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: Pioneers of Popular Music
Great musical artists often achieve popularity by seeking a true expression of their ideas: breaking new ground in composing and recording, creating historic performances of their music. From Stan Kenton’s big bands to the Allman Brothers’ brilliant improvisations; from Jo Stafford’s chart-toppers to Madonna’s legendary tours; from the Four Seasons’ pop harmonies to Stephen Schwartz’s sophisticated scores for Pippin, Wicked and The Prince of Egypt; and from the pioneering guitar of Chuck Berry to the mind-blowing wizardry of Tommy Emmanuel, great musical artists expand our music and world with their songs and creativity.
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
- The Art of Jazz - Stan Kenton, Modern Jazz Quartet
- The Voices - Jo Stafford, Shirley Jones, Anne Murray
- The Vocal Art - Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, The Four Seasons, Jersey Boys
- Guitar Gods - Chuck Berry, Jeff Beck
- The Art of Rock Singing - Cher, Joe Cocker, Madonna
- To Jam or Not to Jam - The Allman Brothers, Steely Dan
- The New Broadway Musical - Stephen Schwartz, Kinky Boots
- The New Golden Age - Paul Winter, Carlos Nakai, Enya, Tommy Emmanuel
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| Course # F8T4 — Full 8 Weeks
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Tuesdays, October 17, 24, 31; November 7, 14, 28; December 5, 12 2017 |
| Time: | 2:30 - 4:15 PM |
| Fee: | $80 / member; $110 / non-member |
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Register Now
Music Americana: Pioneers of Popular Music (Last Four Weeks Only)
Great musical artists often achieve popularity by seeking a true expression of their ideas: breaking new ground in composing and recording, creating historic performances of their music. From Stan Kenton’s big bands to the Allman Brothers’ brilliant improvisations; from Jo Stafford’s chart-toppers to Madonna’s legendary tours; from the Four Seasons’ pop harmonies to Stephen Schwartz’s sophisticated scores for Pippin, Wicked and The Prince of Egypt; and from the pioneering guitar of Chuck Berry to the mind-blowing wizardry of Tommy Emmanuel, great musical artists expand our music and world with their songs and creativity.
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.
Four Lectures
- The Art of Rock Singing - Cher, Joe Cocker, Madonna
- To Jam or Not to Jam - The Allman Brothers, Steely Dan
- The New Broadway Musical - Stephen Schwartz, Kinky Boots
- The New Golden Age - Paul Winter, Carlos Nakai, Enya, Tommy Emmanuel
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| Course # F4T5 — Last 4 Weeks
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Tuesdays, November 14, 28; December 5, 12 2017 |
| Time: | 2:30 - 4:15 PM |
| Fee: | $40 / member; $60 / non-member |
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Register Now
The Songs of The Rolling Stones
From their beginnings as a British blues band performing American songs through a fifty-year career as “The World’s Greatest Rock and Roll Band,” the Rolling Stones have sold hundreds of millions of records and influenced three generations of upcoming musicians. From the raw outrage of “Satisfaction” to the heartbreak of “Angie,” from the jubilant “Honky Tonk Women” to the witty “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” their raw and perceptive songs are among the most beloved music of our time.
Join Rod MacDonald & The Humdingers for a fun and low-decibel tour through the lives, music and genius of this unique band, 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 U.S. and Canada and appears on more than a dozen CDs.
- Brad Keller, keyboards, 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 20 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 # F1R6 — One Time Event
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| Place: | Auditorium, Lifelong Learning Complex, Jupiter Campus |
| Dates: | Thursday, November 30 2017 |
| Time: | 7 - 9 PM |
| Fee: | $25 / member; $35 / non-member |
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Register Now
