On April 3, 2013, over 50 people attended the Art-in-a-Bag drop-in craft time!

In April 2013, two folk bands visited NOPL @ North Syracuse.

Folk Music Series: NOPL @ North Syracuse
Sponsored by the Freinds of Nopl @ North Syracuse

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers & Wendy Ramsay Duo
Sunday 4/7 at 2pm
NOPL @ N. Syracuse

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, a grand prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest and the founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine is joined by singer-songwriter Wendy Ramsay on vocals, guitar, flute, clarinet, and toy accordion. Sponsored by the Friends of NOPL @ N. Syracuse. Free.

Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, a grand prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, is joined by quirky singer-songwriter Wendy Ramsay on vocals, guitar, flute, clarinet, and toy accordion. Expect a mix of original songs and unusual covers, with close vocal harmonies. Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers came upon his first guitar at 12, and hasn’t looked back. “I started writing songs almost immediately. Guitar and songwriting have been at the center of my life ever since.” He has used his skills to educate a new crop of musicians and songwriters. “Education is central to my work as the founding editor of Acoustic Guitar magazine and author of guidebooks and instructional videos for musicians. I teach a course on songwriting at SU and lead workshops for guitarists and songwriters.”

Unlike many folk musicians, Wendy didn’t start with guitar. “My first official music lessons were in fourth grade when I started playing clarinet. After that I learned sax, flute, oboe, and then finally started teaching myself guitar when I was 24.” Wendy is now a frequent performer and collaborator in the Central New York music scene.

Genessee Ted
Sunday 4/21 at 2pm
NOPL @ N. Syracuse

Genesee Ted, a local folk band made up of members Dana Cooke (mandolin), Shirley Stevens (guitar), and Eileen Rose (mountain dulcimer), will play a blend of old-timey, mountain, traditional, and bluegrass songs.

Shirley Stevens, who has always had a love of music, took on guitar in college after listening to the Kingston Trio. “I learned to play out of a book from our local library,” she says. Shirley enjoys playing “roots music” with Genesee Ted and connecting with the audience. Her favorite moments during a performance are when they “get the audience singing with us, or clapping…I want to see those toes tapping!”

Eileen Rose has been a mainstay of the local folk music scene. “My Mountain Dulcimer is quite unique to this area,” says Eileen, who has been playing the instrument for over a decade. “Our trio brings our genuine love of old-time music and heartfelt harmonies to life when we perform.”

Dana Cooke was a songwriter before he became a performer. He was introduced bluegrass and traditional music in the early 2000s, and it wasn’t long until he played his first mandolin. “I found the mandolin supremely approachable and charming. It became my second instrument and led me even more deeply into bluegrass and old-time music.”

Throughout October, NOPL is giving patrons a chance to center and balance their body and mind. Linda Haverlock, a certified yoga instructor at the Yoga with Linda Studio in Cicero, will be at the NOPL at North Syracuse Library for five consecutive Saturdays starting October 6 from 11am to noon. The program is called Gentle Yoga.

Sign up for: October 6, October 13, October 20, October 27, November 3.

The Gentle Yoga sessions at the library are as accessible as possible: there’s no cost, no walls or mirrors, no prerequisite fitness level or performance expectations. Everyone belongs, especially beginners. The goal of gentle yoga is to ease into stretches using breathing exercises. “This type of yoga is good for everyone to help release tension and stress in our muscles and other areas of our bodies,” Linda says.

Over the past 20 years in the US, this activity has moved from way out on the fringe into the mainstream. Linda started ten years ago after attending a yoga class taught by a friend. “After one class, I was hooked and began my journey.” Yoga can seem daunting to start, due to the images of hyper-flexible people in difficult poses as seen in health magazines and on fitness television. “Many people think that you need flexibility in order to participate in yoga practice,” Linda says. “Gaining flexibility is what happens naturally when you come to yoga class.”

According to Linda, “Yoga opens up a whole new world as we learn to integrate breath with movement or sitting quietly in meditation, combining mind, body and soul.” The facts are on her side, as yoga has been shown to help reduce anxiety, stress, and tension, and can contribute to lowering blood pressure.

Yoga is a great start to a healthier lifestyle, and October is a great time to learn an indoor exercise. Register for the classes at any NOPL Library or online. Get healthy, relieve stress, and feel better about yourself.

Gentle Yoga (with Linda Haverlock)
Sunday, October 6, 13, 20, 27, and November 3 from 11 am to noon
NOPL at North Syracuse.