California Federation of Music Clubs
Affiliated with the National Federation of Music Clubs
Welcome music enthusiasts, music teachers and music performers.
California Federation of Music Clubs (CFMC) is dedicated to promoting music performances, service through music, and music education in our local communities.
Join a CFMC Music Club
Membership is all about joining music clubs. When you become a member of the California Federation of Music Clubs (CFMC), you also become a member of the National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC), which is the largest non-profit organization in America promoting and supporting American Music, performers, and music education. Discover the many opportunities and activities in which our over 90,000 members organize and participate: Festival programs, competitive events, community outreach or just meeting music lovers in your community.
Visit our membership page for more information, and contact Madeline Miller at mhermitte2@gmail.com if you have questions or need help.
Are you looking to become a member of NFMC, the National Federation of Music Clubs? If you live in California, NFMC membership starts at the state level with CFMC.
Are you a Music Teacher? Learn about membership benefits, and the nationally recognized NFMC Festivals Program.
CALIFORNIA JUNIOR CLUB NEWS
Listen to Claremont Youth Symphony Orchestra perform Sleigh Ride at their recent concert featuring students from the Claremont School of Music from Pomona Valley CFMC.
Learn more about the Claremont School of Music by following them on Social Media
Students of the Berkeley Academy of Music attended Matchbox Magic Flute at Berkeley Repertory Theater as the holiday Junior Club excursion! Students ages 7-18 enjoyed this delightful update of Mozart’s opera.
Southern California Music Festival Club hosted a Parade of American Music and raised money for the Canoga Park Rescue Center's Thanksgiving Food Drive.
Junior Leaders from the Southern California Music Festival Club organized their 3rd Annual Holiday Recital to collect donations for their local CHiP's for Kids Toy Drive.
CFMC Member Spotlight
Meet Composer Tom Gerou
Tom Gerou is a CFMC member, composer, and pianist from Southern California whose pieces have been selected for the NEW 2024-2028 NFMC Bulletin. Learn more about him by reading below
Click on the links above to visit his website, and to follow him on Youtube, Instagramm and Facebook.
What is your most meaningful musical experience or memory? --Hearing one of my pieces performed or premiered for the first time is always an incredible experience for me. I become the audience and can critically perceive the piece far differently than when I perform or teach it. I hear the music as others hear it—and feel both excited, slightly anxious in anticipation, and very much alive. It is the same experience each time.
What do you enjoy when you are not composing or at the piano? -- The non-musical side of me enjoys visual design, editing, and engraving. I find these relaxing and intellectually interesting—both as a hobby and professionally. Although musically related, it has a different appeal and release for me.
At what age and how did you start composing? -- I believe I started composing at age 14 or 15 with an instrumental exit piece for my family’s rock band concerts. We played that piece for years. I also composed many piano pieces throughout high school as well as our high school graduation song. By age 16 I desperately wanted to compose like Debussy, Ginastera, and Stravinsky. My first published piece was a choral piece at age 20, which then decided my future.
What advice do you have for our young members interested in composing?--Be aware of what you are writing and how to strengthen each composition. I advise avoiding improvisation as the tool for composing. Pieces require a conscious economy of means, planning, and much hard work to be effective and timeless. I believe teaching pieces to be of equal value to any other composition if done effectively—just with more restraints and parameters.
Explore Tom's NFMC Bulletin Pieces
Listen to the Tom Gerou's NFMC Piano Solo playlist
Listen to Tom Gerou's NFMC Piano Duet playlist
Tom Gerou's Piano SOLO Event Pieces listed by Class
All pieces list are composed by Tom Gerou
PRIMARY CLASS I
Around a Roundabout
Early Elementary $4.99 4ppSquare Wheels
Early Elementary $4.99 4pp
PRIMARY CLASSS II
Half an Orange
Elementary $4.99 4ppSongs from the Sky
Elementary $4.99 4pp
PRIMARY CLASS III
Dreamcatcher
Late Elementary $4.99 4ppOverlapping Waves
Late Elementary $4.99 4pp
PRIMARY CLASS IV
Heavenly Blue
Early Intermediate $4.99 4pp
ELEMENTARY CLASS I
Celestial Arches (sheet version)
Early Intermediate $4.99 4ppModelli di cinque (Patterns of Five)
from In Style Romantique
Intermediate to Late Intermediate
$10.99 32pp
ELEMENTARY CLASS II
Saturnine
Intermediate $4.99 4pp
Treni di passaggio (Passing Trains)
from In Style Romantique
Intermediate to Late Intermediate
