BLENDED MUSIC — ENRICHMENT— LIFELONG LEARNING

ACADEMY AWARD-WINNING SONGS (Concert or Concert Series): Since 1934, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences members who are songwriters and composers annually nominate the finest songs of the year in film, selecting the winning composer and lyricist as well as song. Take a delightful time trip through Oscar-winning songs—and be equally amazed by the nominated songs that did NOT win the Oscar.

AMERICA’S SINGING SWEETHEARTS—Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy (AV Class or Series): In the 30s and 40s, MacDonald & Eddy were beloved for film classics that still enchant. Their beauty together onscreen mirrors Hollywood fantasy—but hides the tragedy of their lives that we will discover in this course. 

AN AMERICAN SONGBOOK (Concert or AV Class or Class Series): A musical journey through songs & stories of Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, film and many of America’s most endearing composers and productions.

A SERVING OF IRVING! Life & Times of Irving Berlin (Concert Class/Series, AV Class/Series): From a piano player in the backroom of a Bowery saloon to world-respected, prolific songwriter, Berlin never learned to read music, yet left a vast catalog of exquisitely crafted songs that define the American musical tradition. He was and will continue to be a pivotal figure within American popular music  & stage/screen.

CRAZY FOR COLE (Concert/Concert Series, or AV Class/Class Series): From his youth in Indiana through his celebrated life in New York, Paris, London and Hollywood, the complexity of Cole Porter and the craft of his  music will be conveyed through his life experience,  productions, and recollections of his colleagues.

DOROTHY FIELDS—MERELY MARVELOUS (Concert/Concert Series, or AV Class/Class Series): What a shame lyricist Dorothy Fields is so often overlooked among her contemporaries. Not only for the brilliance and timelessness of her writing, but for her perseverance as a woman in an industry notorious for its glass ceiling, she stood on a level playing field with the finest of her male colleagues in the music industry.

ELEGANT LADY OF TAP—ANN MILLER (AV Class/Class Series): With a dancing career that began at age 11, this prodigy—who initially learned dance as a means to ease the effects of rickets—came to be heralded by MGM as tapping 500 times per minute. She was the elegant representation of the studio system at its best.

ESTHER WILLIAMS—SWIMMING INTO OUR HEARTS (AV Class/Class Series): At 16, she was a three-time national champion, soon to be a member of the 1940 US Olympic team when WWII intervened. But Esther Williams still struck gold—as the sensation of showman Billy Rose’s Aquacade and as MGM’s Bathing Beauty—developing a Hollywood musical genre that led to synchronized swimming as an Olympic sport.

A GERSHWIN TRIBUTE—STRIKE UP THE PIANO! (Concert) From Swanee to S'Wonderful, their songs reflect the highest standard. The music and productions, their appreciation of one another, and their abiding love of the theatre live on. Enjoy highlights of their finest songs and achievements of their careers. 

GENE KELLY—LIGHT AS AIR (AV Class or Series): Breaking new ground with a charismatic, physically strenuous style that melded ballet, tap, and modern dance, Kelly was at the forefront of MGM’s brilliant musical repertory company—but there is so much more to his life and legacy that you'll discover.

HEART & SOUL OF FRANK LOESSER (AV Class or Class Series: Pulitzer-Prize-winning composer/lyricist Frank Loesser contributed to more than 700 songs and crafted iconic productions of the 40s-60s Broadway stage like Guys and Dolls and How to Succeed in Business.  And he was as colorful as his characters.

HELLO DOLLY! HELLO, MAME! HELLO, JERRY! THE SPARKLE OF COMPOSER/LYRICIST JERRY HERMAN (AV Class Series): Composer/lyricist Jerry Herman—creator of the iconic Milk and Honey, Hello, Dolly! Mame, and La Cage Aux Folles—knew spectacular success and failure both. His productions were both blockbusters and heroic statements. It is still “The Best of Times” for Jerry Herman and his musicals.

IRRESISTIBLE SONGS OF SAMMY CAHN (Concert/Concert Series, or AV Class/Class Series): Nominated for 30+ Oscars, Sammy Cahn’s list of lyrics reads like a history of 20th century popular song. Learn of the man and his writing process—and of the films, collaborations, and little-known stories behind the songs.

