Entitled “So Nice To Come Home To,” the GCC Music Department will hold its first ever faculty benefit concert on Friday, April 1^st at 7:30 at The Shea Theater in Turners Falls.  Music Department Chair Matthew Shippee said the faculty who will be performing at the concert have spent this past academic year jointly focusing their teaching on repertoire from the WWII era.

The concert will feature Shippee’s band Swing Caravan, piano instructor Jeff D’Antona’s jazz trio, and guitar instructor David Goodrich’s band, the Jazz Demolition Project.  All three groups are active in the local music scene and on this night each will host guest appearances by other department faculty including drummer David Nelson, trumpet player Geoff Cunningham, guitarist Adam Bosse, bass player Otis Rogers, and jazz vocalist Sarah Clay.  All have agreed to volunteer their time to plan for and perform at the benefit concert.

Left to right: Matthew Shippee, Jeff D’Antona, David “Goody” Goodrich

“I see our students seeking diverse influences in music,” said Shippee, leader of the well-established gypsy jazz band, Swing Caravan, “and felt they would appreciate getting to know this important period of music and history.”  That inspired the decision to build a year-long curriculum focus around it.  The GCC Music Department is made up of 13 teachers, most of whom are performing artists in their own right, and 7 of whom will be taking part in the concert.  Shippee said it’s great having performing musicians on staff because professional activity and growth is an important factor in having a quality music department.

“We believe our teaching is going to be better and our students will be better served if we are all actively performing, growing and honing our skills all the time.” Shippee said. They believe that providing the music for the benefit concert is the next step in serving students; it both models the art of public performances for their students and raises funds for the department to enhance the teaching and learning experience.

“The department is just really great and we are happy to help support it. I love the forward thinking about education and creative ways of connecting,” said Goodrich, “and the benefit concert is just another example of that.”

“Our faculty get it,” said President Robert Pura, “they understand the meaningful relationships between teaching, learning and community.   They create community in and out of the classroom just as they understand that learning occurs in and out of the classroom.   The willingness of faculty to go outside the classroom to provide the very best for their students speaks to their passionate commitment to the teaching and learning experience at GCC.”

With a 675% increase in number of students majoring in music in the past five years, Shippee said he expects to see more and more overlap between on-campus studies and off-campus faculty performance.  In this example of the benefit concert, he hopes students, faculty and staff from the college and the outside community will attend to support the department and enjoy the faculty performing wearing their “professional hats”.

The GCC Music Department has had notable recent accomplishments, such as when four music majors were selected to receive scholarships for the UMass Amherst Jazz in July program last summer, or recent students who transferred to Berklee College of Music, UMass Amherst,  UMass Lowell, Northeastern and Keene State College to continue their music studies.

“This is what we want to support and grow,” said Shippee. “Student success is our first priority and the common language of music lets us reach for that in a way that the community can join in on by attending “So Nice To Come Home To” on April 1^st.”

Tickets are available at the GCC Foundation, 270 Main Street, Greenfield  (413-775-1600) and at the Main GCC Campus, One College Drive (413-775-1426).   Prices are $15 for general admission, $13 Students/Seniors and $25 to attend both the concert and a private post-event reception at the Hallmark Gallery located next to the Shea with the President Pura and the performers.

Shippee knows there is more to being a musician than being a good technician on an instrument. As a student in college and graduate school, Shippee wanted courses to answer the question “what makes some performances have a profound emotional impact on the listener, while others are ho-hum.” Such a course didn’t exist when Shippee was a student, so, as a professor, he created one. Shippee helps GCC Music majors become more expressive musicians and explore the answer to his question in Creative Musicianship, a year-long required course he’s taught since 2003.

Shippee’s article, a distillation of what he’s learned teaching this course, encourages music educators to help their students develop a greater awareness of themselves in a musical situation and how they respond to external and internal stimuli.

Shippee said, “Musicians constantly make split-second choices, deciding how to create sounds, how loud, what sound quality they want to achieve, and more. Traditional academic training in the nuts and bolts of music theory, technique, and history only goes so far. With courses like Creative Musicianship we help students be open to an ongoing process of discovery and exploration, help them recapture a sense of ‘innocence’ and playfulness as they listen to and play music.”

One exercise featured in Shippee’s article involves Music students playing improvisational music in the Art Gallery while Art students do improvisational painting. In a discussion after the exercise, students become more aware of the emotions they and their listeners experienced and what they can create when they are in a playful, experimental mindset.