$10.99 32pp
ELEMENTARY CLASS III
A hui hou (Until We Meet Again)
from Novellas, Book
Late Intermediate $9.99 24ppSequoia Gigantea
Intermediate $4.99 4pp
ELEMENTARY CLASS IV
Canzone romantico (Love Song)
from In Style Romantique
Intermediate to Late Intermediate
$10.99 32ppMenuetto al fresco from Novellas, Book 1
Late Intermediate $9.99 24pp
MEDIUM CLASS
Danza dialogo (Dialogue Dance)
from In Style Romantique
Intermediate to Late Intermediate
$10.99 32ppStella cadente (Shooting Star)
from In Style Romantique
Intermediate to Late Intermediate
$10.99 32pp
MODERATELY DIFFICULT CLASS I
La bella tentazione (The Beautiful Temptation)(sheet version)
Late Intermediate $4.99 4ppThe Tritone Paradox
Intermediate $4.99 4pp
MODERATELY DIFFICULT CLASS II
The Spice of Life from Novellas, Book 1
Late Intermediate $9.99 24ppMoto perpetuo from Novellas, Book 1
Late Intermediate $9.99 24pp
MODERATELY DIFFICULT CLASS III
La vie élégante (The Elegant Life)
from Novellas, Book 1
Late Intermediate $9.99 24ppVaudviullium from Novellas, Book 1
Late Intermediate $9.99 24pp
DIFFICULT CLASS I
Evening on the River Nile from Novellas, Book 2 Early Advanced $9.99 24pp
Rondino volante (With Light Rapidity)
(sheet version) Late Intermediate $4.99 4pp
DIFFICULT CLASS II
Folie á deux from Novellas, Book 2
Early Advanced) $9.99 24ppLa tempesta (The Storm)
from In Style Romantique Intermediate to Late Intermediate $10.99 32pp
VERY DIFFICULT CLASS I
Gioco di delfini (Dolphins at Play)
from In Style Romantique
Intermediate to Late Intermediate $10.99 32ppPetit parley
from Novellas, Book 2 by Tom Gerou
Early Advanced $9.99 24pp
VERY DIFFICULT CLASS II
Arioso varié from Novellas, Book 2
Early Advanced $9.99 24ppLa barca di Cléopâtre (Cleopatra’s Bardge)
from Novellas, Book 2 Early Advanced $9.99 24pp
MUSICALLY ADVANCED CLASS 1
Commedia dell’arte (The Art of Comedy)
from In Style Romantique Intermediate to Late Intermediate $10.99 32ppTango ritornello from Novellas, Book 2
Early Advanced $9.99 24pp
MUSICALLY ADVANCED CLASS II
Trireme Toccata
Early Advanced $6.99 8pp
Tom Gerou's Piano DUET Event Pieces listed by Class
All pieces list are composed by Tom Gerou
PRIMARY CLASS IV
Time Will Tell (sheet version)
Elementary $4.99 4pp
ELEMENTARY CLASS I
Pendula Perpetual (sheet version)
Late Elementary $6.99 8pp (979-8-3507-2573-5)
ELEMENTARY CLASS II
Aimless Clouds (sheet version)
Early Intermediate
$4.99 4ppGaia (Earth) from Duettini, Book 2
Late Elementary to Early Intermediate
$9.99 24ppGaia (Earth) (sheet version)
Late Elementary $6.99 8pp
ELEMENTARY CLASS III
2 Halves of an Orange (sheet version)
Late Elementary $6.99 8pp
ELEMENTARY CLASS IV
Crosswinds (sheet version)
Intermediate $6.99 8pp
MEDIUM CLASS
8-Bit Blues (sheet version)
Intermediate $6.99 8pp
MODERATELY DIFFICULT CLASS I
(Giro in carrozza*) Kontrapunkt (sheet version) Late Intermediate $6.99 8pp
Download and Print this List for Reference
Tom Gerou NFMC Music Flyer.pdf*If you are a CFMC member and would like to be featured, please contact Virginia Feitelson
About California Federation of Music Clubs (CFMC)
The California Federation of Music Clubs became affiliated with the National Federation of Music Clubs in 1923, and currently has over 133 Junior Music Clubs. With support from the National and State levels, local clubs are able to promote and provide musical opportunities for musicians of all ages and abilities within their communities. Visit our membership page to learn about member benefits, and how you can get involved.
About National Federation of Music Clubs (NFMC)
NFMC, founded in 1898, is now the world’s largest philanthropic music organization supporting American music and musicians. It is one of three music organizations to be chartered by the United States Congress and the only music organization member of the United Nations. There are 6,000 NFMC-related organizations and music clubs nationally. Members are professional and amateur musicians, vocalists, composers, dancers, performing artists, arts and music educators, students generous benefactors and music lovers who are interested in creating a dynamic musical and cultural environment in their communities. Visit www.nfmc-music.org to learn more.
Quick Links for Members
Historical Archives of CFMC
Paul R. Spitzzeri, wrote an article for the The Homestead Blog Striking a Chord: “Official Bulletin, California Federation of Music Clubs,” December 1920. This fascinating article contains of wealth of information. It showcases the beginnings of CFMC and the growth of our organization. Clubs raised money for prizes to send to local and state young artist winners. They were dedicated to cultivating the arts and talented students. This article perfectly describes the organiztions passion for musical arts in 1920, and much of their passion is still shared today.
The March 5, 1921 edition of Pacific Coast Musical Review, details an official report from the California Federation of Music Clubs and their convention in Los Angeles.