Texas Toot Time!

It's happened for 27 years and now it's time to get together and make it happen again! It's time to see old friends and make new friends and play recorders and lutes and harps. Pull out those viols and rebecs and krumhorns. Start warming up those vocal cords. It's time to realize those daydreams of trying out some new and interesting instruments, of polishing your skills on your favorites, and getting the hang of some motets and madrigals from the hazy past.

The 28th Annual Fall Texas Toot will be held at the Lakeview Conference Center, south of Palestine in northeast Texas, from Friday night, November 21, until the afternoon of Sunday the 23th. Frances Blaker, our featured recorder faculty member for the last few years returns, and we're pleased to introduce Tish Berlin as our new featured recorder faculty. Jan Jackson, Dale Taylor, and Frank Shirley return to provide the rest of the instruction on recorders. In addition, Dan Stillman (new faculty!) will teach reed instruments like shawms and krumhorns, and Susan Barton returns to lead the viol studies along with James Brown. Regulars Becky Baxter (harp), Therese Honey (harp), Bruce Brogdon (lute), and Danny Johnson (voice) will also offer instruction.

In addition to classes, there will be English country dancing, a faculty concert, Boulder Early Music Shop, the famous/infamous Great Texas Krumhorn Konklave, Dale Taylor's instrument repair emporium, refreshments, and more.

As last year, we'll be using McCarty Auditorium for our home base, and we'll be using the Windham cabins instead of Pat Thompson. Remember that Lakeview also has a brand new dining complex. Not only will you be able to take part in intensified classes and playing sessions, you'll be entertained and entertaining-so be sure to get your reservations and deposits in as soon as possible.

While we play old (or reproductions of old) instruments, we also keep up with improvements in communications. You may register online, or by regular mail. However, we are not equipped to take payments by credit card, so all fees must be paid by check.

Please don't miss this Toot. It is a time to renew old friendships and make new ones. The best thing about the Toot is being able to spend a weekend with people who are all afflicted with the same form of mental illness - love of early music and the instruments that can best play it.

Volunteering to Help

Another long-standing Toot policy is that of volunteerism. If you can help with the snacks in the break-room (either by helping to set out the food or help with clean-up, etc.) then please let us know in advance and if you are able to provide some snacks (drinks are always welcome too) then please be in touch. After a rousing Krumhorn Konklave, there's nothing that cheers the soul better than a batch of home made brownies or chocolate-chip cookies! Be creative!

General Schedule

• Friday Evening: Large Group play-in, followed by dancing
• Friday really late: Pick-up groups
• Saturday during the day: Classes
• Saturday Evening: Madrigal singing, Concert, dancing, Krumhorn Konclave
• Saturday really late: Pick-up groups (or sleep, if you must)
• Sunday Morning: Large Group