TromboneLessons.com Video Podcast

We are devastated by the news that Adam Mewherter is no longer with us. Rest in peace, our good friend.

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***Wow, three episodes in 1 week! Um, hope this hasn’t filled up the hard drive or caused a crash. But I’ll probably need to take a few weeks off now:-)***

I am very pleased to introduce my friend Dr. David Cutler to you, ladies and gentlemen. I think the world of him. He’s an extremely talented musician, and as it happens a gifted entrepreneur. This interview seems so timely. I have been having a lot of discussions with students, peers, and parents about making a career as a freelance musician.

Like David, I am an optimist. I believe that there has never been a better time to be a freelance musician. But I also know that most traditional educational tracts are not adequately preparing students. They have a job to do in making you the best performer you can be. The curriculum simply doesn’t have enough room for addressing some other issues related to being your own boss. His book addresses these issues. The accompanying website is great. He already has accumulated a wealth of resources, and it’s only going to grow. Please check it out and start thinking with fresh new ideas and a newly energized spirit. The world needs your music and is willing to pay for it. You’re going to need to be smart about running your business, though. As we discuss in the interview, the work you do will be largely of your creation. That’s the best part of being an entrepreneur, truly!

I hope you enjoy meeting David and take to heart some of the very good advice he shares herein. Then, you might consider visiting his website and buying his book. Being armed with knowledge and a variety of perspectives is a good way to be…..

www.savvymusician.com

You can live your dreams. You really can.

Peace:-)

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***NOTICE: This episode comes right on the heels of Episode #139. Please don’t forget to watch that one, too, OK? Thanks.***

Recent flooding and heartbreaking devastation inspired some of the Southeast’s finest musicians to host a benefit concert in Powder Springs, GA. In this episode, see some clips from the concert and learn how you can help.

Please visit the website for a list of our generous sponsors and the musicians that donated their time and talent to help their neighbors. Thanks to everyone that participated!

www.floodoffriendship.org

To learn more about the fabulous Joe Gransden (who promises to come do an interview with us soon:-), please visit:

joegransden.com

And if you think Wes can’t play any higher, go watch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HChvUXMFFBA

Thanks, your support is much appreciated…….order a T-shirt and wear it with pride, eh? All proceeds go to those who need it most. If you prefer, I am accepting donations through my PayPal account, too (tom@trombonelessons.com). All donations to “Flood of Friendship” will be given to Salvation Army and/or CAMP Sweetwater.

Peace. Please remember to keep the victims of the flood in your thoughts and prayers.

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A few highlights from our recent recital! This was our inaugural performance and the first of many more, we hope. Eric, Jay, and I are new to the faculty at Mercer. Jonathan has been teaching trumpet there for a few years, and Doug is the Director of Instrumental Ensembles. We are currently on a REAL recruiting push, so if you are interested in learning more, please visit the website:

music.mercer.edu

The campus is absolutely beautiful, in downtown Macon, GA. Wonderful architecture, peaceful, academic excellence….a wonderful place. It’s also quite close to Atlanta (about 70 miles). A new string conservatory and a new administration are launching this school into a new phase of excellence. As you can see, the brass faculty is superb. These are great players and good guys! I am proud to be a part of it. My goal is to have a conservatory vibe in my studio….now I need to recruit a few terrific students:-)

Graduates and Undergraduates: scholarships and assistantships are available to well-qualified students. Check us out and let me know if you have questions, OK?

***NOTICE: There is a deadline for Graduate Assistantship applications of January 19, 2010***

Thanks! Enjoy the recital……..

PS- Thanks for the email, Seth. Of course I should have put up more program info. My bad. Here is what you hear:

“This Old Man- March” by Robert Nagel

“Beale St. Blues” by W.C. Handy, arranged by Luther Henderson

“Contrapunctus I from the Art of Fugue” by J.S. Bach, arranged by Robert King

“Threepenny Opera Suite” by Kurt Weill, arranged by Karl Kramer

1) Overture

2) The Moritat of Mack the Knife

3) The Instead-of Song

4) Cannon-Song

“Dance” by Wilke Renwick

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Here is Part 2 of the wonderful concert that took place on July 25, 2009 at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. It has become a tradition to close the 5-week festival on the last Saturday night with a Brass Ensemble soiree.

