Jean Butler is the coach, furniture mover, food consultant and cheerleader for the Villages Concert Band. In other words, she’s the conductor in charge of about 100 musicians.
Butler relishes being the lady with the baton. “It’s not a hard job, I just tell ‘em to shut-up and play” she said with typical humor.
The Concert Band will hold “An Evening at Pops” performance Wednesday and Thursday, April 8-9, at 7 p.m. in the Savannah Center. It will feature classical music, Broadway numbers, big band songs and a French horn solo of “I Dreamed a Dream” by guest performer Lesan VanSyckle.
You can see a clip of the Villages Concert Band at the Villages-News.com Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheVillagesNews?ref=tn_tnmn
Tuesday night was the band’s last big rehearsal before the concerts. The musicians were jammed into small rehearsal room at Mulberry Grove Regional Recreation Center. Before the rehearsal began, Butler, a retired music teacher from New Hampshire, was busy moving chairs and setting up music stands.
It wasn’t easy. Butler has been battling a cold and was taking medication and lozenges. “The less I talk, the longer my voice will last,” she said, while coughing.
“There’s one problem with these chairs – they’re too big,” Butler said while dragging a chair across a rug.
“Hey Jean,” someone yelled, “how many chairs for the baritones and where should we put them?”
“Put them over there,” Butler replied, pointing to a corner of the room. Just then, another guy ran up to Butler. “Jean,” he said, “can I put the egg salad in with the shrimp?”
“Go ahead, if you can get it on time,” Butler said. “I can almost smell it already.”
It’s a few minutes before rehearsal and things are getting crazy. Musicians are warming up and the ragged sounds of horns wailing and drums banging fill the room — along with a constant buzz of chatter. It’s a symphony of chaos because the conductor is searching for something to stand on.
“I’ve got to find a podium, I know there’s one somewhere” Butler said, before disappearing into a back room. Next thing you know, she’s back in front of the band, standing on a podium. “Now all I need is stand,” Butler said, and – poof!—she vanishes again.
Butler returns with a stand and is just about ready before someone asks: “Where are we going to put the tubas?”
“The tubas – don’t put them there (in a nearby row) because they won’t fit. We’ll find a place for the tubas.”
Finally, everything is in place and Butler is back where she belongs: in front of The Villages Concert Band. She’s the baton that stirs the drink and helps these talented musicians make beautiful music together.
“I love the process of preparing for a concert,” Butler said. “I love to get people involved with music.”
That musical passion shows on Butler’s face when she conducts. She expresses vivid emotions with a comforting smile or stern look. She moves her baton in graceful motions, yet, at times, when the music builds, she can twist and turn that baton like a sword in a fencing duel.
Conducting a concert band this size is emotional and draining but Butler, despite the medication and cough drops, displays ferocious energy on the podium.
It’s all part of the job.
“The conductor is the person who puts everything together,” she said. “Music is divided into segments and my job is put the segments together with the right instrument at the right time.”
OK, but does it really matter how a conductor waves a baton?
“It does, you keep the meter,” Butler said. In other words keep the beat and rhythm.
But it’s not just getting people to play an instrument; a conductor has to constantly deal with the sometimes fragile psyches human beings.
“You have to treat people right,” Butler said. “I’m not critical and I’m not a nag. I don’t expect perfection. We’re all doing this because we love music. I want people to enjoy making music.”
Sue Moulton, who plays clarinet, thrives while playing for Butler.
“Jean wants you to become the best musician you can be,” she said. “You work hard but Jean makes music fun.”
Kathy Austin, who plays flute, agreed. “Jean has the ability to share her love and passion for music. She’s a great motivator and her smile is infectious. She will listen to you and work with you. For a lot of us, playing in this band is like therapy.”
Dave Olson plays trumpet and said Butler, “respects the musicians and she’s got our respect. She never talks down to people and if you mess up, she won’t criticize you. She makes you feel like you’re contributing and your contribution is important. She makes you want to run.”
“Anybody can wave a baton,” said Linda Quinn, who plays in the band. “But Jean cares about people. She makes you feel like you matter.”
Butler first joined The Villages Concert Band back in 2002, when she came to live here. That first meeting of the band, about 15 people showed up. Now it has grown to over 100 and there are also two other Villages bands of similar sizes: the Hometown Band and the New Horizons Band.
“People here love music and it’s a big part of their lives,” Butler said. “That’s why I enjoy working with them. It’s a wonderful opportunity to make music with these folks.”
The feeling is mutual. Butler’s leadership has helped The Villages Concert Band musicians reach musical heights and discover something bigger than themselves.
“It’s like a team,” Dave Olson. “Jean makes us feel like we’re all in this together. And that’s a good feeling.”
