I woke up this morning feeling so elated after last night’s performance that I  wanted to write something about it…and share some good juju. 

Joy Now just finished our second after school session; an 11 week program that ran two days a week and culminated in a big performance at the Portland Rose Festival.  We worked very hard and over this period created a family of circus marching band performers who took the world by storm! 

I personally had such a great time at our big Spring gig last night and I am very proud of every one of these youth for showing up with such enthusiasm, talent and totally jammin threads (Max, your feather duster hat was out of control). I loved being backstage with all 50+ youth performers as they got ready – it was like…like..umm…..a circus! Or a barnyard. Maybe both.

The band sounded great on stage – way to nail the parts band and all take solos horn players! And the movement team rocked it with great dance moves, stilt shenanigans and some ca-razy new circus tricks. Yea! 

The best part of the night for me was dealing with a mini crises right before stage time when a big piece of Brahim’s baritone saxophone broke off, making it unplayable. With just 20 minutes before our set started we had to think of something so he could join us. Otherwise all of his hard work, and dedication for this moment would have been let down!  We began frantically texting and calling every sax player we knew in the city and called 4 music stores – none of which had sax techs working at that time. Down to the wire, I asked Felipe – one of the parents of the younger kids – to run to his car for super glue. He got back just 10 minutes before showtime and using that and some duct tape, we managed to stick the piece on and made it work better than before! It’s moments like these that, for me, just add to the drama and hilarity of this sort of situation. It’s show biz baby! And truthfully, I’m glad it happend as it made things more exciting : )   

This was our first time including younger kids on stage. It’s SO great watching these kids get to do something they LOVE to do on stage! So many kids love to perform and be seen and heard in their creative expression. I realized after last night that even though it was scary for most of them, they all loved that moment so much.  We have mega plans to boost our younger kids programs this fall, so get ready!!  

The parade was also really great – it was fun to walk down to the esplanade and see the looks on people’s faces light up!  Thanks to Ariel and Gustav for finishing up the Fox Puppet and for all the volunteers n parents who helped us out (Thanks for the snacks, Jenna Eckert!) 

I left feeling elated and so happy for the community we are creating and the ripples it already has had on the larger community around us. This is a very special thing. I can feel the need for it now more than ever. We are thrilled to move forward and welcome everyone’s participation, young and old (Look soon for our adult classes ‘Joy Now Gold!’).

We have ONE MORE Session this year –  our teen summer camp  begins June 23rd! Please come and see us perform at the end of the week! 

Until then, keep your body movin ~ 

Much love,
Robin

Help us reach 1,000 LIKES us on FACEBOOK! 

At the Portland Rose Festival and World Environment Day! 

As part of a huge day of FAMILY friendly art, games and activities! 

We will be playing and marching at 5pm with the procession of the species : -) 

Info HERE: 
http://www.rosefestival.org/events/worldenvironmentday/

The contest is being offered by PROWUS, our non-profit partner. Anyone is eligible! 

2013 Summer Camp scholarships details

Camp dates specified by music organizations are the only
ones eligible for the Prowus summer camps scholarships

The scholarship is Non transferable

Applicants must be between ages 8-18 to enter

Entry deadline is Sunday May 12, 2013

If applying for more than one camp must submit separate
entry for each camp.

Include the following information with submission.
• Name and age
• Address
• phone
• email address
• parent / guardian name / email / phone
• Indicate camp choice

HOW TO SUBMIT: 

Entries can be
Emailed to PROWUS at cjajjj@comcast.net
Mailed to PO 14115 Portland, OR 97293
Dropped off at School of Rock, JoyNow or Youth Music
Project
No late entries will be considered.
Winners notified by Friday May 24, 2013

FOR Questions email:  cjajjj@comcast.net

CREATIVITY COUNTS!

If you’re thinking about joining Joy Now, this is a great way to come see what all the noise is all about. If you’re a parent of a current Joy Now student, it’s YOUR turn to try all the fun things your kids have been raving about. 

This is sort of like an open house, except that it’s a workshop where we ask you to arrive by 5:30pm and stay the whole time to get the full experience. Trust us, you won’t want to leave!! 

Adults AND kids will get to: 

• Experience mini-playshops in circus arts, music, stilt- walking, costume design and more! 
• Learn more about the program, what we offer and how you can support it

FREE Wine and gourmet snacks!!!!

Monday, March 11th
5:30-8pm

St David of Wales Church, 2800 Southeast Harrison Street Portland, OR 97214

PRE-REGISTER and enter our RAFFLE to win a gift certificate to Townshends Teahouse – local, gourmet tea on Alberta! 
www.townshendstea.com

REGISTER NOW:  http://joynowproject.eventbrite.com/

You MUST register in advance to enter the raffle! 

Ten years after it first began to delight audiences with its blend of circus arts and Klezmer-inspired, big-band sound, March Fourth Marching Band is mentoring a new generation. Members of March Fourth have founded Joy Now Arts Project for Portland-area youth.

“Family” is a word many kids use to describe their experience.

Recent Joy Now rehearsals reveal 18 middle- and high school-age kids collaborating on a rocking circus performance piece. They sew their own costumes, learn about Klezmer, and strap on stilts. Laughter punctuates the quiet confidence that comes from being surrounded by supportive, caring adults.

