Allegro
Currently Browsing: December, 2015
Goodbyes and Other Changes
President's Report
As 2015 draws to a close, I want to start by acknowledging the service of our outgoing Recording Vice President John O’Connor. John started his music career as a folksinger, songwriter and recording artist, a phase of his career that
A Sound Victory?
What happens when a neighbor complains about two pianists and their practice routine...
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to HsmLaborLaw@HarveyMarsAttorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.HarveyMarsAttorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Recording Vice President's Report
It’s no news that being a full-time musician is getting harder and harder. There are lots of different reasons for this, including the rapidly changing landscape of musical culture. I quit doing music full-time in 1996 as the market was
Let’s back up choirs with union musicians, starting with the Pope!
Financial Vice President's Report
My final column of 2015 can serve as wrap-up of the year, as well as a glimpse of things to come. I’ve written several times about a few road trips in 2015, events where I left 322 West 48th Street,
Playing for the Pope
The Pope played it union! Local 802 musicians performed two services for Pope Francis during his recent trip to the U.S., including an evening prayer service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (pictured below) and the mass at Madison Square Garden. Musicians
Live Music Fundraiser on Dec. 8
WHAT: Live music performance of the 48th Street Big Band, directed by Roger Rhodes and Glen Daum, featuring arrangements from the Al Porcino collection WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 8 from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Local 802 WHY: Fundraiser for
All-Star Orchestra
They’re back! The Senior Concert Orchestra returned to Carnegie Hall this year, where it performed to a full house. Musical director David Gilbert conducted the ensemble, which is composed of the most experienced professionals in New York City, many of
Makin’ the Changes Happen
Vocal clinic on scat singing offers a new look at an old art form
Life is a lot like jazz…it’s best when you improvise,” said George Gershwin. And when vocalists improvise, something powerful and primal happens. In late October, Music for a Sound Future and the Council for Living Music presented its second free
Always Striving
Andy Bloch's musical journeys
Andy Bloch, a member of the AFM since 1980, is a founding partner of Human, one of the most highly regarded and successful music and sound design production companies in advertising…and a longtime supporter of AFM and the cause of
Christmas Time is Here!
Radio City Music Hall is alive with the sound of Local 802 musicians performing the annual Christmas Spectacular show with the Rockettes. Musicians play up to six shows a day for nine weeks in this intense holiday gig. Allegro photographer
The joy of teaching just got better
Musicians now have a say when they negotiate contracts for clinics in NY public schools
It was a cold day in January two years ago when I received a call from Local 802 member Ayodele Maakheru. He was in the midst of re-negotiating a contract with an arts organization to work as a music teaching
Film fund provides services (and money) for musicians!
The Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund works to serve the film, television and music communities. To this end, the fund is pleased to provide ongoing updates to Allegro for the benefit of Local 802 members. If you perform on music
In the studio, union style
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” a musical that played earlier this year at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, New Jersey, recently recorded its cast album under a union contract. The producers had originally planned to outsource the recording session
The Musicians’ Voice
The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. E-mail letters to allegro@local802afm.org or write to Allegro, Local 802, 322 West 48th
Hail, Caesar!
If it’s a movie score, it can be union! Local 802 has had success in reaching out to movie producers and letting them know about the tax advantages of recording and doing post production here. Several big films have recently
‘Why we joined the union’
I am so excited to be a part of Local 802! Since moving to NYC seven years ago to pursue a career as a pianist/music director, I have grown immensely as an artist and overall musician. I have learned the
Executive Board Minutes
October 20, 2015 - Bylaw Amendments
Special note: the previous issue of Allegro ended with the minutes of Aug. 4, 2015. However, instead of starting below with the minutes of Aug. 11, 2015, we are printing the minutes of Oct. 20, 2015 in order to fulfill
Change is in the Air
Musicians' Assistance Program
This month will be my last column, as I will be leaving my position here to have a child at the end of the year. I’ll be taking some time off so I can spend time being a mom, then
December ’15
The Band Room
I’ve been learning tunes since I was born. My mother, a singer who played piano and organ, filled our house with song as I was growing up. I memorized all her art songs, and things by Stephen Foster, and also