I’VE HEARD THAT SONG BEFORE: HIT PARADE MEMORIES (Concert/Concert Series or AV Class/Class Series) From the mid 30’s to the mid 50’s, Your Hit Parade acknowledged America’s songwriters and their hits. During this period were created some of our most distinctive melodies and lyrics that transformed music worldwide. Joy takes you on a sentimental journey through top songs on the hit parade charts.

JULIE ANDREWS—A LIFE OF BEAUTY AV Class or Class Series):  After a 7-decade-plus career, Dame Julie Andrews still inspires as she has inspired three generations. She has demonstrated brilliance and personal strength in a career of enormous triumphs and some great losses. Through stage, radio, film, TV, recordings, internet, and her many published writings, Julie Andrews continues to make the world more beautiful.

KERN—MUSICAL VISIONARY (AV Class or Class Series) From Show Boat to Swing Time, Jerome Kern was among America's most gifted composers and innovators of the American musical theatre and 20th century popular music—and among the most influential composers to generations of future writers of theatre.

LEGENDARY COMPOSERS OF MUSICAL THEATRE (Concert or Concert Series—or AV Class/Class Series): The American stage—brimming with timeless songs, productions, and energy of innovative writers—has been the creative playground where visionaries could experiment. Their invention and fearlessness transformed the musical theatre, inspiring an evolution in America's view of itself. NOTE: This course can be tailored to specific eras, decades and composers/lyricists of the 20th and 21st century.

LEGENDARY WOMEN OF BIOGRAPHICAL BROADWAY: ANNIE OAKLEY, FANNY BRICE, GYPSY, AND  EVITA (AV Class Series): Biographical Musicals—Truth or fantasy? Four powerful historical women and the musicals that re-envisioned them: Annie Oakley (Annie Get Your Gun),Gypsy Rose Lee (Gypsy), Fanny Brice (Funny Girl) and Eva Peron (Evita). Was the real Annie Oakley like Irving Berlin’s? Did Gypsy Rose Lee really develop her racy career against the backdrop of her stage mama’s control in Gypsy? How does the real Fanny Brice compare to Streisand’s portrayal? Does Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Eva Peron hold a candle to Argentina’s heroine? You might be surprised by the truth!

LENA HORNE—TIMELESS VOICE OF GRACE (AV Class or Class Series): When she died at age 92—Lena was still making appearances after 75 years passionately devoted  to music and to breaking barriers in civil rights and human dignity. She is among the most admired film, concert, recording artists of her century.

LEONARD BERNSTEIN—INNOVATOR AND INSPIRATION (AV Class or Class Series): One of America’s most influential figures in 20th century music, Bernstein’s life and creations as pianist, composer, orchestrator, conductor, concert artist, and lecturer/teacher reflect his brilliance, passion, empathy, and self-conflict.

OH WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MELODY! RICHARD RODGERS & OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II (Concert or AV Class or AV Class Series): Since 1943, when Broadway audiences first heard the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! through the 17 years that followed, this collaboration changed the course of the modern American musical theatre as none before. Rediscover their remarkable music and achievements.

SAVORING SOUTH PACIFIC (AV Class or Class Series): In April 1949, Broadway's Majestic Theatre hosted the premiere of one of the greatest musicals of the 20th century. James A. Michener’s 1947 Pulitzer Prize-winning Tales of the South Pacific proved magnificent for a stunning musical adaptation. 

SIGMUND ROMBERG: SIGNATURE SOUND (AV Class Series): This gifted Hungarian-born American composer integrated fundamental principles of 19th century Viennese operetta with 20th century American popular music to create hugely successful scores. Bridging musical worlds, he left a rich legacy of soaring melodies and romantic productions that are as beloved today as the era in which they were composed.

STREISAND—MORE THAN A FUNNY LADY (AV Class or Class Series): Six decades ago, Streisand became one of the industry’s rare examples of an overnight sensation. She is the only woman to have mastered Broadway, pop recording, and comedic/dramatic stage and film as a musical and non-musical performer, creator, and director. But she points out that mastering personal happiness has been the most important.

