Hum a few bars

Okay, I admit it. I’m a sheet-music junkie. For years I’ve
purchased it. All kinds. Jazz, show tunes, classical pieces, sacred music, and
popular tunes alike. I am particularly fond of vocal scores that allow the
contralto in me to break out with attitude. Over the past few years, however,
more and more of the collection is making its way to others who find it useful
more often than I.

Besides, because I’m now married to a trained singer, my
bursts of Broadway are usually confined to private moments. I’m not concerned,
though. Sheet music and scores galore are readily available in the Eileen
Reidman Art & Music Division at the downtown Central Library, where staff
can help unearth thousands of songs via the Doremi database.

Doremiis an index
to popular songs in the library’s songbook holdings. The database indexes
musical scores containing popular music — both vocal and instrumental —
that encompasses Broadway tunes, pop, rock, jazz, blues, country, folk,
international, traditional, and children’s songs. It does not index vocal or
instrumental classical music.

First created as a card index in the 1920s, Doremi was
computerized in 1993. The current version contains 80,041 citations to 44,543
songs. Songs can be searched using title, composer, lyricist, some major
languages, and alternate titles. One of only a handful of song-indexed, library
databases in the nation, Rochester’s Doremi is one valuable resource!

— Carolyn Schuler

This week for
families:

Folding and Flying
Paper Airplanes Sun, Oct 3. Central Library, 115 South Ave, 2-3:30 p.m.
Free.

Hispanic Month Events
Wednesdays, cooking classes, ages 6-15, South Avenue Community Center, 900
South Ave, 4-5:30 p.m. 428-6015 | Tuesdays, cooking classes, all ages, Avenue D
Recreation Center, 200 Ave D, 5:30-7 p.m. 428-7934 | Wed, Sept 29, piñata
making party, City Hall Atrium, 30 Church St, 12-2 p.m. | Family Hispanic
Heritage Night, Wed, Oct 6, Edgerton Community Center, 41 Backus St, 5-7:30
p.m. 428-6769 | Family Hispanic Heritage Dinner, Wed, Oct 6, Danforth Community
Center, 200 West Ave, 6-8 p.m. 428-7860

Interfaith Forum
Essay Contest Deadline: Oct 29. Theme: Building community, bridging our
differences, grades 9-12. Info: www.ggw.org/buildingcommunity

Nick Page Sat,
Oct 2. Interactive family concert, Hochstein Performance Hall, 50 N Plymouth
Ave, 7 p.m. Free. www.theamadeuschorale.org

RMSC Strasenburgh
Planetarium 657 East Ave. Pink Floyd
Laser: Sat 9 p.m.; A Trip to Saturn
and Pluto: Sat 1 p.m.; Pulse: A Stomp
Odyssey: Wed-Fri 4 p.m.; Sat 2, 3, 4, 8 p.m.; Sun 1, 2, 3, 4 p.m.; I See the Sky: Sat 9:30 a.m.; The Sky Tonight: Sat 10:30 a.m.; Tix:
$4-$7. 271-1880

Rochester Museum and
Science Center 657 East Ave. Surprise!
It’s Science, through May 2005. | Rochester’s
Frederick Douglass, through January 2006. | Live Science! demos and
theater, Wed-Fri 3:30 p.m.; Sat 2, 3, 4 p.m.; Sun 1:30, 2:30, 3:30 p.m. Sat 3
p.m. show sign-interpreted. | Ongoing exhibits include: AdventureZone, Carlson
Inquiry Room, At the Western Door.
| Hours: Mon-Sat 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 12-5 p.m. Tix: $5-$7. 271-1880, www.rmsc.org.

Seneca Park Zoo 2222
St Paul St. Genesee Trail Blazers, Tues, Oct 5, ages 3-4, 10:15 and 11:30 a.m.
$18. | Hours: daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tix: $5, $4 seniors, $2 kids. 467-9453,
www.senecazoo.org.

Strong Museum 1
Manhattan Square. Monday Kicks, Mon, Oct 4, ages 2-6, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Included
with admission. | Tuesdays for Tots, Tues, Oct 5, 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. $5-$7.
263-2701 ext 314 | Long-term exhibits include National Toy Hall of Fame, Can
You Tell Me How To Get To Sesame Street? and Super Kids Market. Hours:
Mon-Thurs 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Fri 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun 12-5 p.m.
Tix: $7; $6 seniors, students; $5 children. 263-2700

The gift of you

When a new baby arrives, parents are inundated with tiny
pastel clothes and noisy hunks of plastic. While the thought really is what counts, some thoughts are
probably better than others.

A sling, which
allows hands-free holding, is ideal for new parents. They can cuddle a newborn and make a sandwich, brush teeth, or get
mail. Slings help moms do more, and are easier to carry than bulky car seats.

Wooden and natural toys have unmistakable appeal: they’re classic, they’re heirloom quality, and are
environmentally sound. Simple toys stimulate the imagination more than their
battery operated kin.

For clothing,
think practical. Bigger sizes, gender-neutral colors, and natural fibers are a
hit. Include gift receipts; Junior might have a growth spurt and sprout out of
your carefully chosen gift. And babies never have enough socks or pajamas.

Food delivery, a
gift certificate to the local laundry,
and housekeeping services help
parents adjust and focus more of their energy on their newborn. Some stylists make house calls to frazzled
moms.

Give new parents the gift of you. Arrange to spend some time with the family and wash dishes, do
laundry, or take older siblings out for an afternoon (call first). Offer to mow
the lawn or vacuum. Hold the baby while mom takes a shower, or simply drop off
a home-cooked meal. Pick up some groceries, or just lend a supportive ear.
Sometimes the smallest gestures are the most meaningful.

— Dawn Straight (http://bizarrogirl.com)

This article appears in Sep 29 – Oct 5, 2004.