March 2009

Union organizes for ‘sustainable’ music

guidelines simply because they were

by Adam Eshleman

already being met for the most part,” said

The Central Pennsylvania Musicians’

David Staab, manager of Zeno’s.

Association—a local musicians’ union—is

He said signing written contracts is the

spearheading an initiative to foster fair

only change he’ll have to make.

relations between local performing musi-

“The agreement will not affect cover

cians and the venues that host them.

charges or change payment strategies,” he

Members of the American Federation of

said. “Musicians that are worth having are

Musicians Local

660 are approaching

worth paying.”

music-friendly bar-owners in the State

Although Café

210, another State

College area, asking them to pay musi-

College bar, hasn’t yet agreed to AFM

cians a minimum wage and sign contracts

660’s terms, owner J. R. Mangan said he

to cement the terms of their employment,

plans to eventually.

Chris Lee, the union’s president, told

“I think it’s a good idea,” he said. “Most

Voices . In exchange for support of this ini-

bands in this town play straight for door

tiative, AMF 660 is promising to designate

charges and that can be hit or miss on a

participating bars “sustainable music ven-

slow night. I’m a musician myself, so I’m

ues,” which it believes will provide a com-

a little biased.”

petitive advantage.

Lee said the union conducted a survey to

“We want to work with bar owners to

establish local musicians’ average nightly

facilitate relations with musicians and

income and set a widely agreeable mini-

Photo by Adam Eshleman

develop high quality music,” said Lee.

Zeno’s Pub in State College is the first AFM 660 “sustainable music venue,” a designation that tells

mum wage. In most cases, he said, the price

The campaign is engineered to benefit

customers that the venue signs a contract and pays an established minimum wage to musicians.

floor they decided on isn’t higher than what

all local musicians, not just union mem-

bars are currently paying musicians.

effort for all musicians to create a better

Last month, Zeno’s Pub in State College

bers.

While a minimum wage is important in

environment and community. We want this

was the first to sign on.

“Our interest is in creating better music

area to be a destination for audiences seek-

“After discussing the proposal and its

in general, not creating an environment of

ing high quality music.”

ramifications, I agreed to operate under the

see AFM 660 , pg. 22

insiders and outsiders,” he said. “This is an

Penn State to host Japanese drum ensemble Kodo

by Craig Keener

apprentices and incorporate influences from

all over the world at a village located on

Part drum ensemble, part choreographed dance, Kodo

For Kodo, Japan’s premier traditional

Sado, a small island that was once a home

demonstrates a range of masculine and feminine voices on

drum ensemble, a barrage of drums and ele-

for political exiles during the rule of the

gant motions pay homage to storied tradi-

various tunable drums, the largest of which weighs 800

emperors.

tions and bright futures alike.

pounds. The group believes that by sharing their musical her-

Akimoto said Sado has become cultural-

With

25 performing members and a

itage on the world stage, they can help promote greater

ly-rich from the collection of progressive

diverse collection of taiko—Jpanese tradi-

minds living there over the generations,

understanding between cultures.

tional drums—Kodo represents an ancient

along with the island’s exposure to interna-

lifestyle that is often neglected in contem-

tional gold trade. Different cultures inter-

porary Japan.

acting and adopting practices led to a

Part drum ensemble, part choreographed

strong folk and performing arts tradition

their personalities or physical characteris-

tective nature of each of us, especially when

dance, Kodo demonstrates a range of mas-

on the Island, eventually spawning Kodo

tics, but most importantly they try to be

we deal with people from other cultures.

culine and feminine voices on various tun-

in 1989.

Kodo, or, “Children of the Drum.”

“We hope people will learn to be open to

able drums, the largest of which weighs 800

The group stresses the importance of this

True to its namesake, Kodo has a rever-

more in their lives,” Akimoto said. “To keep

pounds. The group believes that by sharing

long history, which borrows from tradition-

ence for the simple joys of childhood.

the hearts of children.”

their musical heritage on the world stage,

al Japanese art forms, while blending in

“Our dream is to hold onto the heart of a

In fact “heartbeat” is another interpreta-

they can help promote greater understand-

contemporary Indian, Indonesian and

child,” said group representative Jun

tion of the word Kodo.

ing between cultures. This is the motto of

African drumming traditions.

