Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Holiday Concert

It seems far too early for the Holiday Concert to be over. I mean I'll be listening to Christmas music for the next 20 days and I'm already tired of it!

The bands did well and to be honest it's nice to have my first actual concert under my belt. It was painless because the students were prepared and to tell the truth I'm not really the nervous type. Even the dress rehearsal wasn't bad, which shocked because I don't think I ever had a good dress rehearsal as a player!

We played Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" and really brought down the house. The crowd loved the horse whinny in the trumpet. I had a teacher tell me that it was "superb". I'm glad that's the word being used to describe us.

My beginning band played a simple arrangement I printed up for them of Jingle Bells. I have come to realize at the age, the parents are thrilled if they can recognize the tune. It's so cool that two months ago they couldn't even hold their instruments and now they're playing. They've done the work though, I know that I'm just a small part of it.

Overall it was a good experience. I didn't even sound too dumb on the microphone.

Friday, November 9, 2007

Art Project

I just thought this was kind of neat...


My first chair horn player also has talent for seeing art in everyday objects.

We had a very old drum that was going to be thrown away so she asked for it. I didn't think much about it until she brought it back in a few weeks later. She had transformed it into a coffee table(you can see the plexiglass top) with the words "Life is Rhythm" over a bunch of torn up old sheet music.

I really wish she was selling it or that I another drum to give her, because I want this.

I'm humbled by the amount of talent she has...and I thought I was special because I can play an instrument, she saw beauty in something that I saw only has something taking up space in our rehearsal room.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

The Marching Titans


The Marching Titans have officially ended their competitive season. I’m sure those of you within
earshot of the school are glad that there won’t be anymore 7:00AM or 9:00PM rehearsals.
The "MT" attended three competitions this year in addition to our community and school performance obligations.

When all was said and done they rehearsed for over 300 hours this year. That does not count sectionals and the individual practice that these hard working student musicians put in from August 5th until October 21st!

They brought home five trophies including High Honors Overall at all three competitions, Drum Majors, and Percussion. All the hardware is being displayed in the trophy case in the Link. Since most competitions are based on school size (our div. is usually 300-600 enrollment) sometimes they were competing against bands that were over twice their size. Sometimes they wereeven beating schools in the divisions above us!

They represented all of El Paso-Gridley with class at every event they attended. Even though I'm sad to see the book closed on our POTC Trilogy show. I am really looking forward to next season and what I'll be able to accomplish now that I have a year of real life experience.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

2007 Season Snapshots






















Just thought I'd share some pictures from the 2007 Marching Titans Season. What a ride is was, Left Obliques and all.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

The First Gig

So I have taken my first gig in a small town just north of Bloomington, IL. I moved away from all that I knew and I'm starting out in a pretty cool place. No stop lights here, but at least they have a McDonnald's. I feel a little out of my element.

The school is just a little over 350 kids. The staff isn't around much since it's summer, so I'll be ready to meet some of them. I hope there's some younger teachers to befriend. We'll need it I have a feeling.

It's not a big band, but it's a band and I hope someday soon I'll think of it as my band. About 40 members including the colorguard. I have meet a few of the kids and they seem cool. I have spoken to both of the drum majors and a few girls who were at the school the other day for some choir stuff. I kind of felt like a goldfish, everyone wanted to check out the new guy, but not as many wanted to talk to me.

I know I'm following a tough act. They really loved the last director, so I have to make it my own without destroying their feelings for him. It's a line to walk, but I can do it. I'm pretty good at bringing people together. I like to solve problems.

As I sit in my new office, wondering how I will make mark, what I will teach them, I can't help, but think this is only the start of something big.