Shippee said, “We’re really fortunate that GCC is very open to innovative teaching strategies. A lot of colleges aren’t as flexible. Our students become more sensitive musicians and listeners through the process of developing more mindfulness. I hope my article will inspire other music educators to incorporate mindfulness and contemplative practice in their courses. I know there is a demand for this type of course – it’s very popular at GCC and, when I tell musician friends about it, they all wish they could take it.”

For more information about Shippee’s article, the Creative Musicianship course, or the GCC Music department, contact Shippee at 413-775-1228, email shippeem@gcc.mass.edu or visit http://www.gcc.mass.edu/departments/music/

By Mary McClintock, ’82

The contribution to the Music Department was the result of festival organizers recognizing that parking for the Green River Festival, held on the grounds of GCC each July, had outgrown the capacity of the college’s lots. “We decided to designate the onsite lots as ‘premium’ parking for which a fee would be paid, then identify surrounding locations that would be free and include continuous shuttle service between the parking areas and the college,” said Ann Hamilton, Executive Director of the Chamber. Because the assessment of a parking fee was new to the festival, and its intent was more to manage the flow of traffic, rather than raise revenues, festival organizer Jim Olsen suggested that the money raised from the new system be shared between the festival and the GCC Music Department. “It makes sense that the Green River Festival, which has been bringing diverse music programming to the GCC campus for 24 years, would want to support the students at GCC as they find their own voices and rhythm,” Olsen stated.

GCC President Bob Pura expressed his appreciation to GCC’s Public Safety Office, the Chamber of Commerce and the festival planning committee for developing “a creative and positive solution” to the concern of insufficient parking spaces and traffic congestion on the college grounds during the Green River Festival. “That this outcome also has the effect of benefiting the college’s music department is another example of the many ways this community supports our students through collaborative activities,” said Pura. “GCC is proud to host the Green River Festival on the grounds of our campus each year and we look forward to continuing our work together to bring great music to the community.”

AMHERST — While University of Massachusetts students are out for summer break, musicians from across the country gathered to sing, strum and play all things jazz.

Greenfield Community College music student David Shattuck of Heath plays at the college. The 21-year-old’s interest in jazz sparked after learning the relationship between music genres. “It relates to all other genres I love, and truly is the core of American music.”
Recorder/Paul Franz

GCC music student Daniel Babineau of Athol plays keyboard at home. After completing his studies in plant, soil, and insect sciences at UMass-Amherst, Babineau decided his interests lay more in music than dirt.
Recorder/Paul Franz

Among the participants this year were Greenfield Community College students Daniel Babineau of Athol and David Shattuck of Heath. Both were chosen for a full scholarship for the summer jazz program. The program began on July 12 and ended on July 23.

The two music majors were awarded $1,200 scholarships from the GCC Music Department.

According to the event website, “Jazz in July is an extensive twoweek program focused on joining participants with jazz artists in a learning intensive environment. Jazz in July is centered on teaching improvisation and jazz styles while working to enrich the total musical experience of the participant.”

The two weeks of workshops amounted to “all-day, in-your-face jazz,” with each morning beginning and ending with jazz, said Babineau. “I wasn’t used to being so absorbed in music, playing for hours on end.”

“We played in 10-piece combo groups, learned music theory and the history of jazz, and got to see free shows at night,” said Shattuck smiling. “It was great.”

The 21-year-old Shattuck’s interest in jazz sparked after learning the relationship between music genres. “It relates to all other genres I love, and truly is the core of American music.” After realizing his love of the drums, the former English major switched his academic focus.

After completing his studies in plant, soil, and insect sciences at UMass-Amherst, Babineau decided his interests lay more in music than dirt. Majoring in music at GCC, Babineau’s focus is the piano. While he has played for five years, Babineau said two semesters in the music department accelerated his learning rate greatly. “Within a year of taking classes, I learned so much, packing more in than I had even hoped.”

The summer music program was not only informative, it also placed teaching in a different light. “Teachers would perform after class, demonstrating the skills they were teaching,” said Shattuck.

While both musicians are unsure of their future goals, they want to continue with music. “I want to make this as a career. Whether that means teaching or playing,” said Babineau.

“As long as I’m playing music, I’ll be happy,” Shattuck said laughing.

