Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • January 12, 2011 Ramsey Borough’s Chen sisters bring China to Ridgewood by John Koster Ramsey’s Chen sisters recently offered stand-out solo performances on instruments most Americans have never heard of at one of the most memorable concerts on the Ridgewood Library’s schedule. “There are very few kids in the U.S. who are willing to learn Chinese music,” the performers’ mother Daphne Wong observed. The Chen sisters – 15-year-old Jacqueline and 14-yearold twins Melinda and Melanie – were the only performers from Northwest Bergen County among the 35 players at the Ridgewood concert of the Music from China Youth Orchestra. But each Chen sister was a soloist. Jacqueline’s sonorous performance on the erhu, the one-stringed Mongolian fiddle, was evocative of a number of deep emotions – nostalgia, yearning, and perhaps a touch of tragedy that brought misty eyes to many people in the packed audience. Melanie’s dancing fingers on the liuqin, or moon lute, had the audience nodding their heads and tapping their feet in time. Melinda, an internationally-ranked gold medal performer on the yangqin, or hammer dulcimer, had the audience in awe at the incredible speed and precision of her playing. The music itself might have been familiar to a Western audience as the background to Hollywood films about old China – sometimes quaint, sometimes mysterious – but seeing it actually performed was a striking experience. The Chen sisters. While the melodic line was repetitive, it was never redundant, and the melodies built on themselves with improvisation and keep the audience fascinated. For Jacqueline, who studies intensely in academic subjects at Ramsey High School and also plays piano and saxophone, the Chinese music allows her a chance at expression of her inner self. “Music is just an outlet for me to do whatever I feel like, whenever I feel like it without anyone telling me what to do,” she said. Melanie agreed that being absorbed in the feelings the music evokes is even more important than technical proficiency. She added, “There’s a lot more to music than just hitting the right notes. I see it as a form of expression, each one unique to each song. For example the ‘Fisherman’s Song,’ the one I played is a calm yet exciting piece, showing the different sides of fishing. There’s the fun part – with the slides – the calm part, as if the boat is sailing with the waves, and the hardship and intense part – my solo in the middle – maybe where there’s an unexpected storm. I always imagine a small boat in the sea in order to get myself into the right mood before I play.” Melinda noted, “Some of the songs I play are hard, and I like to think of it as a challenge. Music is really something more of an understanding. If you just played out a song, for example, it’s not really the same as watching the person’s expression change as they play the music. See, a performer can play ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’ and I would be perfectly fine with it as long as that performer looks like he’s (continued on page 15) The Ramsey Board of Health, along with Hackensack University Medical Center’s Health Awareness Regional Program, will offer a new session of Project Healthy Bones in February. Project Healthy Bones, a 24-week exercise and educational program, is designed for men and women who have -or are at risk of -- osteoporosis, a common medical problem in the later years. Exercises are directed toward improving muscle and bone strength, balance, and flexibility. The program stresses the importance of exercise, nutrition, safety, and lifestyle factors related to osteoporosis. Project Healthy Bones class to begin The orientation for the new Project Healthy Bones class will be held at the Ramsey Senior Center at Finch Park on Thursday, Feb. 3 at 2:30 p.m. Residents may register for the program at that time and pick up a physician’s approval form. Space is limited and admission will be based on when completed physician approval forms are received. Project Healthy Bones classes are free. The one-hour classes are scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17 at the Ramsey Senior Center. The current Tuesday Project Healthy Bones class will continue indefinitely. Break the Highway Trend! ...not your community’s back. Local businesses are the backbone of your community and the trend to shop the big guys on the highway hurts us all.Your local businesses have what you want... at the right price... and close to home. So, why hassle with the highways? Save Time! Save Gas! Save Money! SAVE YOUR COMMUNITY! We Need You SHOP LOCALLY. IT’S SMART. ...and besides, it’s so convenient!