SUPERSTAR OF SHOWBIZ: MICKEY ROONEY (AV Class or Class Series): His colleagues called him the most talented entertainer of the 20th century. Acting, singing, dancing, emceeing, playing a variety of musical instruments, he was a superstar by his teens with excessive rises and falls in a career of 8 decades.

THERE’S NO SHOW LIKE A MERMAN SHOW: THE UNFORGETTABLE ETHEL MERMAN (AV Class or Class Series): She was a self-taught singer who never analyzed her own technique. From 1930, every notable composer and lyricist loved her, knowing she would treat each note and word like gold. Said Irving Berlin: "She's the best. You give her a bad song, and she'll make it sound good. Give her a good song, and she'll make it sound great. And you'd better write her a good lyric. The guy in the last row of the second balcony is going to hear every syllable." Rediscover the life and legend of Ethel Merman. 

THE WAY WE WERE: THE MARVIN HAMLISCH ERA (AV Class or Class Series): Among a new generation of musical creators, Hamlisch and his film themes and scores—The Way We Were, The Sting, A Chorus Line among them—were a representation of their time. One of only three composers to win an Oscar, Tony, Grammy, and Emmy, he also received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for A Chorus Line in 1975.

TWO BABES IN HOLLYWOOD—MICKEY ROONEY & JUDY GARLAND (AV Class or Class Series): The remarkable careers of Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland were punctuated by prolific talent and energy, the adulation of an adoring worldwide public, and heart wrenching, tumultuous public and private rises and falls. Through it all, these two remained dear friends with a unique understanding of one another’s talents and needs as well as the astonishing demands of the studio system they helped building. 

“YIP” HARBURG: A VOICE OF CONSCIENCE (AV Class or Class Series  Series): How well we know his songs and scores like Wizard of Oz, Finian’s Rainbow, and Cabin in the Sky. Few are aware of the gifted lyricist of those works (among others), his innovations in American musical theatre, his dedication to social reform and equality or of the years he and his music were blacklisted and his deeply personal fight for freedom.

A NEW YEAR—A NEW DECADE—A NEW SONG! MUSICAL MOMENTS FROM DECADES PAST (Concert or Concert Series): At the piano, Joy brings memorable stories, news events, and melodies that opened & closed every new decade from 1900 to 2020. What a trip through history! You'll be astounded how much you remember, how much you didn't know, and so many favorite melodies and memories.  

CAB CALLOWAY—JAZZ AGE SHOWMAN (AV Class): The hepster of jive, jazz scat pioneer, Cabell Calloway III was notorious for his highly-energized dress, manner, and vocal/conducting style in a flourishing career of nearly 70 years. With his hot swing/jump style, he helped forge the big band genre and today's R&B.

CAROLE KING AND HER TAPESTRY OF SONG (AV Class or Class Series): Her talent at the piano was obvious by age four, her hit songwriting established by her early 20s, leading to a blockbuster solo career as one of the most prolific and influential pop songwriter/recording artists in history. Discover the remarkable talents and music of one of the most celebrated artists of the 20th century.

CHART-TOPPING SOUNDS OF THE 60s—THE DECADE THAT HAD IT ALL (AV Class Series) The 60s may have been the most eclectic musical decade in American history. From stage, film, record, and concert, experience the highlights of the decade's Folk, R&B, MOR, Pop/Rock, and Stage/Film music classics.

CHART-TOPPING SOUNDS OF THE SIXTIES—DOO-WOP TO DOOBY-DOOBY-DOO (AV Class or Class Series) Doo Wop, The Surfer Sound, and the Classic MOR Popular Songbook artists of the decade are among the artists of the 60s who melded classic songs of previous decades and new repertoire into a distinctive musical experience that helped define the decade. 

CHART-TOPPING SOUNDS OF THE SIXTIES—GROOVIN' TO THE BEAT (AV Class or Class Series): Blues, R&B, Soul and Funk heavily influenced the British Invasion, with the two feeding one another. A deep appreciation of American blues and soul inspired British rebellion by emulating the roots music and soul artists. Today, these are still among the top-selling and best loved songs of the century. 

