musicians who range
in age from 14-81
Richard Frankle directs
musicians who range
in age from 14-81
By linda denicola
Staff Writer
JEFF GRANIT David Livingston of Freehold plays his double E flat bassoon as he rehearses with the Colts Neck Community Band.
When Richard B. Frankle retired his baton as band director in the Colts Neck K-8 school district in June 2002 and decided to put together a community band, he had no idea that he was about to fill a musical void.
He thought he was just filling a need in himself to continue doing what he loved, and as a byproduct he would be filling a need in the community of a venue for good music. But the band has turned out to be much more than that; it is a place where a diverse group of musicians can hone their skills, practice together and play before an audience.
It is also a place where some of Frankle’s former students can play the music that he inspired in them when they were in school. And if that isn’t motivation enough, it is also a place where parents can play along with their children.
Frankle is understandably pleased with all that the Colts Neck Community Band represents. The fact that it is comprised of musicians of all ages between 14 and 81 is very gratifying to him.
"This has brought three and four generations together with music as a common denominator. I like to see our young people connecting with adults and senior citizens. It’s a nice social experience," said the retired educator.
The band has members from throughout Monmouth County, although most of the members hail from Colts Neck, Freehold Township, Freehold Borough and Howell.
Rich Grossman is a Marlboro resident and a clarinetist with the band. He owns a sales training and career coaching company with his wife, called NRG Concepts. His connection to Frankle goes back a long way.
"He was my first instrumental music teacher at the Dow Avenue School in Ocean Township 41 years ago. Dick really inspired me and instilled within me a passion for music that’s very important to this day," Grossman said.
In fact, Grossman said, his first career was as a professional clarinetist and music educator.
"I owe this to Dick’s passionate and caring teaching," he said, adding, "What a thrill it is to perform under his baton again. It brings back the many happy memories that I had as his student in Ocean Township."
Colts Neck resident Tom Clarke, 53, said he was very pleased when he heard that Frankle was starting a community band.
"I jumped at the chance to play again," Clarke said, adding that he played the tuba in high school and for several years after graduating. He played in a local band in north Jersey called the Bloomingdale Cornet Band while he studied law.
"I eventually became a lawyer and the pressures of business and raising our children forced me to give up playing over 20 years ago," Clarke said.
Seven years ago he moved to Colts Neck and his children began playing in the school bands under Frankle. When Frankle retired and Clarke heard he was going to start a community band, he took action.
"I began playing with the band with a borrowed horn and ended up buying a tuba on the Internet," he said.
Clarke’s 17-year-old son, Adam, a senior at Colts Neck High School, is a clarinet player with the band, but his daughter Alicia, is too young to join right now.
"This organization has given both of us the opportunity to play together and make music together. Adam will be attending college in the fall and wherever he goes he intends to continue to play in a concert or performing band even though he will be studying engineering," Clarke said. "Dick Frankle … has inspired all the musicians who play in the band, from former students to adults like me, to renew our hobby of playing band music."
Clarke, who practices law in Colts Neck, got to know Frankle and his wife Barbara when he served as a chaperone for trips taken by the Cedar Drive School Colt Band. He explained that Frankle took the band to Hershey Park, Pa., year after year, where his students won top ratings and trophies for excellence in performance, spirit and preparation.
"Dick makes excellent choices of selections to play in order to give musicians of all ages and abilities in the band the opportunity to make good music," Clarke said.
Frankle said he tries to be audience-friendly and play typical community band fare like light classics, Broadway show tunes and patriotic songs people can identify with.
"We want people clapping, singing, humming and walking out with a smile on their face," he said.
The community band’s February concert included show tunes, Dixieland tunes, familiar marches, "Amazing Grace" and the "1812 Overture." The next concert will include the Light Cavalry Overture, a classic by Franz Von Suppe, and selections from Lion King.
"Because it’s near Memorial Day, we will also play a tribute to the soldiers called ‘The Unknown Soldier’ along with standard marches, a polka, and a number called ‘New York 1927’ by Warren Barker," Frankle said.
Recognition of the need for a community band was felt by at least one student musician. Erin Kilduff, a senior at Freehold Township High School, plays the oboe and said she heard about the formation of the band from her former middle school band director.
She has been a member of the community band since its inception last year, but in the fall she will be attending college as a music education major.
"I knew that being able to play with another band would only help my experience. I play in so many bands and I am involved with so many musical groups, yet I was very excited to join another," Kilduff said.
She has been playing the oboe for four years and is the drum major at her school during the marching band season and the principal oboe in the concert band as well as the wind ensemble. She also plays baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone and clarinet.
Kilduff said the Colts Neck Community Band has such a variety of musicianship levels, but as the only oboe player she reaps the benefits of having solos and being able to be her own section.
"I see how well a musical ensemble can come together," the young musician said.
Frankle said his idea to start a community band just evolved.
"Before you retire everybody starts asking what you are going to do when you retire," he said. "I thought about it and asked myself what it is that I like to do and that I also do well. I realized that I like to conduct. That’s what I’ve been doing for 41 years, 37 years with the Colts Neck school district "
Frankle said he contacted representatives of the Colts Neck Parks and Recreation Department and asked if they would be interested in a community band.
"They were very much for the idea and were willing to fund it. Then I approached Colts Neck High School and asked for a room to rehearse in and the use of the auditorium for three free performances a year," he explained.
The high school administration agreed to his request and that was the beginning.
"This is really a work in progress," Frankle said.
The band has progressed from its first concert on Nov. 14, which was attended by about 350 people, to a second concert on Feb. 27 that was attended by 500 music lovers. The next concert, in the high school auditorium that holds 750 people, will be on May 22.
"We’re hoping the auditorium will be full," Frankle said.
The band members come together weekly to practice at the high school.
"Some people are professionals in the music field, some are high school student musicians and others are adult avocational players," Frankle said, adding, "They come together with music as the common bond. They enjoy stimulating and challenging rehearsal sessions while developing a band family."
As director, Frankle is responsible for recruiting players, selecting music and conducting rehearsals. Every musician has to audition.
"When we started out we didn’t know if we would get any response at all. We thought we might get 20 to 25 people, but all of a sudden 50 people signed up, including some very fine musicians. They are really a challenge so I find myself working very hard to keep up," he said.
Frankle said he gets a tremendous amount of help from Arlene Radman, the band’s business manager.
"She does everything from arranging for use of facilities, to approaching area nursing homes and assisted living facilities to see if they want to come to our concerts. She also works with the Colts Neck Township Committee to coordinate events and keep everyone informed."
In light of the growing number of people attending the performances, Frankle said, "I think we are here to stay."
And the band members are not complaining either.
As Kilduff said, "We all want to be there. It’s a lot of fun."