Akimoto, referring to what the performers

“The heartbeat is the core of all human

the group’s One Earth tour that will stop in

Sometimes the music will take a line

strive to feel onstage.

beings,” said Akimoto. “We’ve heard our

State College March 18.

from the heavy, bass-drenched drumming of

“When you become an adult it’s very dif-

mother’s heartbeat in the womb and we try

Kodo wants its students and its audiences

Ivo Shoto, a small island chain not far from

ficult to return to a child, to be honest with

to maintain that experience

[with our

all over the world to be aware of something

ourselves,” Akimoto told Voices . With this

music].”

different from their daily lives. The per-

goal in mind, Kodo’s performers try to be

Kodo comes from a place with a long his-

formers often have their own preferences

see Kodo , pg. 22

very open and honest, in contrast to the pro-

tory of counter-culture. Members train new

and styles of drumming, each reflecting

March 2009

Boalsburg author pens story of first Memorial Day

by Natalie Ferrigno

lesson ideas. One of these ideas is to have

“When I was growing up, I

students compare Memorial Day in the

Today’s K-12 history classes neglect

1860s and today’s celebration. The goal is

thought history was really

many interesting stories.

to make children see how far the current

boring. It was just a list of

One of those stories is the founding of

celebrations are from the original obser-

years and events that have

Memorial Day, which first blossomed dur-

vances.

ing the Civil War right here in Centre

no meaning. [My story] has

“I don’t think that most kids get into a

County—as well as in a few other loca-

a lot of meaning.”

cemetery on Memorial Day,” she said.

tions across the country. Boalsburg author

The lesson plans also recommend chil-

--Janice Sweet McElhoe

Janice Sweet McElhoe chronicled this

dren look at what has not changed, namely

event in her self-published novel The

the way people perceive war. In the novel,

Shadows Of War .

the young Army recruits are excited about

The book is about Emma Hunter and

tributor, that will help her get into big books

the glory of war. As the story progresses,

Sophie Keller, the two fourteen-year-old

stores, such as Barnes and Noble. She is

they and the other characters are slowly

girls who observed the first Memorial Day

also working to get her book used in

shown the horrible reality.

in Boalsburg. The girls held the first cere-

schools as part of the curriculum.

McElhoe compares them to her nephew

mony after Emma’s father died in battle. It

Literature has a lot of competition for

Janice Sweet McElhoe

who was once eager to join the Army. After

consisted of walking slowly to his grave,

young people’s attention these days. By tar-

boot camp, she said, “a lot of that shine is

where they left flowers, a wreath, and a

geting them while they are still in school

the war in Iraq. The total is something over

gone.” She said soldiers from both eras

cross.

and surrounded by books, McElhoe hopes

4,000. In one [Civil War] battle they lost

experience the same disillusionment.

A few years later, the practice had spread

that Shadows of War will kindle a lifetime

17,000,” said McElhoe,. “You could have

In spite of this, she said, as a nation we

throughout Pennsylvania and was declared

of reading for students.

cousins shooting at each other. You could

have forgotten what Memorial Day truly

an official holiday.

“A lot of kids get away from reading and

have brothers shooting against one another.

means.

McElhoe chose to stick mostly to the

handling books because it’s just not

It was grief. I think there was no family that

“I suppose it’s a lot like Christmas. A lot

facts, but to make the story more vivid, she

required in their lives, she said. “We’ve got

was untouched by the grief.”

of people just think about Santa Claus com-

fictionalized certain aspects.

computers and that’s where their interest is.

To help teachers use Shadows of War in

ing and don’t think about what it was origi-

“When I was growing up, I thought histo-

So I think while they’re still in school, [is]

class, Mcelhoe has set up a Web site with

nally,” she said.

ry was really boring because you learned

most likely [when] I can have them interest-

what happened in this year and what hap-

ed in the story.”

pened in that year,” she said. “It [was] just a

McElhoe aims to not only shed light on a

list of years and events that have no mean-

little known story, but also to teach middle

ing. This has a lot of meaning and this real-

school children the true meaning of

ly was what happened.”

Memorial Day. For the characters Emma

To get the story out, McElhoe first tar-

and Sophie, the day was not about a three-

geted national publishers. But in an era of

day weekend or throwing backyard barbe-

escapist literature where fantasy series like

ques; it was a far more solemn affair.

