Music Appreciation and Performance
Rod MacDonald began his career as a singer/songwriter in Greenwich Village, NY in 1973. He has 21 songs in the Smithsonian Folkways collection and has released 12 CDs of his own songs, including 2018’s “Beginning Again” and three CDs with the Palm Beach County band Big Brass Bed. He performs in festivals, clubs and concerts locally and throughout North America and Europe and was named “Best Local Acoustic Performer” in Broward and Palm Beach counties by the New Times and “one of the ten magnificent musicians of Palm Beach County” by the Palm Beach Post. An instructor with Osher LLI at Florida Atlantic University since 2006, his previous series include Music Americana, The Great American Songbook and The Roots of Rock and Roll.
Learn more about Rod at www.rodmacdonald.net.
Music Americana:The Art of Popular Music
As great musical artists turn roots, tradition and
inspiration into new songs, popular music has become
the sound and voice of our culture. From Cahn and
Van Heusen’s “High Hopes” to the sublime John
Williams film scores for “Jaws,” “E.T.,” and
“Schindler’s List”; from the brilliant piano
improvisations of Bill Evans to the classical genius of
violinist Itzhak Perlman; from Mitch Miller’s “follow
the bouncing ball,” to the sensual tangos of Ástor
Piazzolla; and from sunny Doris Day to Frozen’s Idina
Menzel, music and song cut a trail through the
wilderness, deepening our understanding of our time.
This course will examine the work, biographies and
enduring importance of these musical artists, and
attempt to sort myth from reality, using updated
videos and excerpts from feature films, live
performances and a few surprises.
Eight Lectures
- Behind The Song - Cahn & Van Huesen, Jim Webb
- Women Who Sing - Doris Day, Dinah Shore, Lesley Gore
- The Super Conductors - Leonard Bernstein, John Williams
- The Decision Makers - Mitch Miller, Clive Davis
- Women Who Rock - Janis Joplin, Laura Nyro, Linda Ronstadt
- The Vocal Instrument - Placido Domingo, Bobby McFerrin
- Women On The Verge - Idina Menzel, Jesse Mueller, Jackie Evancho
- The Beautiful Sound - Itzhak Perlman, Bill Evans, Ástor Piazzolla
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| Course # F8T5 — Full 8 Weeks
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| Place: | Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Tuesdays, October 13, 20, 27; November 3, 10, 17, 24; December 1 2015 |
| Time: | 2:30 - 4:15 PM |
| Fee: | $68 / member; $98 / non-member |
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| Course # F4T6 — Last 4 Weeks
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| Place: | Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Tuesdays, November 10, 17, 24; December 1 2015 |
| Time: | 2:30 - 4:15 PM |
| Fee: | $34 / member; $54 / non-member |
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Register Now
Music Americana: The Songs of Carol King & James Taylor
Writers and singers of some of the most beloved
songs of our time, Carole King & James Taylor took
very different paths. While King was a wife, mother
and Brill Building composer of such legendary hits as
“Up On The Roof,” “Will You Still Love Me
Tomorrow” and “It’s Too Late,” Taylor journeyed
down “Country Roads” through "Fire and Rain,"
winning Grammies with his song, “You’ve Got A
Friend.” Each is a pioneering singer-songwriter
whose work is performed throughout the world, with
Ms. King winning the Gershwin Prize from the
Library of Congress in 2014.
Join Rod MacDonald & the Humdingers for a fun and
low-decibel tour through the lives, music and genius
of these unique artists, as told in their songs.
Rod MacDonald & The Humdingers:
- Rod MacDonald, guitar, has 11 CDs of his songs, including 2014’s "Later That Night," as heard on WLRN’s Folk and Acoustic Music. He performs frequently in South Florida and throughout North America and Europe, and is a lifelong devotee of popular song. He has been an instructor with LLS since 2006.
- Bill Meredith, drums, is the backbone of several Palm Beach County rock and roll bands, including Big Brass Bed and Illumination. He has toured throughout the US and Canada, and appears on more than a dozen CDs.
- Brad Keller, who has performed at the Montreux
Jazz Festival and with Maynard Ferguson and the
Ink Spots, is the jazz piano instructor at Palm Beach
State College and has taught music in Palm Beach
County public schools for twenty years. He is also
the co-author of the “Jazz Cats” books used
internationally to introduce young students to jazz.
- Doug Lindsey, bass and vocals, has been playing in
South Florida bands for 30 years.
- John Smotherman, lead guitar, plays with Big Brass
Bed, Illumination and several Palm Beach County
bands. His exquisite solos caused the Palm Beach
Post to label him one of the “Ten Magnificent
Musicians of Palm Beach County.”
Register Early! There is a $5 charge for registering on the day of a one-time lecture or event.
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| Course # F1T6 — One Time Event
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| Place: | Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Tuesday, December 15 2015 |
| Time: | 7 - 8:30 PM |
| Fee: | $25 / member; $35 / non-member |
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Register Now