MICHELLE WILLIAMS
Recorder Intern

Of particular note are the summer plans of five other current students in the GCC Music Department. Four GCC music majors, ages 19-23 who began their academic music studies here, will be attending Jazz in July on scholarships this summer.  Jazz in July is an extensive two week program based at UMass Amherst that is focused on joining participants with Jazz artists in a learning intensive environment.  Jazz in July is centered on teaching improvisation and jazz styles while working to enrich the total musical experience of the participant at one of the leading summer jazz workshops in New England. David Shattuck of Heath (drum kit) and Daniel Babineau of Athol (piano) will be attending Jazz in July on full scholarships, and Daniel Vaccari of Royalston (drum kit) and Joel Cameron of Athol (bass) will be attending on half scholarships. The award of the scholarships for this nationally-recognized program is a statement about the strength of both these students’ abilities and determination and of the quality of the GCC Music Department Program.
Other accomplishments in the GCC Music Department include:

• A 675% increase in number of students majoring in music in the past five years;
• Nearly ten times as many students enrolled in the Applied Music Program (private lessons) in the same period;
• Two students from this year’s graduating class transferred to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, as well as other 2010 graduates transferring to UMass, Hampshire, UMass Lowell, Northeastern and Keene State College; and a former music student;
• A former GCC Music Department student who went on to obtain a Master’s Degree is now teaching at the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School in Hadley where she has been successfully integrating music improvisation as a tool in her teaching;
• Another Music Department graduate who pursued a self-designed major at UMass studied Brazilian culture and drumming and integrated a year of study in Brazil into his coursework, now works as a professional musician and educator for the international community service learning initiative, Windsor Mountain.
• Two groups of current music majors have formed out-of-school jazz/contemporary bands that have begun playing paid gigs at local venues and plan to continue over the summer.  Check your local listings for “Flabbagaster” based in Brattleboro and “Nobodies Fat” based in Athol.
• GCC Music Department faculty continue to stand out as active musicians in the Pioneer Valley jazz music scene.  This summer, readers are encouraged to stop in and hear pianist Jeff D’Antona’s trio performing every Monday at the Sierra Grille Restaurant in Northampton or trumpeter Geoff Cunningham’s group, “The Amherst Jazz Orchestra” performing every alternate Monday at the Amherst Brewing Company.

The Music Department Chair is not surprised at the array and depth of accomplishments from all of the students and faculty from the GCC Music Program.  “This is a reflection of both the hard work and dedication our students demonstrate to participate in musical training at the highest levels, and of the supportive environment for musicians of all genres that the GCC Music Department has evolved to providing in recent years,” said Shippee.

For more information about the Greenfield Community College Music Department and its programs, visit the GCC website at www.gcc.mass.edu.

When GCC Music student Dan Babineau is inspired by someone, he wants them to know. That’s why he gave a $100 donation and letter to Matthew Shippee, Chair of GCC’s Music Department.

In his letter, Dan said, “I am grateful for being here and feel very fortunate. I now know that music will be more than just a hobby in my life, and I am determined to achieve this goal more so than ever. When I feel like I have been shown the truth about what I want in life, I believe in making that known. I believe that tithing my earnings to those who help me is one of the best ways to do this. Ironically, by giving money away, I feel richer and better off. Thank you for offering such a great music department.”

Dan lives in Athol and started studying music at GCC in Fall 2009 after receiving a Bachelors degree in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Massachusetts. Dan did well with his plant pathology studies but spent most of his time playing the piano. At GCC, Dan is exploring his love for music, especially jazz and bebop. He said, “I am fond of the spontaneity of jazz. When playing jazz, I am in the moment and everything is fresh.”

After receiving Dan’s letter, Matthew Shippee said, “It was a wonderful surprise to receive such a direct expression of appreciation from a student. I shared Dan’s letter with his other music teachers because it’s really an appreciation for what the music faculty accomplishes collaboratively. In our department, we invite students to find and express their own voice. I’m grateful when students use that invitation to take action coming from a higher sense of their self and their relationship to our community. Dan is exceptional and his donation is just one way he gives back to our department and the broader college community. I’ve also shared the letter with others on campus, especially Humanities Dean Leo Hwang-Carlos, because Dan’s positive experience is the result of what many people at GCC do for students directly and indirectly every day.”

Matthew Shippee, Dan Babineau, Regina Curtis, Leo Hwang-Carlos

Reflecting on his donation to the GCC Foundation for the music department, Dan said, “Many people think they don’t have much to give, but I think giving the littlest amount can make you feel better and make a big difference for yourself and others. Many people are stressed by money. By giving money to people and organizations that inspire me, I feel great and it makes me believe even more in what I’m doing.”