to hear what we present without undue noise.

Concert #4, Sunday, July 31, 2011

rockportlegionband — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:40:29 +0000

Jason Howard leads the band this week. Music list has been moved to “Previous Concert Programs”.

As usual, we welcome families with children. There will be special pieces played that are geared towards children’s activities, but we do ask that there be no yelling and screaming.