CHART-TOPPING SOUNDS OF THE SIXTIES—POWER TO THE PEOPLE! (AV Class or Class Series)  Folk, West Coast Pop-Rock and Folk-Rock was shaped by a message of social and civil rights, peace, and free love. Though the themes were spread by youth, the music entertained audiences of all social backgrounds. 

COMEDY IN MUSIC—THE BEST MEDICINE! (AV Class or Class Series) What better way to fight a pandemic than with the musical humor of Fanny Brice, Barbra Streisand, Martha Raye, Milton Berle, Anna Russell, Spike Jones, the Marx Brothers, Victor Borge, Fats Waller, Betty Hutton, Carol Burnett, Danny Kaye, PDQ Bach, and Tom Lehrer among others. You'll even discover that classical composers had a sense of humor!

ELLA FITZGERALD—FIRST LADY OF SONG (AV Class or Class Series): Ella’s impeccable vocal purity, phrasing, diction, timbre and intonation distinguish her as one of the most revered vocalists of the 20th century—the First Lady of Song. Working with respected recording artists and composers of the 20th century, her performances continually evoke from listeners sighs of awe and giddiness of joy from the sheer scope of her interpretative and technical range, as well as the power, flexibility, and beauty of her voice. 

THE EXTRAORDINARY MISS PEGGY LEE (AV Class or Class Series): Regal and elegant Peggy Lee was described as having a personality and thoughtfulness as lovely and sophisticated as her music. Admired not only as a singer, but as a songwriter and actress, she worked with many of the best bandleaders & vocalists in the business, sought out as one of the finest interpreters of the American popular songbook. 

FILM SCORES OF THE AMERICAN CINEMA (AV Class Series): How is music constructed for film and how does it support visual images? Imagine Gone With the Wind, Psycho, Ben Hur, Robin Hood, A Streetcar Named Desire, Days of Wine and Roses, The Ten Commandments or Star Wars without their passionate scores. We will analyze samples of film scores from the early talkies to the present and discover their power. 

FIVE COOL CATS—THE RAT PACK! (AV Class Series) The top draw in Vegas and Hollywood in the 50’s and early 60’s, Sinatra,  Davis, Martin, Bishop, and Lawford worked both separately and together. Get to know each of these personalities through their lives, films, concerts, and impromptu appearances together.
 

HELEN REDDY—A LIFE ROOTED IN STRENGTH (AV Class or Class Series): In 1972, when Congress completed passage of the ERA, an Australian singer/songwriter released a song that became, practically overnight, an anthem for girls and women around the world. It was their song—but it was hers as well. "I am woman” was the ethos of the woman who wrote and recorded it as she became a global superstar.

HONORING EARTH DAY—A GOOD PLANET IS HARD TO FIND (Concert): Composers and lyricists have long painted images into their songs of and the rush of emotions from the beauty of the sky, sea, and land. Joy shares both fun and poignant songs and stories at the piano that remind us how much we love our planet. 

IN LOVE WITH LONDON—CELEBRATING THE BRITISH (AV Class or Class Series)! Celebrate London and British music and history with music ranging from the Elizabethan to the modern British stage. Along the way see performances from Shakespeare, Handel, Gilbert & Sullivan, Jerome Kern, Gershwin, Lerner & Loewe, Lionel Bart, Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse—along with the talents of Julie Andrews, Petula Clark, Gertrude Lawrence, Noel Coward, Vera Lynn, Angela Lansbury, and more.

JOYOUS MUSICAL CELEBRATIONS—UPLIFTING SONGS AND STORIES OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE (Concert): Joy presents a blend from musical traditions around the world with folk, pop, stage/film, Hebrew/Yiddish, and original songs woven together with poignant stories of the human experience.

MUSICA BELLA! A CELEBRATION OF ITALIAN AMERICAN CROONERS (AV Class): Celebrate Italian American heritage with a tribute to Italian American crooners. From rich, luscious ballads to comedic novelty, the music of the likes of Sinatra, Como, Martin, and Bennett never goes out of style.
 

