Who can resist an invitation like this? Come hear the Really Terrible Orchestra this Saturday

July 15, 2011
by Jonathan Reichman

The Really Terrible Orchestra of Westchester will be performing in the Chappaqua Library theatre on Saturday, July 16, starting at 2:00 p.m. Founded in 2009 by Barbara Rosenthal, the RTO describes itself as “an ensemble of musical amateurs who do not let rusty skills or fear of success get in the way of philharmonic fun.  We are Westchester’s splendid substandard symphony.”  RTO should find a welcome and receptive audience here, given our community’s diversity of musical talent.

Plato once said, “Music and rhythm find their way into the secret places of the soul.”  In fact, he was probably thinking of Chappaqua when he said it, because our town is filled with residents who avidly devote their time and energies to music-making of one sort or another.  Pianists, guitarists, cellists, singers, drummers – you can find them all here in Chappaqua.

Some residents are lucky enough to pursue music as both a passion and a career.  However, as we all know, it is no easy task to earn one’s living as a professional musician.  Talent alone is no guarantee.  The field has become even more difficult in recent years, as record company revenues have plummeted due to the migration of music from lucrative (for the industry) CDs to non-lucrative (for the industry) online file sharing.

Thus, many residents have struck a balance in their lives by toiling during the day as lawyers, doctors, bankers, educators and investment advisors, while spending evenings and weekends practicing, performing and recording their music.  Some even venture into composing – a nice counterbalance to day jobs where they feel like they’re decomposing.  And the very computer and digital technologies that have decimated the recording industry now make it easy to lay down professional-level tracks, which can be distributed worldwide with a keystroke.

Many Chappaqua avocational musicians are continuing skills they developed as children.  (Yes, some of us actually enjoyed those piano lessons.)  But mastering an instrument can be undertaken at any age.  Fortunately our community includes music teachers and vocal coaches who offer their services at favorable rates.  So, if you’ve been toying with the idea of learning that violin, there’s no better time to start than today.  Confucius – not to be undone by Plato – said, “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.”  Chappaqua’s talented citizens bear ample witness to this statement.

Music-lover Jonathan Reichman is a copyright attorney by day, and a pianist for hire at local parties by night. For $100 an hour he’ll channel George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hart. He can be reached at 914-238-1485, evenings, and 212-908-6256, days.