What's happening this month in the Village:

From the Director

Universal Music

In a cultural anthropology class I took in college, I recall that a chunk of the semester was spent on examining cultural universals. That is, broad social traits that exist in all cultures without exception. Spoken language, jokes, gender roles, marriage, games, sports, and religious rituals are all examples of cultural universals.

 

I remember feeling pleased and a little relieved to learn that music, too, is a cultural universal. No matter the instruments, the place or occasion a song is sung, the scale system, rhythmic patterns, or formal structure, music is valued worldwide and integral to who we are. All of us, around the globe, at this moment and always, share a connection with music: the art of sound in time. Music is, in short, a common thread through our shared humanity.

 

In the years since that anthropology class, I’ve found at varying times solace, inspiration, and hope in the fact that all 7.7 billion of us share a musical bond. The mission of The Music Village is to strengthen that bond in our community; TMV builds community through music by giving people skills, experiences, tools, and opportunities in the musical arts so that they may more deeply value and connect with that universally shared part of our humanity.

 

Thank you for being a part of the TMV family, and for being a part of that musical thread that connects us all.

 

Musically yours, 

 

Josh Aerie

Executive Director

TONIGHT!

The Stories Behind the Songs: A Celebration of Michiana Music

The Music Village is pleased to announce that the first-ever “The Stories Behind the Songs – A Celebration of Michiana Music” will be held on Friday, January 31, 7PM at The Music Village.

The event consists of 9 local musicians playing a song on their chosen instrument, then discussing what the song means to them or how the local music scene has influenced their lives.

Refreshments will be provided and a cash bar will be available.

Tickets are $15.00 and may be reserved online or purchased at the door.

Girls Rock Michiana Registration Now Open!

Girls Rock Michiana 

Thursday, July 23rd & Friday, July 24th

Showcase: Saturday, July 25th, 12pm  

Ready to rock? Registration is now open for Girls Rock Michiana , a two-and-a-half day camp where girls in grades 4-8 can make music, be heard, and have fun.

This day camp experience aims to improve girls’ creativity, confidence, and collaboration through musical engagement.

Campers work in small groups with professional music instructors to learn rock instruments (guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, vocals) and basic performance skills. Special guest speakers provide an inside look at the music industry, while workshops offer opportunities for creative expression through songwriting, zine making, and audio and video production. Campers will learn and perform the Girls Rock Anthem during a final showcase (and pizza party!) on Saturday, July 25 at 12PM - family and friends invited!

Register now at  www.girlsrockmichiana.org.  Cost is $100 per attendee. Financial assistance is available upon request.  No participant will be turned away due to financial hardship.  For more information, contact Melody Lutz, Director, at  [email protected]

TMV Community Orchestra!

The Music Village is starting a community orchestra!

We are looking for local musicians interested in joining South Bend's own community orchestra.

Join us on Wednesday, February 5th at 7pm, at The Music Village (333 S. Michigan St.), for an open meeting to discuss the possibilities.

Meeting will be led by cellist, conductor, and TMV Director Josh Aerie.

Light refreshments will be provided.

Two New Daytime Programs!

TMV Songsters & Folk Jam .

The Music Village is expanding our programs and making music more accessible to seniors by offering two new daytime music programs.



The TMV Singers

Come one, come all!

Beginning February 4th, TMV will offer a choral singing/jam class, each Tuesday from 11 am to 12 noon. Though the class is geared toward community seniors, anyone who has the time and wants to sing is welcome to join.



The class will be led by TMV voice instructor Michael Snyder, and is offered free of charge. To take part, go online to register, call us at (574) 245-7664, or just show up! 

Senior Folks - Folk Singers!

Starting February 14th, TMV will host a folk jam from 1 - 2:30 pm.

Bring your acoustic instrument and signing voice for a singing and playing session of old 50's and 60's folk songs.

Beginners welcome!

Swing Dance

Whether you're looking for a fun way to get fit, want to wow your wedding guests, or just love to dance, you'll have a great time at Swing Dance!

Brought to you by Michigan Indiana Social Swing Dance Society, swing dance classes are held every Thursday evening from 7-10 pm at The Music Village. The drop-in rate is $5, or $15 for the month.

2020 Lower Level Build-Out

Believe it or not, The Music Village has reached capacity in the year-and-a-half that we've been in our new location. One of our main goals for 2020 is to build more classrooms, a large rehearsal space, and jam space in our lower level.

Above is our current lower level. To the right is a proposed new floor plan.

Stay tuned for our 2020 Annual Appeal to learn how you can help!

Save the Date!

The Music Village's annual Block Party will be held at Howard Park this year!

Join us on Saturday, May 2nd for the second annual TMV Block Party. Full list of musicians, performers, vendors coming soon.

For more information and updates, visit: tmvblockparty.com

Board Member Highlight

Noah Davey - President

Noah was born and raised in South Bend. He has enjoyed listening and playing music his whole life. 

He was drawn immediately into The Music Village 5 years ago +/- when he realized it was modeled after the notorious and well respected Old Town School of Folk in Chicago. He was excited by the opportunity of determining the depth and potential of a like type model in the South Bend area, knowing the cultural and community enrichment Old Town has provided Chicago. 

For Noah, it is exciting to be involved in something raw and fresh, knowing we have yet to find the “floor” and “ceiling” of TMV’s potential. He identifies heavily with The Music Village mission of building community through music. He appreciates the joy, outlet, and empowerment that comes through learning and performing music, and is driven by all of the ways The Music Village is connecting and engaging all ages and backgrounds in our area. He loves moments where people connect for the first time with one of the many tentacles of The Music Village, and seeing those connections evolve and reach their full potential.

Now booking for the Downtown South Bend Red Table Plaza Lunchtime Concert Series

TMV is now booking for the RTP Concert Series.

The Red Table Plaza Lunchtime Concert Series takes place Monday through Thursday, 11:45 to 1:15, at Studebaker Plaza (201 N Michigan St, South Bend, IN 46601) from June through August. 

These concerts are free to the public to encourage citizens to have their lunch outside while enjoying live, local music and the vibrancy of downtown South Bend. DTSB, Inc. sets up red tables and chairs for concert attendees; this is where the series gets its name.

For more information or to apply, please click here.

The Music Village Jam Group

Join Our Jam!

In 2019 these volunteer performers, who meet regularly to play a wide variety of songs on an array of instruments, played at more than 50 events in the region, bringing in over $7000 to support our organization's many activities and programs.

Call or email TMV to inquire about the Jammers' availability to perform for you and your group.

For updates and schedules, "like" the Jammers' Facebook page !

Misc.

Interested in sponsoring one of the many programs The Music Village offers? Contact Josh at [email protected]