In Part 2, you’ll hear some of my favorite brass works from Brahms, Wagner, Elgar, and Tomasi.

More info, and more music from the concert, are in Episode#135

More about the Festival can be found at their website:

http://www2.sewanee.edu/ssmf

Once again, my congratulations and thanks to all the wonderful musicians in this video! My visit to Sewanee was a highlight of my Summer.

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Part 2 of my master classes at U of M. This pdf file should download by clicking the icon below.

I very much appreciate the comments about “The Big Picture”. I hope this installment, too, is useful and helpful in your playing and teaching.

Peace.

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This Episode is in PDF format. It should simply open or download when you click the PDF icon below. This is a general outline for the first in a series of 8 Master Classes I will present at The University of Michigan this Fall. It is my honor to be a fill-in for Prof. David Jackson for this semester.

I welcome all comments, as always, to:

tom@trombonelessons.com

Peace.

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Sorry for the delay, my Sewanee friends……but here it is! This brass ensemble concert, ladies and gents, took place on campus at The University of the South in Sewanee, TN, on July 25, 2009. It was the last night of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival 2009, which is a 5-week festival for high school and college musicians. My good friend Mark Babbitt teaches trombone there, and needed someone to fill in for a few weeks this Summer (allegedly so he could perform in the Ring Cycle done by the Seattle Opera………we should do a Podcast about THAT, Mark:-)

I instantly fell in love with the place and the people. (To all the Sewanee Festival ‘bone players: y’all are missed badly already. Thanks for the great hang! I wish you all the very best in your musical adventures; please stay in touch.)

I have mentioned this before, but I really believe that Music students need to get out to these festivals each Summer. At SSMF ‘09, the music-making was exceptional in every way. The faculty, staff, and students were the best! I had a fantastic visit.

The schedule was rigorous for these players, and I can only imagine how tired their chops were when this concert rolled around.(But hey, that’s what Summer festivals are all about: play, play, play, right!?) Still, these talented brass players mustered the physical and mental energy to pull off this spectacular performance in the splendor of All Saints Chapel. Under the baton of Mr. David Brockett (and myself on a few works) and organized by Mr. Eric Bubacz, this was a really fun night of brass music! On the bill are a few classics, a few new arrangements, and a fantastic original composition by Ross Wixon, a trumpet player at the Festival and a 2009 Young Artist award recipient. Ross, it was one of my favorite pieces on the program! I look forward to playing a lot more of your music.

As I say, the students in this ensemble were some of the most studious, talented, and fun people I have had the pleasure of knowing. Their attitudes were terrific. Perhaps that has a small bit to do with their teachers at the festival:

Mark Babbitt inspired the trombones like nobody can. Mr. Brockett, in addition to being the Maestro herein, is the horn teacher par excellence. My good friend, colleague, and fellow Atlantan, Eric Bubacz taught the tuba players. And the inimitable, one-of-a-kind Russ DeVuyst cultivated the sound of this most astounding group of trumpet artists. (I would like to give Congrats to Mr. Logan Anderson and Miss Kyra Sims, who were finalists in the SSMF Solo Competition, just 2 nights before this brass ensemble concert. Logan performed a jaw-dropping Arutunian “Trumpet Concerto” and Kyra sang in a beautifully polished Mozart Horn Concerto. Nicely done, both of you!)

I hope you all enjoy viewing Part 1. More to come in Part 2. To those seen in the video………Bravo! You should be very proud of yourselves and I hope you refer to this video when you need a shot of inspiration. Love you all.

For info about the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, please visit their website:

http://www2.sewanee.edu/ssmf

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***REMINDER: please take a moment to view Episode 132 and contact Mr. Fulton Stone with inquiries/bids. Thanks, all!***

A new project happening in Atlanta, Il Brasso Magnifico is the brainchild of our friend Mark Williamson.

What makes this group unique is the fact that all the literature performed is public domain. Plus, all recordings, performances, and sheet music will be FREE to the general public. Wow! Thanks, Mark:-)

And, let’s be honest…..the guy is a MONSTER E-flat horn player!

Please visit the website and tell your friends:

www.ilbrassomagnifico.org

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***NOTICE; please take a moment to watch Episode 132. There might be an instrument in that collection that is looking for you:-) Plus, we’re very hopeful that those fine instruments find very good homes. You have a chance to make offers before they go to eBay or elsewhere. I would certainly appreciate it if you told your friends and helped spread the word. Thanks!***

Really, this is Part 2 of Part 4 (Episode 131). Make sense:-)

Everybody ready to go back to school!? Here’s to a productive year of musical growth and creation of lifelong friendships!

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I never met Benjamin Fagan, but he sure was a lover of Trombone! At first an accomplished performer, then a collector extraordinaire. In this episode, Benjamin’s nephew (Mr. Fulton Stone) kindly welcomes us all into his home so we can peruse this most amazing collection of vintage trombones. There are 18 in all; some REAL beauties.

More than anything else, I sensed that the estate of Mr. Fagan would be thrilled to have these trombones fall into the hands of appreciative owners. That’s where you come in! If something in this collection piques your interest, please make an offer to Mr. Stone. His email address is:

fultonstone@bellsouth.net

(Of special interest might be a “starter kit” for an eager and deserving beginner. Trombone, mutes, slide cream, spray bottle, stand light, etc. If you have a worthy young player in your life, please inquire with Mr. Stone.)

And, if you knew Benjamin Fagan and have any anecdotes to share with his family, they would be most appreciative. Thanks everybody. Enjoy this. Mr. Fagan was quite obviously a man with a passion for our beloved Trombone. May he rest in eternal peace.

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***NOTICE: please let me know if this format works on your iPods. My apologies for the last few that were “incompatible”. I hear you loud and clear. Sorry……and Thanks!***

More with Lynda herein…..she’s a trooper for doing this, eh? Many, many of you have written to say that you’re enjoying these “lessons with Lynda”. I conveyed your support to her and she says THANKS!

Many of you, too, have questions (really great questions!) about some of the topics we have been discussing. It amazes me how closely some of you pay attention to these. I promise to do my best to address your questions in upcoming episodes. The Numbered Tonguing concept, especially, seems to have struck a chord and has certainly brought forth a deluge of inquiries. One day very soon, I’ll do a thorough and concise explanation for you. I really think the system, however you wish to employ it, will do good things for your music.

Things have been incredibly busy around here, but I hope that you know I appreciate the emails and FaceBook memos. As busy as things may get, I’ll always try to make time for the Podcasts (some very good ones in the editing room as we speak. Honest.)

TROMBONE LOVE to you! Here’s Lynda…………

PS- my Sewanee friends, the video of the Brass Ensemble concert is fabulous. I will post “part 1″ later this week….BRAVO!!!!!

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Meet Dr. Brent Runnels, the Executive Director of Orchestra Atlanta, now known as Jazz Orchestra Atlanta (JOA) . They recently had their youth jazz camp co-hosted by Dr. Gordon Vernick and Georgia State University.

JOA does a LOT towards enhancing the jazz scene here in Atlanta: for students, teachers, pros, and lovers of jazz. If you’d like to know more about upcoming events, or would like to support them, please visit their website: OrchestraAtlanta.org

Thanks to Brent, Gordon, Mace, Justin and all the staff/faculty at the JOA/GSU Jazz Camp. I had a blast!!!!

A special thanks to 2 very special guests in this episode: Joe Gransden and David Sanchez. They are two of the finest musicians I know. Visit them on the web:

JoeGransden.com

David Sanchez

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Welcome back, hope you’re having a fabulous Summer! In the past few weeks, I’ve had a blast at Kennesaw State University’s Summer Orchestra Clinic, Mercer University’s Summer Clinic, Georgia State University/Jazz Orchestra Atlanta Jazz Camp, and the International Euphonium Institute. Good times!!!

I will put up some footage from those in the next few weeks. Plus, I’m heading to the Sewannee Music Festival for a few weeks, where I also hope to capture some good footage for you. The letters and emails are great! Thanks so much to all of you, and my new FaceBook friends. BTW- some of you have noticed that the last few Episodes won’t synch with your iPod. I was experimenting with a new codec, as per Apple’s instructions (argh!). They should play fine on your computer, and when I have a moment I will change the format back to the good ole MP4. Sorry about that.

Many questions have come about the “Numbered Articulations” that Lynda and I have been discussing in the lessons. This is NOT the same system as Buddy Baker used. I have modified his concept and adapted it over the years to suit my purposes and my students’. Any shortcomings in the system are entirely MINE:-) I certainly wouldn’t want you to blame Mr. Baker for anything I do, OK?

That being said, I very much appreciate the fact that many of you find the information helpful. I would encourage you to delve deeper and contact me with any questions (there is a rather elaborate explanation of my Numbered Tonguing System at trombonelessons.com) I certainly encourage you to play around with the system and if you feel the need to adapt it to your purposes, do it! The bottom line is this: the system demands that you pay very close attention to the start, body, and end of notes. ANY system that makes you listen more carefully is a good one, eh? Just having increased awareness will make your music better, believe me. How much awareness you have is up to you! I don’t think you can have too much. Open the ears and the imagination to the same degree. Here’s some more with Lynda……….

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Cool…….many of you are liking these. Here’s some more with Lynda (thanks, Lynda!). Congratulations to all recent Graduates and best wishes in the next phase, whatever that shall be. We hope that it involves trombone in some way, if only because we know it’ll keep you happy and sane:-)

Hello to all my new Facebook friends, too. You are very kind friends, indeed. We should plan a party here in Atlanta…….hmmm.

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Thanks for the emails, everybody, and Facebook messages (if you’re a Facebooker, I hope you’ll be my friend:-) It’s always good to hear from so many of you. I’m glad you liked meeting Hadyn, too. I am so envious of his adventurous spirit! He has taken his Trombone Love to a new level, eh? We were all very glad to meet him, for sure.

In this Episode, I have decided (as many of you have advised and requested) to get back to basics: learning to play the trombone. Truthfully, the Podcasts were originally intended to do just that. So, I found a very courageous volunteer in Lynda Jones. She’s been playing trombone for just 1 year, after spending 20 years in the US Army….. as a horn player!

I love to teach, that’s a fact. Hopefully, many of you do, too. Having done it now for so many years and with such a diverse studio, I find it more enjoyable now than ever. The goal of the teacher, in my opinion, is to inform and inspire simultaneously. A good teacher knows a lot about the student: background, goals, habits of thought, etc. One sure way to stay inspired yourself is to endeavor to do all you can to help students fulfill their potential…..

Thanks again, Lynda, for being a willing participant!

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Wow, it’s been a long time since our last Episode. My apologies. Been pretty crazy around here:-) We recently had a terrific visit from Mr. Hadyn Godfrey. He’s a Podcast viewer from New Zealand and has spent the past few months roaming the USA in search of all things trombone. We’re so glad he decided to come to Atlanta and spend a few days with us!

In this Episode, Newell Sheridan (assisted by Lynda Jones) conducts the interview and Hadyn gives a very insightful glimpse into the trombone scene on the other side of the world……

(Y’all might chuckle like I did when Newell puts the “hard sell” on Hadyn to consider a Shires. Ha! Can’t blame a guy for tryin’)

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is THE WEEK to celebrate all things TROMBONE (Thanks, Colleen!)

 There’s more info here:

 http://www.trombone.net/itw/ 

 How will YOU celebrate?

 We’d love to know, so please write us.

 PEACE.

Mike Corrigan is a Master Craftsman, trained at Red Wing and a former apprentice of Steve Shires. He really has a passion for restoring/modifying/building trombones. It’s very inspiring to talk with someone with such knowledge and passion. I thank Dave Joyce for setting up this iChat visit wherein Mike enlightens me on lots of topics!

He is presently starting a new line of small-bore “commercial” trombones. You may have noticed the very unique trombone that Elliot Mason’s been playing lately…..that’s Mike’s creation.

Some of the innovations and features he’s adding to these horns I found most fascinating. I know you’ll enjoy meeting him! I sure did. Thanks so much, Dave and Mike. Great to meet you and I can’t wait to visit the shop in KC.

You can visit their shop on the Web, too, to learn more:

bachorndoctor.com

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This will make much more sense to you if you read the PDF file attached to Episode #123a. Call it “stream of consciousness”, meditation, whatever…….this method of warming up lately has added a nice new flavor to my life and that of some of my students. It is my hope that it helps you, too.

Just keep your head out of it and remember that no one is judging you! There are no rules. Just blow and have some fun, eh?

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