Our
Director
John
Knueven
"The RING MASTER”
Artistic Background
I
was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on January 24th
1947. My dad, Vincent Knueven, was in a band in his youth, having
learned how to play the accordion. He had his accordion labeled “Vinny
K”. So there was always music in our household. My dad loved to
sing, and we often had family gatherings when we all sang. Of course, we
were all expected to sing in church.
So
I guess it’s not surprising that I joined the church choir at an early age (I
think I was in the third grade). I sang soprano at first, and later alto
(harmony). I was under the instruction and tutelage of our paid choir
director (the last one being Doctor Eugene Englert).
When
I was in the fourth grade, my parents made me take piano lessons from Sister
Julietta. I say made me because, like most kids, I didn’t really enjoy
practicing ½ hour each day. My parents bought a piano for me to practice.
Sister Julietta taught me for about 4 years. I remember her getting angry
at me because when she started a new song, I would listen to her play it once,
then I would play it but without looking at the music!! I really was good
at “playing by ear”. Somehow the underlying chord structures played in
my mind as I played the song. Some time later I took organ lessons from
the choir director (my parents bought me an organ, too!).
In
grade school I joined the school band. I played trumpet (yes, parents
bought a trumpet) and in the eighth grade I switched to baritone (no, they
didn’t buy that … the school provided one).
In
high school I tapered off any training in music. My high school did find
out I played the organ, so I was called upon to play at rallies and other
convocation type events (background music and school song).
Not
much to say about college years. I was too busy studying Physics!
After
college I got married and was drafted into the Army, so we moved to Texas.
We joined a small community church and I became the organist. The church
was a combination of Angelo and Spanish parishioners, and so there was an
English mass and a Spanish mass. I had to teach myself how to play
mariachi style music “Adios O Madre Mea, Adios, adios, adios!!!” It
has a peculiar back beat.
After
I was released from my Army obligation, I joined a company local to Texas
and stayed a few years longer, continuing to serve as organist. I even
formed a small choir to sing at mass.
My
company moved me to California, where once again
I was “drafted” to be organist at church.
Several
years later we moved to Washington DC, where we finally settled down. With
5 children, I didn’t have much time for music, but I did have Mom and Dad’s
old organ (bequeathed to me), and so I would occasionally play. Well, it
didn’t take long for the church to find out I could play, but they had no
organ! That is when I taught myself to play the guitar. Guitar was
pretty easy, as I had a real “ear” for which chord would work next.
Finally the church moved into a permanent facility, and I was asked to play the
organ. Getting real tired of singing alone, once again I began to form
choirs. During the 30 years here I was both organist and choir director
(when I could find an organist), and my choirs were especially proud to sing at Christmas
and Easter services.
Then
one Sunday I was attending church services not singing in a choir. But instead
of singing the melody as most parishioners were doing, I sang a harmony part.
Little did I know that a consummate Barbershopper, Jere Richardson, was sitting
a few rows behind me. I must say I don’t sing softly in church, because
I like to encourage other men in the church to sing!! Jere heard me, and
grabbed me on the way out of church and immediately invited me to a Barbershop
chorus rehearsal (The Fairfax Jubil-Aires).
You’ll
laugh to know what a bone head I was. I thought I would come to barbershop
and “teach some old fellas how to sing”. Boy was I ever wrong!
I learned so much in a few short meetings it just took my breadth away! I
had no idea that a piano is actually “out of tune” when playing most chords.
I didn’t know about mouth shape, vowel sounds, posture and other singing
techniques.
After
a few years of “catching up” on how to REALLY sing from our very talented
director (Mr. Bill James), I finally decided to take more formalized training in
singing. I have attended barbershop seminars over the course of four
years, called “Harmony College East”. Harmony College East is a three
day intensive barbershop seminar held at Salisbury University – Salisbury,
Maryland. There I have taken many training classes, among them were
classes in: “How to read music”, “How to form a quartet”, “Tune it or
Die!”, “Tag Singing”, “So now what do I do with this Song?”, “Vocal
Techniques”, “Society Judging Program “, and “Director of the Future”.
I
became interested in “Woodshedding”, which is a technique of harmonizing to
a song you have not heard before or do not know an arrangement to. I have
attended at least three “Woodshedding Weekends”, where fellow wood shedders
practice their art and hold contests. I was lucky to win a gold medal (as
bass) at one of the Woodshedding contests held in Timonium,
MD.
In
2002 my daughter, Karyn was getting married. I very much wanted to sing at
her wedding, so I formed a barbershop quartet which we named “RingQuest” (in
quest of a wedding ring and ringing chords!). After a well received
presentation at the wedding, RingQuest continues to this day entertaining
audiences with our songs and comedy. As a quartet we have also received
coaching at Harmony College East, as well as coaching from accomplished
instructors including Gene Hanover, Harland Wilson (gold medal quartet
“Suntones”) and Joe Cerutti (director of the Alexandria Harmonizers
chorus).
In
2006 I became an assistant director of the Fairfax Jubil-Aires under the
tutelage of our Director, Tom Meier. In addition to my learning from Tom,
I have attended a two full weeks of Director’s University in St.
Joseph, Missouri (one week each in 2006 and 2007). I have taken and
passed the tests for all but one of the courses required to become a certified
barbershop director, including “Directing Techniques 1 and 2”, “Theory 1
and 2”, “Vocal Techniques”, “Leadership”, “How to Teach What You
Know”, and “History of Barbershopping”. I need only take “Chorus
Director Workshop Intensive” to become a fully certified Barbershop Harmony
Society director.
John
Knueven