The Editor's Ego

I thought I'd have to start my last column with the grave news that this would be the last issue of the Newsletter for the foreseeable future. Happily, I was wrong. We have several people who are interested in carrying on the production of the Newsletter as a committee. If you're interested in getting involved, but didn't want the entire responsibility, now's your chance to join up! After five years of putting out the Newsletter, I need a break and the Newsletter could use a fresh perspective. Of course, I plan to remain active in the Folk Guild, just in different capacities (nothing official, though, for a while). It's been a great experience and I'd like to thank all of you who have made it so. I can't wait to get a Newsletter in the mail that I've never seen before!

Although this is the last issue of the season, there's plenty going on in the months to come. Not least of which is the 20th Anniversary Concert. Rumor has it that some nifty 20th Anniversary T-shirts will make an appearance in the near future and don't forget the picnic.

Thanks for your time and attention. Take care and best regards.

20th Year Concert Celebration

In July 1999 the Hudson Valley Folk Guild celebrates its 20th Anniversary as a sustained grass-roots movement dedicated to promoting the music we love, helping others and providing opportunities for folks to express themselves in song through open stages, benefits and special events.

We are planning to celebrate our 20th Anniversary with two special concerts at the Vassar Brothers Institute Theatre in downtown Poughkeepsie on Friday and Saturday evenings, August 6th and 7th at 8pm. Performers from throughout our 20 years will be appearing over the course of the two nights. Each concert will have a round-robin format similar to the very successful Christmas concert presented by the Friends of Fiddler's Green Chapter back in December. Our concert committees are being formed as you read this. If you'd like to help out, we'd love to hear from you! Please call Kevin Becker at 914-229-0170. Here are some of your favorite Folk Guild performers you will see as we celebrate and savor all the friendship, comraderie and accomplishments over the past 20 years!

Steve Allen, Carol Becker, Kevin Becker, Linda Breithaupt, Lyn Burnstine, Andy Ferraro, Denise Finley, Rich Keyes, Barbara Mahon, John Martucci, Rebekah Martucci, Bruce Morrison, Joe Murray, Cheryl Rice, Vince Sauter, Dan Schiavetta, Amy Strom, Brian Sullivan, Frank Tetler, Lu Ann Volnick, Elliott Zucker.

The Function and Shaping of Fretted Instrument Nuts

The nut of a fretted instrument serves three purposes. It transmits string energy to the neck, helps determine the string action, and sets string spacing at the low end of the fretboard.

As with the saddle, the choice of materials and the fit are critical to producing good sound. Bone is the material of choice for fretted instrument nuts because its hardness and density make it an excellent transmitter of string energy. The nut must fit the nut shelf and the end of the fretboard precisely, with the front face of the nut square and perpendicular to the end of the fretboard. If it isn't accurately fit, two problems arise. Less string energy is transmitted to the neck resulting in a loss of tone and volume, and the distance from the nut to the frets is altered, producing incorrect intonation at every fret position. The nut should be glued in place with hot hide glue. Also known as violin maker's glue, among the available adhesives hot hide glue is the best transmitter of string energy.

The depth of the nut slots sets the action at the lower end of the fretboard. This frequently neglected factor makes a big difference in the way an instrument feels. With a capo between the 3rd and 4th frets, there should be a gap of .002" measured with a feeler gauge between the top of the 1st fret and the bottom of the 1st and 2nd strings. A .003" gap is required for the 3rd and 4th strings, while a .004" gap is used to set the 5th and 6th strings. When the clearance is too great the instrument may be uncomfortable to play. Insufficient clearance will allow the strings to rattle and buzz.

Nut slots should be cut parallel to the face of the headstock, with their highest point at the end where the strings extend over the fretboard. The slot ends should flare open where they face the tuners. Because the strings enter the slots at an angle, this flaring prevents the string windings from hanging up. The bottom of the slots should be level, with a round cross section to ensure maximum string contact and transmission of string energy. Once the slots have been cut to the correct depth and properly shaped, the top of the nut is arched to match the arch of the fretboard and saddle, with the upper halves of the wound strings exposed above the top of the nut.

There are two ways to determine string spacing. While it's generally agreed that there should be 1/8th" from the outer edges of the nut to the outer edges of the 1st and 6th strings, some people prefer to set the string spacing with dividers, marking an equal distance from the center of one slot to the center of the next. I prefer using repairman Don Teeter's mathematical formula which calculates an equal air space between each string.

