Several Concerts coming up with the South Hadley Mandolin Orchestra

• Sunday, May 6, 2018 - RIVER ROLL & STROLL - South Hadley/Holyoke between 11am-3pm
• Sunday, July 29, 2018 - PORTER PHELPS MUSEUM - Hadley - 2-3pm

South Hadley Mandolin Orchestra - 3rd Rehearsal

The Third Rehearsal of the South Hadley Mandolin Orchestra is scheduled for Friday, April 18th at 7:30pm

To find out more and become a member, visit the website: http://www.mandolinorchestra.org 

We are expecting between 9 and 15 players (15 have RSVP'd, but people always change their minds at the last minute), including six mandolins, two mandolas and a mandocello.

Our first loaner instrument has arrived!  This is a mandocello that will be available for anyone who wishes to play mandocello in the orchestra to use while at rehearsals and during the concert.  Made in Taiwan, it is surprisingly decent.  It has a nice tone and is relatively easy to play.

Classical Music In The Schools - Introducing The South Hadley Mandolin Orchestra to the Superintendent of Schools, Nick Young

I listened to a program on NPR a few days ago about Symphony Orchestras that are struggling to appeal to audiences. When I was a kid, every local school system had an orchestra, offered music lessons in school and had a robust music department. That's changed. Now I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of schools in Western MA that have orchestras (Amherst and East Longmeadow).

The problem isn't that classical music doesn't appeal to people. It does! Classical music offers something for everyone.

The problem is that there is no community support for orchestras in the schools any more. That has to change before anything else.

I had a meeting with Nick Young, the Superintendent of Schools for South Hadley High School last week. I wanted to talk to him about starting up a pilot String Program in the school. He was very interested. Of course there is no money for something like that in the schools, so it would have to be a parent-supported program, after school.

It's really a Catch-22 isn't it? There is no money in the budget for music, so parents, if they want their kids to learn music, have to pay out extra for it. Meanwhile there is always enough money for sports and athletic equipment.

I introduced the idea of the South Hadley Mandolin Orchestra, among other things. I think there is some interest there, but whether or not the kids will want to participate, is another matter

http://shmo.adamrsweet.com

Enter to win a FREE A-STYLE MANDOLIN

Like our Facebook Page to enter to win a FREE A-STYLE MANDOLIN with padded case, chord book and free introduction lesson to get you started!

All you have to do to be eligible for the FREE MANDOLIN is register for either the Mandolin Group, the South Hadley Mandolin Orchestra, or private Mandolin Lessons (in person or online). Click here to register.

There will be a drawing from all of the entries at 7pm on Monday, January 6, 2014.

(sorry, only new students are eligible for the drawing)