Harry Potter and Twilight dominate young

“I make it very clear that they observed

adult fiction, she found it difficult to find a

Memorial Day. We now talk about celebrat-

publisher interested in printing a historical

ing [Memorial Day]. They were not cele-

novel for young readers. After gathering a

brating,” she said.

sizable pile of rejection letters, McElhoe

The book can also be used to compare the

took the risk of self-publishing.

Civil War and the current war overseas.

Right now, she is sending the books out

“Memorial Day came from the grief. We

on her own, but is in the market for a dis-

talk about how many people have died in

Huntingdon County Arts Council

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March 2009

Voices reporter takes a shot at the spotlight

the audition,” he said.

by Lindsay Chew

Right away intimidation washed over me and I felt my

Although there were no baked goods

For a seasoned actor or actress, the audi-

hands beginning to get clammy. Knowing it was now or

thrown around at this audition, I understood

tion process is an easy one.

never, I ruffed up my petite voice, spread my legs farther

what Zanitsch meant.

There is no real preparation other than

When a petite and timid-looking young

than usual and began to read.

maybe memorizing a monologue and put-

woman walked through the door of the

ting together an outfit. It’s a

30-second

audition, I assumed she would audition for

block of time for them to easily slip out of

director, Jason Zanitsch, sat.

chance to speak with Zanitsch to get his

the role of Miranda, the 15-year-old girl

their own personality and into another.

Right away intimidation washed over me

perspective on the audition process.

who falls in love with the ship-wrecked

However, for the average person, 30 sec-

and I felt my hands beginning to get clam-

“The director wants everyone coming

prince.

onds becomes a life time and all the prepa-

my.

through to be perfect,” said Zanitsch, a vet-

Yet when she opened her mouth, a boom-

ration in the world can’t prevent tripping

“So who would you like to read for?”

eran director and high school teacher in

ing voice rang out and she began to traipse

over words or making awkward movement

asked Zanitsch. With only a high school

New York. “We want the tough choices.”

around the room using all of her limbs to

just to fill the space.

memory of The Tempest, I said the only

And that’s exactly what Zanitsch got. A

emphasize her words. She had not read for

I recently took the opportunity to audition

character that I could recall, “Trinculo.”

plethora of local talent, ages ranging from

Miranda, but for Ariel, a male spirit who, in

for Shakespeare’s The Tempest, which is

Handing me an excerpt highlighting

10 to 65, flooded the audition.

the scene she was acting, soliloquizes about

being hosted this summer by The Nittany

Trinculo, I quickly remembered that not

Along with the diverse ages came diverse

fire and death.

Valley Shakespeare Festival, for this story.

only is this character a man, but in this par-

personalities and interpretations of the char-

But the show is not always about the main

The experience was unforgettable.

ticular scene, he’s a drunken man.

acters.

roles; it also is about the audience.

Walking into the small, sparse room, the

Knowing it was now or never, I ruffed up

“Everyone brings something different to

Susan Riddiford Shedd, the operations

first thing to catch my attention was the

my petite voice, spread my legs a little far-

the table and makes the character their

manager for The State Theatre and long-

heat of the lights and the space in which I

ther than usual and began to read.

own,” said Zanitsch.

time actress, said you can’t have a show

would have to audition. The 20- by 20-foot

I swayed back and forth a bit and let my

Zanitsch recalled a high school expo he

without an audience and a lot of acting is

room I would soon have to fill with my

words slur, but as hard as I tried, I tripped

had attended, where one girl performed a

based on audience reaction.

presence suddenly looked like a football

over a few words and even sometimes my

monologue in which she smeared a HoHo

“The common shared experience you

field.

own two feet.

in her face. “You just never know what you

have together is what makes it special,” she

In the room was one table where the

After my attempt at the spot light, I got a

are going to get when a person walks into

said.

March 2009

tional lifestyles,” said Akimoto.

from Kodo , pg. 19

The sounds of the drums can inspire an

audience to see life differently. But what

Tokyo, and other times the music will

you get out of it is ultimately up to you.

incorporate fast and intricate drumming

Akimoto said he doesn’t think the perform-

techniques from South American origins.

ers expect their audience to come away with

In modern Japan, the musical group is an

any one feeling.

alternative to growing urbanization and a

“We are happy if people come and enjoy

recent emphasis in Western business cul-

a special time,” said Akimoto. “I try to sep-

ture.

arate from regular life; it’s our responsibili-

“We don’t want to deny other lifestyles,

ty to make [the audience] feel like that. It’s

but rather combine contemporary and tradi-

what we do.”