THE MUSICAL MAJESTY OF MANCINI (AV Class or Class Series): The unprecedented 72 Grammys and 18 Oscars for which he was nominated attest to the power of Henry Mancini’s music. His scores transformed television and film, giving a third-dimensional life to the characters, stories, and emotions of motion pictures that will live on and on. 

PERRY COMO—THE HIGHEST STANDARD (AV Class): Pierino Ronald Como was an entertainer whose standards for professional conduct, good taste, and excellence set the template for the new genre of television beginning in 1949. Admired worldwide, his record sales were among the highest of any entertainer in history and he was respected as a man of the deep principals and authenticity.

PETULA CLARK—LIVING LIFE TO ITS FULLEST (AV Class or Class Series): A career spanning 7 decades began as a child star during World War II, then to French recording/concert artist, then to one of the most successful recording/concert artists of the 60s and then to Hollywood and a world-renowned international stage and concert career. She is the most successful British female solo recording artist ever. 

PAUL ROBESON—VOICE OF FREEDOM (AV Class or Class Series): Son of a slave who became a Presbyterian minister, Robeson was among America's most admired—and reviled—talents of his day. As we look back today at his distinguished accomplishments and the racial and social causes he supported in the midst of the Blacklist, we discover why the politicization of his life so deeply obscured his brilliant talent.

SEIZE THE DAY! (Concert or Concert Series) Did you know January 8th is Bubble Bath Day? Don't try to steal Hoodie-Hoo Day on February 20th — it's copyrighted! Peanut Butter Lovers celebrate on March 1st, while in May, International Migratory Bird Day is observed worldwide. July 1st actually is Canadian Humiliation Day as a means to recognize people who have been humiliated in Canadian history. Lefties celebrate their rights on International Left Hander's Day, August 13th, and life is brighter on National Flashlight Day, December 21st. Discover the many opportunities to Seize the Day—through song—as Joy shares wild and wacky local, national, and international observances and music to celebrate them.

SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY—REMEMBERING THE 30s, 40s, AND 50s IN SONG  (Concert/Concert Series or A/V Class/Series):  America’s Golden Era of Song comes alive in this concert-lecture series as Joy highlights three decades of hits from the American Popular Songbook. From the 30s, songs of the Great Depression, the swing era, and Hollywood’s first full sound decade. From the 40s, songs of America’s soldiers and their sweethearts as well as a new generation of crooners. From the 50s, changing music of stage and screen, Hollywood’s new writers, the Brill Building, and classic images of American life. Thanks for the memory!

SENSATIONAL SESQUICENTENNIAL SING-ALONG! (Concert)  Joy will provide the song sheets—you provide the voices in the comfort of your home with favorite songs of the last 150 years. Be a SUPER-SPREADER—of JOY!—as you sing to your heart’s content on this sesquicentennial sentimental journey. 

SONGS OF OUR SISTERS: THE WOMAN IN MUSIC (Concert): Hear music by and about women and their personal spiritual and life experiences from folk, popular, Broadway, film, liturgical, and world genres.

SUMMER SPLASH!! A SUMMER CONCERT (Concert)! It’s Summertime!! Join Joy in Feelin’ Groovy singing Sunny songs Under the Boardwalk on an Island in the Sun during those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer.

THE THINGS WE DID LAST SUMMER: MEMORIES OF FAR AWAY PLACES (Concert):  When a vacation during a pandemic is not possible, enjoy songs and stories of travels, interesting places, and fun vacation moments. At the piano, Joy takes you on a Dreamer’s Holiday to Far Away Places—from Manhattan to Miami Beach to Moonlight Bay. You'll have these Moments to Remember of all the Things We Did Last Summer.

THE UNFORGETTABLE NAT KING COLE (AV Class): One of the most innovative musicians of his day, Cole’s drummerless swing jazz trio was one of the finest improvisational combos in 20th century music. A pioneer on every front, his music and his integrity continue to evoke sighs of awe and appreciation.