Having the nut and saddle properly shaped and precisely fit are among the most important factors in having an instrument reach its potential sound and playability.

Friends of Fiddler's Green Chapter Concerts

Our wise winter concert scheduling (of performers who don't have to drive too far) included Jay Mankita, on February 19, with Katy Taylor and Amy Fradon, all part of the incredible wealth of talent to be enjoyed in the Hudson Valley. Jay was funny, quirky as promised, but also sensitive and thoughtful in his many songs about caring for the environment and each other. The women added amazing harmonies, and an addition treat was hearing Amy (who will be back in September for a snow date) sing some songs by herself.

On March 5, Kim & Reggie Harris honored us with their unusually beautiful voices and harmonies, as these internationally acclaimed artists wove a fabric of black musical history for us, in addition to original songs and familiar songs to sing along on. Their warm stage presence attested to their great love of the music and of their audiences, and this audience certainly returned it!

St. Patrick's Day and National Women's History Month were both observed and honored by The Alewives on March 12. Lovely harmonies by Bette Minervini and Sarah Underhill, beautiful fiddle melodies by Helen Stokoe, and a multitude of instruments and vocal stylings by the irrepressible and talented Susan Deane-Miller added up to a charming evening.

One of our goals at FFG is to "catch" touring international and national performers who can squeeze us into their schedule. That goal was admirably met on March 21 with autoharp virtuoso Bryan Bowers, who amazed and amused us with his twenty fingers (I swear!) on autoharp and with his spellbinding stories. He generously gave us a two-and-a- half hour concert and nobody left early. (Ian Bruce from Scotland will be our second "catch" this season, on May 21.)

HVFG Presence

On March 17, Loraine Klara and Patricia Bradaigh appeared at the Poughkeepsie Galleria as part of the musical entertainment program for the Poughkeepsie AARP's Older Worker Week celebration.......Irish Rain provided the music for several St. Patrick's Day parties, including Dutchess Horizons in Poughkeepsie and the Rehab Unit at St. Francis Hospital. Irish Rain is Barbara Mahon, Tom Walker, Steve Otlowski, and Bill Wemmerus.......Also in March, a benefit for DCAC at Barnes & Noble featured Denise Finley & Joe Murray.......In April, Lazy River performed for an Earth Day celebration at the Presbyterian Church in Patterson .......Kevin & Carol Becker with Rich Keyes gave several performances (in 18th-century period garb!) at Phillipsburg Manor in Sleepy Hollow.

Membership Record Eclipsed for 13th Straight Year

April 1st is the time of the year when the Folk Guild takes a "point in time" measurement of its membership rolls. For the 13th consecutive year the membership of the Folk Guild has risen to new heights, eclipsing last year's record of 354 to 391 members! The slow, steady growth of our membership, mailing list, audience and performing members speaks volumes about the arts and entertainment value we deliver to this region and also reflects the growing need for organizations like ours which provide opportunities for self actualization and self development. Of particular note this year is the significant number of folks who have been especially generous sending in a record number of memberships at the Patron, Sustaining, and Angel levels! We would like to publicly thanks these special friends for their generosity.

ANGELS ($100 or more):

Kevin and Carol Becker, Ken and Betty Folster, John and Rebekah Martucci, Scott Morrison

SUSTAINING ($50 or more)

Steve and Sue Allen, Ken Gonyea, Bob and Penny Lusk, Gordon Maxwell, Eileen Morrison, Jay Williams

PATRONS ($25 or more)

Helen Avakian, Dale and Karen Becker, Linda Breithaupt, Emerson and Gail Burger, John Calen, Frank Collin, Joshua Friedman, Les Herrin, Sheila Hodgkiss, Cheryl Kelley, Rich and Irene Keyes, Walter and Lorraine Klara, Steve and Debbie Otlowski, Red and Susan Rogers, Howard Slocum, Roger Sprung, Brian Sullivan, Bruce Swanson, The Wall Cafe, Elliott Zucker

Hudson Valley Folk Guild Annual Membership Drive Analysis (4/01/99)

HVFG Personalities

As I've become more familiar with various HVFG members, I'm often intrigued by their musical background and the circumstances that brought them to the Folk Guild, and I thought these stories might be of interest to others as well. So, along with all the wonderful technical information this newsletter offers, each month we will also "feature" the more personal side of one or two of our performing members.