Admittedly, Joy Now co-founders Robin Jackson and Ariel Brantley-Dalglish want to save the world. The former March Fourth Marching Band members’ vision begins one child at a time, through the medium of art.

Modeled after the infectiously funky and raucous big-band performing group that they came from, with the support of some current band members, Joy Now Arts Project is completing its first go at an after-school program.

“We’ve seen the arts being cut from all different school and community budgets,” Brantley-Dalglish says. “ But we also have all this research that shows how much arts really help students thrive.”

You can check them out this weekend when they play the March Fourth Marching Band ‘s 10th Anniversary Extravaganza at the Crystal Ballroom on Sunday, March 3 at 4pm.

For information on how to register for upcoming Joy Now classes: http://joynowproject.org

– Faith Cathcart

Click here to see more photos from the article

Come see the Joy Now Youth Marching Band open up for Portland’s own MarchFourth Marching Band at their annual birthday Bash at the Crystal Ballroom!

This is the final performance of the Winter Session after school program. Interested in being a part of the band? Contact us to Register

MarchFourth Marching Band Anniversary show!
The Crystal Ballroom, 1332 West Burnside Street, Portland, OR
Sunday, March 3rd
Matinee 4pm
Admission: Teens/adults, $11 adv/$14 dos. Kids (age 4-12), $8 adv/$11 dos. Kids under 4, free

BUY TICKETS

Much gratitude to the following businesses and individuals:

Emily Hetrick Realty

Andina
Artists Repertory
Bernie’s
Common Ground Wellness Center
Crossfit 
Crush
Duckpond Vineyards
Elephant’s Delicattesen
Faith Hats
Flora Bowley 
Floyds Coffee House
The Sanford Sisters
Kaya singer
Lisa Bogan
New Seasons Markets
“Night Flight”
Sweethome yoga
Tiny’s Coffee
Dierdre Thompson
Bhakti Shop
Zen Space
Awakenings yoga space
Mother’s bistro
MarchFourth
Matt Cawley
Sock it 2 me
Private lessons at Impact athletics
Stunting classes Uplift
Saucebox
Mississippi Pizza
Whitebird
Lovely’s 5050
Sabrina Sterling
Liberty Glass
Bollywood Theater
Red Fox
Salt and straw
Bin 21
Bike Galley
The Joinery
Radio Room
Townsends Tea
Scott Neisen
John and Teri Whitty
Ms. Erica J Kelley
Madoc Ying-wong
Raina McSherry
Erin McKenna
Steven and Lisa Erb
Carol Salami-Gostwick
Eric Brenner-Kelley
Whole 9 yards
Linda Schaldach
Sol Crawford
Robin Larsen
Jans ingber
Tony Favazza
Aimee Eddins
elizabeth bretko
Kevin Levy
David Hobby
Adam henry
Mike Howard
Jen Forti
Nick Lavorato
Lisa Lepine
Nikole Gramm
Sol Crawford
Rylan Heyerman
Rich Jones
Ben Pinkowitz
Peter Davidson
Thom Forster
Nathan Miller
Kevin Balmer
Therese Batt
Jeffery Cawley
John Labovitz
Lisa Bogan
matt siegel
Kaya Singer
Jorjan Plimmer
Patricia Moak
Bonnie Cohn
Hilary Anthony
David Hobby
Mary Mazza
Shelia Brantley
Elizabeth goeke
Dan Berger
Joanna Boyd
Sarah Lomas
Annamieka Hopps
Joe Mazza, Jr
Zipporah
Edye Sanford
Craig Huntley
Stacy Anne Murphy
Eric Brenner-Kelley
Aaron Blake
Anthony Meade
Jonathan Brinkley
Melissa Townsen
Monika Gerzova
Tangela Purdom

Drinking booze and supporting a non-profit youth program!

The Joy Now Arts Project is a circus and music performing arts program for youth taught by members of the MarchFourth Marching Band!

In order to keep our program running, we rely on community support! Bink’s on Alberta has offered to give 50% of all sales to Joy Now for an entire night!

It’s also Mardi Gras, so come hang out with us and encourage all of your friends to join us too. The more people that come, the more scholarships we will have for spring session!! Have a drink and help more youth attend our program!

We will also be raffling off an hour long massage at Zen Space (a fabulous Valentine’s Day present! ) Don’t miss your opportunity to Win! Win! Win!

Tuesday Feb. 12th from 6-11pm

Bink’s 2712 NE Alberta, Portland

If you’re thinking about joining Joy Now, this is a great way to come see what all the noise is all about. If you’re a parent of a current Joy Now student, it’s YOUR turn to try all the fun things your kids have been raving about. 

This is sort of like an open house, except that it’s a workshop where we ask you to arrive by 5:30pm and stay the whole time to get the full experience. Trust us, you won’t want to leave!! 

Adults AND kids will get to: 

• Experience mini-playshops in circus arts, music, stilt- walking, costume design and more! 
• Learn more about the program, what we offer and how you can support it

FREE Wine, Pizza and other snacks!!!!

Monday, March 11th
5:30-8pm

St David of Wales Church, 2800 Southeast Harrison Street Portland, OR 97214

PRE-REGISTER and enter our RAFFLE to win a gift certificate to Townshends Teahouse – local, gourmet tea on Alberta! 
www.townshendstea.com

CLICK HERE: http://joynowproject.eventbrite.com/

You MUST register in advance to enter the raffle.