Play it again,
ma’am

By Ruth Rovner
For the Times

Every other Wednesday, Rhona Siegel drives from her Pennypack home to the Settlement Music School in South Philadelphia. She spends three hours of pure pleasure there, joining other adult musicians to play chamber music.
"The time just flies by because we’re creating these beautiful sounds," says the retired teacher. "I often become mesmerized by the beautiful flow of music that we’re creating."
At 61, Siegel, who plays the violin, is immersed in a life of music. She participates in a program at Settlement for amateur musicians, mostly over 60 and retired. Called Adult Chamber Players (formerly called Sixty Plus-or-Minus Chamber Players), it provides the opportunity for older players to come together and play chamber music in duos, trios, quartets and quintets.
They’re free to use any available studio at Settlement, and they also have access to the school’s extensive library of ensemble music. They can borrow music scores to use for each session or take them home to practice.
The program also offers sessions at Settlement’s Jenkintown branch on alternate Tuesday mornings. The branch is in the Alverthorpe Estate on Meetinghouse Road.
The musicians — most of them between age 60 and their late 80s — play purely for their own pleasure and enrichment. But that doesn’t mean they take it lightly. One major challenge is that, at each session, they are reading the music on sight, without any rehearsal.
"We have five or six composers to choose from, and after we’re in our groups, we choose which pieces to play and then we start playing," Siegel explained.
"This has really improved my sight-reading skills. It’s amazing how much improvement comes from practice."
She and the others have noticed another type of improvement, too.
"Our playing takes total concentration," she says. "We all agree that it’s very good mental exercise."
And whatever the demands, the rewards are well worth it.
"This has done so much for my musical skills," Siegel said. "All my past efforts are being put to good use now."
Siegel first studied the violin at age 8. A Lancaster native, she was encouraged by her late mother Norma to take up violin.
"Even though my mother had studied piano, she always loved the violin," Siegel said.
So young Rhona agreed to try it. Her parents at first rented a violin, which was three-quarters size for the 8-year-old.
"At first it was frustrating," she recalled. "I didn’t like the sound I was getting. But my mother said ‘Keep trying!’ and slowly I got better."
One year later, she joined the orchestra of her elementary school. By high school she was so good that she won a place with the prestigious district orchestra, which was open only to the top student musicians. For three years she played with the orchestra.
But when Siegel entered Temple University as an education major, life became so busy that she put away her violin, playing only occasionally. That also was true after she began teaching at the H.A. Brown Elementary School in Kensington.
The violin stayed in the closet, except for the few times she brought her instrument to school and played for her first-grade students, who were delighted.
Much later, encouraged by a fellow teacher, she joined the Olney Symphony. Members attend regular rehearsals and present three concerts each year.
Siegel has been a member ever since.
But it wasn’t until her retirement in June 1999 that music became a major focus. In September of that year, she joined a string quartet that met in Cherry Hill, N.J.
"I discovered that I really loved quartets," she said.
So Siegel was especially interested when one member of the quartet told her about a program at the Settlement Music School that involved playing in small groups. Siegel eagerly traveled to Queen Street in South Philly to find out more about the program. She met the coordinator and signed up the same day.
The very next Wednesday, she came with her violin, and she’s been attending faithfully ever since.
The sessions start at 10 a.m. and continue until 1 in the afternoon, with a half-hour break for refreshments and socializing. One of the benefits of the program — besides, of course, the music — has been the chance to meet new friends who share Siegel’s musical interests.
It was quite a surprise when she met Alan Taylor at Settlement. She never knew until then that Taylor, a pianist, lives just one block from her in the Pennypack area. Taylor is an active participant in the Settlement program, both in Jenkintown and South Philly.
"He’s a very busy musician but whenever we’re both available, we play together at his house," said Siegel, noting that the two neighbors also take turns driving to South Philly.
Another friendship was forged with cellist Vanda Rosenthal, of Haverford. "We really hit it off and we became very friendly," Siegel added. "We even went on a music cruise together."
What’s more, it’s through her friendship with Rosenthal that the two are sometimes invited to play at weddings.
By now, Siegel’s calendar is crammed with musical activities. Every Tuesday morning she plays with the string quartet in Cherry Hill. Through her connection with the group, she’s also in a program called Musical Interludes.
"We’re sent as musicians to play for shut-ins and at retirement homes in Camden County," she explained.
Then, too, Siegel plays in a string quartet made up of musicians from the Olney Symphony. And she’s still a member of that orchestra, which means weekly rehearsals and three major concerts each season.
And, of course, on alternate Wednesdays, she’s at the Settlement Music School in South Philly as a loyal member of the Adult Chamber Players. She rarely misses a session.
"There’s the sheer joy of playing, and I’ve met such interesting people," she said. "Our mutual interest in music gives us a special bond."
Indeed, she is grateful for all of her musical activities.
"It has enriched my life and has helped me to enjoy my retirement much more than I expected," she said. "I’m so happy to have the chance, at this stage of life, to really enjoy making music." ••
••
Adult Chamber Players, sponsored by the Settlement Music School, is open to adult musicians interested in playing chamber music. Sessions are held at both the Jenkintown branch on alternate Tuesdays (located in the Alverthorpe Estate on Meetinghouse Lane) and at the South Philadelphia branch on alternate Wednesdays.
For information on Jenkintown, call 215-885-6166. For the Philadelphia branch, call 215-320-2600, Ext. 2698.