V.com weekend vote: Have you ever held a concert, recital or jam session in your home?

October 9, 2009 at 9:11 PM

With Joshua Bell completely making over his Manhattan home to accommodate at-home performances, I've been thinking:

I'd like to do that myself. Hah!

Despite not having any kind of sound-proofing in my home, despite living in extremely close proximity to my neighbors and in a rather small place, I do make quite a lot of music in my house, including the annual holiday jam session, as well as a few mini-recitals for kids. I've also held a few studio recitals in the homes of students.

I love making music in this setting, be it a planned recital or spontaneous music-making. The warm environment of a home brings me back to what it's all about: sharing music with family and friends.. I also love throwing together various random instruments and just reading, or playing by ear, or a combination. What fun!

Have you ever held a music-making event in your home? If so, tell us all about it!

poll by twiigs.com

From Michael Divino
Posted on October 9, 2009 at 10:41 PM

String quartet rehearsal?

From Corwin Slack
Posted on October 10, 2009 at 2:19 AM

Last spring I hired some ringers and I performed Beethoven Op 59 No. 1 for some friends and family. It was scary but we had no breakdowns or stops and only a few skipped notes. I think that the hand-picked no-musicians (except my wife) audience seemed to enjoy it or at least they were polite.

From Barry Nelson
Posted on October 10, 2009 at 4:30 PM

just had a jam last night with a harp player and drummer on bongos. This harp player is quite amazing and can play nearly any genre . I switched from violin to guitar and it had a real island music feel.

Very fun time :)

PS. Harp, not harmonica ;)

From Margaret Lee
Posted on October 10, 2009 at 6:25 PM

We had some chamber music performances years ago, and lately it's been more mini-recitals. Every event is accompanied by FOOD, so while the music may not be top-notch, everything put together seems to make for an enjoyable time.

From LUIS CLAUDIO MANFIO
Posted on October 11, 2009 at 12:54 AM

I called a soprano and a pianist for a private recital some years ago... I should do that again...

www.manfio.com

From Mendy Smith
Posted on October 11, 2009 at 2:51 AM

My B-day party was a musical event with random musicians & instruments showing up. We played everything from solos, a clarinet/viola/piano sonata, vln/viola duets, vla/vla duets etc... This seems to be becoming a fairly regular event in the Smith house.

From Kay Pech
Posted on October 11, 2009 at 3:13 PM

We have "small recitals" every few weeks in my home. Our next one is on Sunday, October 25 at 7:30 pm in Cerritos, California. You're invited (RSVP needed due to limited seating). We're remembering the wonderful music of FRITZ KREISLER and endeavoring to emulate his beautiful TONE...... including Praeludium and Allegro (played by a violist, then again by a violinist), Liebesfreud as a quartet, Liebesleid (all students in unison together) and many more "good treats." http://www.chambermusicinstitute.com/events.html

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on October 12, 2009 at 4:57 PM

Mendy, that sounds like a lot of fun.

I've had plenty of jams at my home, and it's always fun. Sometimes a violinist friend comes over and we spend about two hours reading through various books of music, things we've played a long time ago and forgotten or current favorites. It is fun, and it really helps me stay in shape musically.

From Kathryn Woodby
Posted on October 12, 2009 at 9:09 PM

I have a pianist friend who occasionally holds beautiful events in her home. I'm an apartment dweller so nothing that fancy, but had a few college friends over for a violin shopping trip a few years back, and we played everything we could think of till like midnight. The neighbors probably didn't appreciate that but we sure had fun!

From Laurie Niles
Posted on October 12, 2009 at 11:26 PM

Kay, what a great idea to have a theme for the recital.

I do think that the food is very key to a nice home recital!

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