Coffee Day 21st June 2010

Another terrific Coffee Day at George and Jean Watt's home in Milford. 26 of our members gathered to enjoy a lovely day of music, social chat, good food and glorious weather! It was great to have such a selection of instruments to play with a choice of: Technics GA3 organ; acoustic piano; Korg Pa1X keyboard (one brought along by Gordon Sutherland and one by Ken Mahy); Yamaha PSR-900 keyboard (brought along by Alan Wilkins); and a Yamaha DGX-620 digital piano (brought along by Colin Crann). Lots of keyboard playing, singing and jamming - it doesn't get much better than this. Thank you George and Jean for making your home available and for all the preparation work. Also, thanks to the ladies for helping Jean out in the 'galley'.

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Club Night 1st June 2010

Over 50 members attended on the Night and were rewarded by some pretty fine music provided by six of our members. George Watt, Jim Nicholson and Colin Crann had to step-in at the last minute to cover for members with winter ailments and they did a marvelous job too! The arrival music was most ably performed by Colin Crann on the Club’s Clavinova and followed by Jim Nicholson who played three very nice numbers with rhythms (also on the Clavinova) and followed by the debut of Warren Levick on the Clavinova - where have you been Warren - very well played! Next, George Watt played the GA3 organ for us with some lively numbers and followed by the debut of Alan Dadson on the  GA3 and the Clavinova - very nice arrangements and playing Alan. The second half saw our special guest artist, Doug Farr, who brought his magnificent Technics KN7000 keyboard replete with pedalboard and swell pedal. After some magnificent playing Doug then did an amazing egg trick followed by a silent movie accompanied by some carefully selected music played through his KN7000.

The raffle of a birdie chiming wall clock was won by Glenys ‘Queen Mary’. Thanks as always to the Committee for organizing the Night so well. A special thanks to Rob Powell, President of the Organ Society of New Zealand Inc., for helping members unfamiliar with the Clavinova set-up some great style arrangements on the fly.

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Musical Extravaganza 22nd May 2010

“The Longest Day” and what a day it was! Starting at 9.45 am members of the North Shore Organ and Keyboard Club and other interested keyboard players (all music lovers were invited as guests of the NSOKC) congregated in the reception at Fairview Village for Coffee. We all then went down to the soundproof cinema room where John Bercich, the Club’s resident professional musician and keyboardist, had set-up a Yamaha PSR S-910 and Korg Pa1X keyboard for the Keyboard Techniques Workshop. From all accounts (there were 34 persons in attendance) the Workshop was very well received and very helpful with lots of good tips on technique.

PS: All photos on the day were taken by the Club Secretary, Colleen Kerr, who has, in the past, been a professional photographer. Thank you Colleen for taking the trouble to capture the essence of this lovely day and for all your post-editing!

PPS: If you hover your mouse over the photos that follows you will see some text captions.

 

                     

John Bercich then provided some sampler music for the evening’s Hawaiian Concert whilst attendees enjoyed a lovely lunch in the dining room.

  

The afternoon was taken-up with a concert by our Club Members and the audience was joined by residents of the Village as well as our members and members/friends of other music clubs. The afternoon concert started at 2 pm and finished at 4 pm. Around 130 persons thoroughly enjoyed the variety of music offered.

 

    

   

     

     

At 4.30 pm we commenced Happy Hour with more Club Members playing the grand piano, drums and keyboards whilst we enjoyed refreshments from the bar! Peter Brophy and Carole Littlejohn put on a mini-concert at 5.30 pm with an emphasis on old-time dance music which got the dance floor filled-up in double quick time!

     

    

                         

            

After a lovely a la carte dinner (for those lucky enough to book early enough) the Hawaiian Theme Concert commenced with in excess of 150 persons participating. This was led by John Bercich on his Korg keyboard and Vibraphone and joined by Jan & Kevin Johnston on keyboard and guitar plus Jeannie Marquart on vocals. What a great Concert we were treated to, which was well received with the dance floor packed all evening!

        

   

  

     

A big thank you to all the players, Fairview Village Social Committee and our Club Committee with special thanks to Peter Brophy (NSOKC Events Manager) and Colleen Kerr (NSOKC Secretary) for organizing most of the day which generally ran very smoothly. A special thank you to John Bercich for donating his professional time for free and assistance in the pre-organization. Also, thanks to Dave Winslade of Hibiscus Organ and Keyboard Club for bringing Hawaiian shirts and garlands for Club members to dress-up with.

All in all, a very special day to remember.