Band] would have signed a contract,” she

said.

“I wish all bands would sign con-

from AFM 660 , pg. 19

tracts; it would be so much easier.”

“[This dispute] was a very sad and dif-

creating a healthier music scene, written

ficult thing,” said Jennifer Hesketh, a

contracts are vital to maintaining healthy

member of the former Phyrst Phamily

relationships between management and

Band. “But any band you talk to can tell

musicians.

you about having to move around to differ-

“By getting bar-owners and musicians to

ent venues because of arguments with

agree to terms in black and white upfront,

management. We just want to play and

we’ll have smoother relations,” Lee said.

have fun, and it’s unfortunate things like

“The bar owners I’ve talked to actually

this have to get in the way.”

like written contracts.”

Hesketh and her band now play at The

He said written contracts would have

Brewery, another State College bar, under

avoided dissonance last December

the name The Family Brew.

between the management at The Phryst, a

Photo provided

Local full-time musician and AFM 660

bar in State College, and the Phyrst

With “the heart of a child,” a Kodo performer beats on a booming 800-pound drum. The traditional

Phamily Band, a music group that per-

member Rick Hirsch said he also supports

Japanese drum ensemble will performer at the Eisenhower Auditorium March 18.

the sustainable music campaign.

formed there weekly for the past 22 years.

“What’s good about it is that it’s not

The manager refused to pay the band

heavy handed,” he said of the initiative.

their usual amount because one member

“It’s a really thoughtful gesture in terms of

was absent. The resulting dispute escalat-

being considerate of the venue owners as

ed to a physical altercation. Afterwards,

well. It’s not a take-it-or-leave-it; it’s not

the band quit despite being offered more

Honda thinking in action.

a traditional labor demand.”

money to stay, said Kathy DiMuccio, a

He said anything to strengthen the local

member of the original Phyrst Phamily

Honda is committed

music community is valuable

“because

Zero emissions

Band, which replaced the former in the

to creating and

State College is an extremely transient

Future technology

advancing

wake of this argument.

town and the music scene fluctuates here.”

Responsibility

environmental

“I wish

[the former Phyrst Phamily

Fuel-economy

technologies for a

security. But what if we each understood

leadership

cleaner world.

that our primary purpose in life isn’t to take

from Stimulus , pg. 15

care of ourselves? Instead, what if we

Environmentology is

There are a thousand ways to “stimulate”

understood that our primary job was to

Honda's ongoing

commitment to

our humanity and few of them, it seems,

make sure that everyone in our community

environmentally

have very much to do with giving out

was taken care of?

responsible

money.

In this new world we wouldn’t have to

technology.

I wonder if it is really fear that is our

worry about ourselves precisely because

biggest enemy in these times? When fear

that would be everyone else’s job! I’m not

takes us over, we contract and our hands

promoting utopia. After all utopia” actually

"Action without

move from open- to close-fisted. But need

derives from the Greek meaning “nowhere.”

philosophy is a lethal

we be afraid? By any assessment, isn’t

In contrast, inspired by Wendell Berry and

weapon; philosophy

without actions is

The Power of Dreams

there enough to go around for all of us to

others, my interest lies in stimulating

worthless."

survive with dignity in our neighborhoods

“somewheres”—millions and millions of

-Soichiro Honda, Founder of

and nation?

them—places stimulating in their simplici-

Honda Motor Co., LTD.

Perhaps the real challenge in these times

ty and sufficiency.

is to shift from the mindset of scarcity to the

In the end, I suppose my hope resides in

consciousness of sufficiency. This would

“recovery” of a very different order,

Dix Honda

mean, at least in part, redefining what con-

beyond markets and economies, toward

stitutes a “successful” life. At present we

neighborhood, neighborliness, and neigh-

2796 W. College Avenue State College, PA 16801

tend to think of “success” in terms of our

borhood commons—21st Century citizen-

(814) 238-6711 Toll Free (800) 829-6711

individual accomplishments and personal

ship.