CONTACTS:
President
Gordon Sutherland
Mob: 027 636 8589
Email: gosuthgm@gmail.com
Treasurer and Media Manager
Warren Levick
Mob: 029 927 7365
Email: warrenlevick@gmail.com
Secretary
Delyse Whorwood
Mobile: 021 0843 7179
Email: delysew1@gmail.com
Events Manager
Kay Boyes
Ph: (09) 476 631 Mob: 021 702 719
Email: russkay98@gmail.com
BACKGROUND:
Welcome to the North Shore Music and Keyboard Club. The Club was established in 1977 to share the joy of music playing amongst a friendly group of like-minded music lovers – both players and non-playing enthusiasts. Originally, the focus was on electronic organs but this has evolved over time to keep in touch with the modern idiom where we see keyboards and pianos in vogue. The Club owns a state of the art Yamaha Clavinova CVP-809 digital piano. The digital piano allows our acoustic piano enthusiasts to emulate their home instrument but with the added fun of full orchestration and rhythms if they so wish. Additionally, the Club uses a big screen to show the musicians actually playing the keyboard - thus every seat in the house is 'dress circle'. With artists' permission, we also publish on YouTube and our Blog videos of the performances.
The Club publishes a monthly Newsletter with photos and reports on our future programme and past events. This can be sent by post or by email for those with computers.
CLUB NIGHTS:
The Club meets on the first Tuesday each month at 7.00 pm for a 7.15 pm music start at the Takapuna Bowling Club, Bracken Avenue, Takapuna, Auckland. Entry fee for members is $5 and visitors $8 and under 16 year olds $1. We have a member playing the arrival music from about 6.45 pm until about 7.10 pm whilst people arrive and settle down. The Committee invites members to play on a rotation basis (playing is optional so you don’t have to play if you prefer to be a listener-type member). All members wishing to play an instrument are given the chance every two or three months. Usually, members play three or four pieces. At about 8.00 pm we break for a 30 minute tea break (supper included in the entry fee) - a good time to socialize. The meetings aim to close at 9.30 pm sharp but a few members may be more comfortable leaving a little earlier and this is perfectly in order. Normally, we aim to have an invited guest play for us and this usually fills the second-half of the evening’s entertainment. The guests are usually well known musicians in the Auckland area and add a touch of professionalism for the members to enjoy and take inspiration from.
COFFEE DAYS:
Usually on the third Tuesday, the Club members enjoy visiting the home of one of our members that kindly offer their hospitality for the day. This affords our members the opportunity to try out different instruments in a very informal atmosphere, although playing is not compulsory if you just wish to listen or chat. Members bring a plate for a finger lunch and arrive about 10.30 am and we normally finish about 3.00 pm. Some months we hold our Coffee Days at Lifestyle Villages using their luxurious lounges and cafeteria facilities. These Coffee Days give us very comfortable surroundings and plenty of room for our instruments. We call these days "Community Music Days" rather than Coffee Days.
BRINGING MUSIC TO THE COMMUNITY:
The Club also takes music out to the Community whereby our members will volunteer to take their keyboards and PA gear along to Community Groups like Age Concert and Libraries to share the joy of music with as broader spectrum of the public as possible. Some of the events can be seen in the Club's postings.
MEMBERSHIP:
Whilst visitors are most welcome and may visit as often as they wish for those that wish to join the Club the Annual Subscriptions are: $15 individual or $25 for a family. From September through January membership is extended until the end of the following year.