After leaving several messages with various members, Loraine Klara has graciously accepted my invitation to be my first interviewee. As I suspected, her story of how music and the HVFG have become a part of her and her family's life was most interesting; and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute listening (and typing) while she enthusiastically shared her experiences.

Frequent attendees at Folk Guild events may not know Loraine as a performer (she and her husband, Walt, are regularly part of the Poughkeepsie coffeehouse audience). Although she prefers performing with others, Loraine sings and plays the accordion (often solo), and generally performs popular songs from the 30s and 40s, songs her audiences of nursing home residents thoroughly enjoy.

Loraine's musical journey began when she was 11. Encouraged by her father (an accordionist in a small band that played at local weddings to earn extra income for the family), she started taking music lessons to please her family. Not the most popular instrument for little girls, Loraine set it aside for many years; but as she looks back, she recognizes the impact taking accordion lessons has had on her life, and is most grateful for her father's gift of music. 25 years later, Loraine picked up the accordion again and volunteered for her first performance, entertaining residents the Glen Eagles Rest Home in Dutchess County nursing home (no longer in existence). To her surprise, the people really loved it, providing just the hook to reestablish her relationship with her instrument; and before long was playing for her prayer group, other retirement homes, and (oh my goodness) even for her own enjoyment!

About 10 years ago, Loraine found out about Folk Guild activities from her son, Rob (now 30, living in NYC, and a feature writer for restaurant business publications). Rob had become friendly with one of Carol Becker's younger brothers while attending DCC, and the whole family started attending Folk Guild events. While their little daughter Maria (now 21) slept on a makeshift bed in the audience, mom and dad could listen to the performances. They quickly became regulars, enjoying the music and the people for a most comfortable evening out; and about two years ago, Loraine also started performing at Folk Guild coffeehouses.

Sometimes the most amazing things happen to us accidentally. Recently, Loraine's husband Walt bought a Martin guitar from Rich Bala (whom they knew from the Folk Guild), and while at a Martin guitar repair shop on a Monday in Albany, Loraine found herself having a conversation (surely about music!) with a customer in the store, who turned out to be the conductor of the River Bank Banjo Band. As fate would have it, the "band" was rehearsing and performing that very evening in Poughkeepsie at the Steak and Stein on Route 9, and Loraine was invited to sit in with them. Thinking this was indeed a ludicrous activity for a woman in her 50's, Loraine decided to give it a try anyway, and is now a band regular. Comprised of members from all over the Hudson Valley, their oldest member is 90 and their lead singer 85 (give or take a year). They are a completely not-for-profit band formed about 20 years ago, and all monies collected by passing the hat are donated to children's charities. They continue to perform every Monday at the Steak and Stein.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Loraine and Walt moved to Dutchess County in 1963 to be near Walt's job as an electrical engineer at IBM (now retired). A stay-at-home mom, Loraine now runs a calligraphy business out of home in Hopewell Junction, belongs to the Society of Scribes and Hudson Valley Artisans' Guild (as well as HVFG), and continues to perform for nursing homes and mental health groups (e.g. Dutchess Horizons), thanks to that first exciting, refreshing lift she experienced at her first nursing home performance. (As I've heard from so many volunteers over the years, one always gets back so much more when we genuinely give of ourselves to others.) While none of this was planned, music has become a very important part of the Klara's lives; and they enjoy attending a wide variety of venues offered throughout the Hudson Valley. Loraine especially enjoys the variety of talent in the Folk Guild, the different levels of professional performances (from novice to expert), and appreciates the freedom to be oneself, performing for the "fun" of it in a non-intimidating environment.

Lorraine Klara (and her accordion) is, for me, a great example of what the Hudson Valley Folk Guild is all about; and from me, she gets a big hug!

Folk Guild Picnic

Bring your voices! Bring your instruments! Get ready to jam and have a great time. The Folk Guild will hold its annual picnic on Sunday, June 6, 1999 at Bowdoin County Park, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. This year's picnic will be more pot-luck intensive than before - the Folk Guild will provide beverages, paper plates, cups, etc. If you would like to be part of an effort to coordinate food (even if it merely means telling us what you plan to bring so we can work around it) please call Rebekah at (914) 255-4930.

Bowdoin Park is located in Wappingers Falls and can be reached two main ways: from the north, take Route 9 south, make a right at Old Post Rd., follow it for 2 miles (it will become Sheafe Rd. along the way); From the south, take 9 or 9D to Cty. 28 (Old Hamburg Rd.), go left (west), continue until Main St., then right, becomes Channingville, then Sheafe.