Creating Community the Classical Way
by Whitney Howe
Whether they were referred by a friend, came upon it thanks to a chance encounter, or simply flipped through the Yellow Pages to find a classical guitar teacher, members of the Chicago Community Classical Guitar Ensemble have all discovered the benefits of making music in this diverse, supportive, and intrepid group, ably led by Dr. Julie Goldberg.
Goldberg, a music professor at VanderCook College of Music, founded The Chicago Community Classical Guitar Ensemble of the VanderCook Community Music Academy 10 years ago. The ensemble, funded in part by the Clinton B. Ford Fund of the Amateur Chamber Music Players Foundation, has subsequently gained a dedicated following.
The ensemble originally consisted of just a handful of Goldberg’s college students, but now it welcomes as many as 20 members in a given semester. Living up to its role in the community, the ensemble is a melting pot of recreational musicians of all ages and professions, who share an affinity for the classical guitar and, more importantly, for the challenge of playing music on this venerable instrument.
Step-by-Step
“I always knew I wanted to dedicate my professional career to music,” says Goldberg, who started piano at age five and took up the guitar at 13. “When I was younger I used to play folk guitar, but that’s mostly accompaniment. I wanted to find an instrument that could play the melody and all the parts and practice alone. I wanted to do it all!”
Goldberg’s passion and dedication to the classical guitar is felt by those she teaches. Just ask Justin Synnestvedt, a philosophy professor for the past 35 years who joined the ensemble two years ago. “Julie is very generous and tries to put everyone at a comfortable level of performance. She’s a kind leader, but she pushes you to do your best at the same time.”
Synnestvedt had been “strumming along” with folk and flamenco music for many years until he decided he wanted more formal music training. “Flamenco music is learned by ear and you have to pay attention to the beat, but I wanted to master reading music,” he explains.
Learning the classical guitar, a centuries-old variant that uses nylon strings and is tuned an octave lower than steel-string guitars, might seem daunting to some, but Synnestvedt took it all in stride. “It’s like beginning to play the piano when you’re a kid—it’s a step-by-step process. Following the written notes and chords is difficult, but over time it gets easier.”
Persistence & Desire
“I’ve been with the ensemble for about seven years now,” says fellow ensemble member and bank manger Ken Babiez, 44, “and it’s just been a wonderful experience.”
Babiez’s story will be familiar to many recreational musicians. He played saxophone and clarinet throughout college but put his music on the back burner to focus on other interests. Years later, he decided to rekindle his zest for music. “I wanted to get back into music with a good solo instrument, so I started taking lessons with Julie and she enticed me to join the ensemble,” Babiez explains.
Although he was just a novice when he joined the group, Babiez is now one of the ensemble’s more advanced players, according to Goldberg, and oftentimes plays the more challenging pieces.
“Well, if Julie thinks I’m an advanced player then I’ll go with that,” Babiez laughs. “It’s a constant struggle to try and improve,” he continues. “It takes persistence, time, and the desire to do it. You don’t really realize you are getting better until you look at your repertoire. You are only aware of your progression looking back and thinking ‘Oh wow, I’ve come a long way.’”
Sounds Wonderful
Each semester the ensemble practices once a week for two hours and works toward two final performances, one at the college and the other at a community space such as an art museum or church. For these performance opportunities, Goldberg has them perform ensemble pieces and also breaks the ensemble up into duos or trios to showcase individual talents.
“For amateurs, playing in a large group provides a sense of security, and for those who can perform in the small solo groups, the spotlight is more on them,” says Goldberg. Babiez says he plays better in a smaller group: “Every guitar is important and you can’t hide behind anyone else. It heightens your awareness and improves your playing.”
While the classical guitar suggests Baroque or Renaissance style melodies, Goldberg does her best to introduce a wide range of music to the ensemble. “Because my musicians are not professionals,” Goldberg explains, “I try to find something for everyone within a range that sounds wonderful.”
“It definitely surpasses cross-cultural boundaries with a mix of Latin, modern, and romantic melodies,” observes Synnestvedt of the broad range of musical styles the group performs. “We play a wide range and I love that.”
“Performance is the payoff for practicing,” asserts Tom Kirke, admitting he sometimes is riddled with anxiety over performing in front of others. Yet he looks forward to the end-of-semester gigs nonetheless. “And not just for the party afterwards,” he jokes.
Something Beautiful
Kirke, 59, who has been with the ensemble for more than a year, felt an immediate connection with the group. “Julie was one of the judges at a recital I performed at and invited me to join. I went to the next concert and joined immediately after.”
It is clear that the ensemble provides a creative outlet for recreational musicians like Kirke who want to connect with something greater than themselves and share their experience with the general public.
“I love creating something beautiful, the intellectual pleasure of understanding the material, and the satisfaction of doing something difficult,” says Kirke, explaining the joy of recreational music making in terms as eloquent as a classical guitar sonata. “Plus, the classical guitar is one of the few instruments you can play at midnight and not upset the neighbors!”
“The whole thing about learning music is to share with others,” Ken Babiez says, musing on why he decided to join an ensemble and play for others rather than play alone. “Besides, my dog has heard enough of my playing!”
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ensemble, Goldberg went one step beyond the regular end-of-semester concert, inviting all members—past and present—to play at a live performance in May. Looking back, Goldberg admits she is in awe of the success of her Classical Guitar Ensemble and gladly anticipates its future.
“What has surprised and encouraged me is the dedication of the members. Some have been with the group since the beginning. I think part of what keeps them here is we’re all learning about music and improving,” concludes Goldberg. “There is a neat feeling as the notes come together and you create a beautiful shape and melody—the dynamics of it all is fascinating.”
