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Organ And Keyboard Club Makes Merry Melodies

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By PAUL CATALA pcatala@mediageneral.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 21, 2009

When Pam Krick walked into the first class meeting, she didn't know a whole note from a whole goat.

But after a one-hour lesson with the Sun City Center Organ & Keyboard Club. Krick, had grasped the rudimentary basics of reading music and that simple knowledge is what club leaders hope to help members expand upon.

The first organizational meeting of the Organ & Keyboard club took place earlier in January. Prospective student-members showed up to learn how to make melodies and render rhythms.

Led by club treasurer and accomplished keyboardist Bob Mulcahy, 14 musicians and future musicians learned about the club, found out about learning to play and for some, improving their keyboard and piano playing skills.

The 6-week course is designed to get members learning and playing one new song a week and being able to perform songs for their classmates, family and friends at the end of the session.

Mulcahy, the club's treasurer and a seven-year member of the club, has been playing piano since he was a 10-year-old in Boston, and organ for 30 years. The retired U.S. Army sergeant major said the idea was to keep people from becoming "closet players" - never playing for anyone but themselves. He said no matter what the skill level, the keyboard and organ club is a way to gain music knowledge and performance ability.

"My goal for the people is in seven weeks to come to a club meeting and know exactly what the teacher is teaching about," said Mulcahy, an eight-year resident of Sun City Center. "A lot of people feel like they don't want to make mistakes in front of others. There are no mistakes in music."

For $5 per year and $2 per week for music, members get musical training by Mulcahy and keyboard experts Sandy Gundacker and Charlie Stanford of Fletcher Music Center in Sun City Center.

Members are encouraged to bring in their own portable electronic keyboards for class and one-to-one training. In addition, chord charts, simple songs, a paper keyboard chart and staff paper is provided.

During the opening class, Mulcahy went over the music staff and where notes are placed on it, explaining the tones used in modern music.

Mulcahy went over the notes on provided sheet of paper, explaining they made the melody for "God Bless America." He said once those and fundamental rhythm symbols were learned, the basics were covered.

"There are 12 tones; how you play them is how you get a piece of music," he explained. "That's all, folks. That's all you get. It isn't a mystery."

Mulcahy encouraged members to not miss classes and to practice as often as possible, the key to getting better, following an impromptu organ performance.

One new member, Ginny Hansen, said she hoped the club would prompt her to play more often. She said as a child in Appleton, Wis., she had four years of piano, but hasn't played much in recent years.

"I thought if I got a regular meeting to go to, I'd get more motivated. I want to get myself into gear to play more," said Hansen, a 15-year resident of Sun City Center from Oshkosh, Wis.

The Sun City Center Organ & Keyboard Club was founded in 1982. Meetings are 9:30 to 11 a.m., Thursdays, in the Florida Room of the Atrium Building, 945 N. Course Lane. For information, call Mulcahy, (813) 633-4628.

Reporter Paul Catala can be reached at (813) 865-1554 or pcatala@mediageneral.com

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