AUBURN - For many years, Bob Piorun has been a formidable force in Auburn musical circles, both as a performer and instructor.
This marks the eighth year the Schweinfurth Art Center has hosted the musical/performing arts series led by Piorun. The series is designed to give those in the community with musical aspirations and interests, the opportunity to perform as well as explore various aspects of music from composition to improvisation.
The classes, which run through April 10, will cover a wide gambit of music each night, in a fairly informal manner, lead by Piorun and other musical guests. On Thursday evening, Piorun and company literally ran the spectrum, performing and discussing tunes from the late 50s to “Iron Man” and Paranoid by Black Sabbath.
Piorun used early guitar-based pieces such as “Guitar Boogie Shuffle” to show how relatively simple pieces helped the evolution of music.
“If you didn't have songs like that,” Piorun said. “You wouldn't have guys like Eddie Van Halen.”
Other pieces, such as “Lover's Concert” by The Toys, demonstrated how various forms of music are tied together. The piece is based on a minuette written by Bach for his wife, but a section of the piece formed the foundation of what would become a pop hit. Throughout the series, Piorun will be joined by various local musicians such as Richard and Julie Howard and special guests.
On Thursday, Piorun welcomed a former student who has gone on to numerous accomplishments in the musical world, Loren Barrigar.
Barrigar performed several pieces demonstrating his approach to a fast finger-style playing that combines aspects of guitar and banjo to create a unique sound. Barrigar gave some insight into how he approaches interpreting a piece to fit his style.
“Don't stray too far from the melody,” Barrigar said. “After you establish the melody, then you can change things after a couple times through and then return to the melody to finish the thing.”
Throughout the evening, Piorun welcomed up some of his students to perform a variety of pieces or contribute to the performance with other musicians.
Abby and Dean Comstock, brother and sister who play bass and guitar respectively were invited to play “Apache” with Piorun and Barrigar. While the two are comfortable performing, playing at places such as the Jordan Library and Hoopes Park, Abby, 15, who played guitar for several years before moving to bass eight months ago, admitted she was nervous.
“It was a little nerve wracking,” Abby said. “We'd played the song before but I was still a little nervous to play with them.”
Both said they appreciated the opportunity to play with a performer such as Barrigar and an instructor such as Piorun, who has made opportunities such as this possible, exposing them to different forms of music.
“I always wanted to play rock and roll,” Dean, 11, said. “But I've learned a lot of other styles like blues and jazz and a lot of different types of music; it is a lot of fun.”
If you go
What: Musical/performing arts series
When: The series continues next Thursday at 7 p.m. and runs through April 10
Where: Schweinfurth Art Center
Special Guest: vibraphonist Brian Murphy
Cost: Free
The classes, which run through April 10, will cover a wide gambit of music each night, in a fairly informal manner, lead by Piorun and other musical guests. On Thursday evening, Piorun and company literally ran the spectrum, performing and discussing tunes from the late 50s to “Iron Man” and Paranoid by Black Sabbath.
Piorun used early guitar-based pieces such as “Guitar Boogie Shuffle” to show how relatively simple pieces helped the evolution of music.
“If you didn't have songs like that,” Piorun said. “You wouldn't have guys like Eddie Van Halen.”
Other pieces, such as “Lover's Concert” by The Toys, demonstrated how various forms of music are tied together. The piece is based on a minuette written by Bach for his wife, but a section of the piece formed the foundation of what would become a pop hit. Throughout the series, Piorun will be joined by various local musicians such as Richard and Julie Howard and special guests.
On Thursday, Piorun welcomed a former student who has gone on to numerous accomplishments in the musical world, Loren Barrigar.
Barrigar performed several pieces demonstrating his approach to a fast finger-style playing that combines aspects of guitar and banjo to create a unique sound. Barrigar gave some insight into how he approaches interpreting a piece to fit his style.
“Don't stray too far from the melody,” Barrigar said. “After you establish the melody, then you can change things after a couple times through and then return to the melody to finish the thing.”
Throughout the evening, Piorun welcomed up some of his students to perform a variety of pieces or contribute to the performance with other musicians.
Abby and Dean Comstock, brother and sister who play bass and guitar respectively were invited to play “Apache” with Piorun and Barrigar. While the two are comfortable performing, playing at places such as the Jordan Library and Hoopes Park, Abby, 15, who played guitar for several years before moving to bass eight months ago, admitted she was nervous.
“It was a little nerve wracking,” Abby said. “We'd played the song before but I was still a little nervous to play with them.”
Both said they appreciated the opportunity to play with a performer such as Barrigar and an instructor such as Piorun, who has made opportunities such as this possible, exposing them to different forms of music.
“I always wanted to play rock and roll,” Dean, 11, said. “But I've learned a lot of other styles like blues and jazz and a lot of different types of music; it is a lot of fun.”
If you go
What: Musical/performing arts series
When: The series continues next Thursday at 7 p.m. and runs through April 10
Where: Schweinfurth Art Center
Special Guest: vibraphonist Brian Murphy
Cost: Free
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quiveringthigh wrote on Mar 7, 2008 9:16 PM: