TromboneLessons.com Video Podcast

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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This is a PDF file to accompany Video Episode #123b. Self-explanatory, I trust, please just click the PDF icon below. Peace.

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More with Harry!

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It is my pleasure to introduce my friend Harry Hagan in the next 2 episodes. He was our “Mystery Artist” in Episode #116. Mr. Hagan is a gentleman, a scholar, and an amazing trombonist. I have known him for a few years now, and feel very fortunate to have befriended him. I spent an afternoon at his home recently and had a terrific conversation with him. His career has taken him around the world and he has some cool stories to share with you! He also has great advice and some keen observations to share. I know this to be absolutely true: Harry has thought deeply about seemingly every subject under the Sun! He is an expert mason. Seeing his handiwork is inspiring. While his hands are busy, his mind is, too, apparently. He talks a bit about that and other things……

I think you’ll agree, too, that his trombone playing is absolutely gorgeous. I hope you enjoy meeting him!

Harry, thanks for the great “hang”.

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Recently, Colin and Brad put the call out to do some rehearsing/filming for the Podcasts. Fun stuff. Challenging stuff.

We rehearsed once for each of the 2 sessions in this Episode, then rolled camera.  Some of Brad’s students were in the audience, but that’s it. YOU were our intended audience and this performance is for all of our viewers. Thanks for all the love and support you give to us. We hope you enjoy these impromptu “hangs”. Our goal is to do more and more of these. Getting together with friends and “pushing the envelope” with challenging music is a great way to spend an afternoon! (If you have suggestions for future repertoire, or if you write for trombone ensemble, please let us know.)

I would personally like to thank all the performers in this Episode:

Colin Williams, Bill Thomas, Brad Palmer, George Curran, Mark McConnell, Jim Cumiskey, and Jeff Koonce.

You guys rock my face off:-)

Special thanks to Colin and Brad for organizing everyone’s schedule. Thanks, too, to Columbus State University, for allowing us access to the magnificent Legacy Hall.

We hope you enjoy these, ladies and gentlemen, and perhaps gain from them. There is within this episode a nice variety of musical styles. There are no edits (whose got that kind of time?). Is there a note or 2 we’d like to have back….sure. But that ain’t what this is about. This is a “live” performance as best we could manage. I can tell you discussions were had about phrasing, articulations, balance, timbre, tempi, etc. Chamber music really makes you listen and “fit in”. To the students among us: there are some MASTERS at work here, I hope you are paying attention!

Perhaps you could really learn by watching this with friends (they needn’t be trombonists) and discussing/debating/dissecting our performance…..what do you notice? What do you hear? What do you like? What do you hate? Send us questions if they arise. We really are inviting feedback, have I mentioned that? Your feedback will help us on the next go-around. May it be soon!

PS- Know what? We don’t even have a name for our group yet!?

Any suggestions???????

Thanks, everybody……

Peace:-)

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CONGRATULATIONS!

To our friend Jim Pugh, on being chosen by NPR (National Public Radio) as one of the “10 Best Classical CD’s of 2008”.

Jim, as you know, was our guest on Episodes #32 and 33. He is a class act and we cannot think of a more worthy recipient of this honor. Way to go Jim! You inspire us all.

Every one of us should own this album (you know, if you like TROMBONE)……you can get it at iTunes by clicking here. When I listen to Mr. Pugh on this album, it strikes me that everything is “in the pocket”. His groove, the pristine articulations, the presence or absence of vibrato, quality of motion through the phrase, and on and on. It’s perfect trombone playing to my ears. Delicious!

Here’s a review from NPR’s website:

Pugh: Trombone Concerto: IIIArtist: James (Jim) Pugh Album: X Over Trombone Song: Concerto for trombone & orchestra Most frequently asked question in the 22-year history of Performance Today: Did Mozart write the PT theme? Nope, it was written for the show by trombonist and composer James Pugh. Pugh is the eclectic’s eclectic: He played with the Woody Herman Big Band, he’s recorded classical music with Yo-Yo Ma and electric jazz with Chick Corea, he tours with Steely Dan, he’s a first-call player for film-soundtrack sessions and he teaches at the University of Illinois. This CD features three jazzy concertos for trombone and orchestra including Pugh’s own trombone romp from 1992.

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er….ah…um…..whoa…wow….geez, this one’s cool. Hip your friends. I was up all night getting it ready. Because I LOVE you. (And because I was so excited to have these guys visit, I couldn’t sleep.)

Enjoy! Thanks, Jon, for setting this up. Thanks Joe and Pete. We are all so thankful that the 3 of you spent some time with us. Trombone Love to you all…and thanks for letting us all know just what that means.

The Alessi Seminar sounds like a place we all should be, eh?

Please visit:

www.alessiseminar.com

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If you’re a student looking either for Undergraduate or Graduate opportunities, check out what’s going on at Mercer University. They have opened a new chapter and are seeking to become one of the elite music schools.

In this episode, learn more about Mercer University, The Townsend School of Music, The Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, the town of Macon, and more. Dr. John Dickson tells us all about it.

If after watching this, you want to know more, please visit their website:

www.mercer.edu

Or, as always, write me and I’ll help however I can: tom@trombonelessons.com

Thanks, everyone!

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This visit was a real treat and I have Stanford Thompson to thank for it! He was recently back in his home town of Atlanta and he brought some friends from The Curtis Institute……

Philos Brass!

I think you’ll love ‘em.

Thanks for the hang, guys. I really enjoyed meeting you. Sorry about the Eagles. But GO STEELERS!!!!!

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(NOTE: click on the title of this episode to see updated comments)

Just an audio clip here, ladies and gents, in mp3 format. A chance for you to really stretch those ears and show your listening prowess:-)

Who IS this trombone artist? A prize for the first one to correctly identify this beautiful sound. (Not sure what the prize is just yet, but it will be radically cool and you’ll want to win it.)

I’ll leave the “Comments” open on this one (God help us all!) so you can readily venture a guess. You can always email me, too, with a guess or comments:

tom@trombonelessons.com

Very soon, this artist will be coming on to sit and chat with us about his adventurous and fun-filled life with the trombone… and lucky for us, he has a lot more tracks to share.

Please Enjoy:

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Alas, after meeting with the Brass faculty at UGA today, we realized there are logistical hurdles that are just too high to clear. I will not be teaching there in Fall 2009. Ain’t life fun like ‘dat:-)

Sorry for the false alarm…..but as always:

Peace, and Happy New Year everybody!

Sincerely, Dr. Tom

I will be teaching at Kennesaw State University and Mercer University next year, though! Boy, do I LOVE to teach:-)

Merry Christmas, everybody!

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More with Dr. John Upchurch, The Slide Doctor! In this one, he gets down to the nitty-gritty. You’ll know much more about slides after watching this, I promise. Please visit his website:

www.slidedr.com

**** SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR OUR FRIENDS****

I just spoke with Santa, and he says he might have something here for you under the tree come Christmas morning. You have been a good boy or girl, right? Well, some of your trombone-playing friends in Atlanta have a really nice musical gift for you. Check back Christmas morning, OK? Peace.

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Why the interrogative title? Well, this really should be Part 3 of our visit with Dr. John Upchurch, a.k.a. “The Slide Doctor” (a title bestowed upon him, apparently, by Buddy Baker!). You may have visited his website (www.slidedr.com), seen him at festivals/conventions, or maybe you’ve shipped your slide to him. He’s one of the very best. I took my King 2B slide and my Shires slide to him to see what magic he could perform. They’re perfect. I love them.

Dr. Upchurch was very kind in allowing camera to roll. He’s quite eloquent and photogenic, wouldn’t you agree…..perhaps I was set up:-) The conversation in this episode comes after more than an hour of the most thorough explanation of slide technology that you may ever see. That footage will air ASAP, and I highly recommend it to everyone. He truly knows slides.

He knows much more than that. This was a good conversation. In it, he explains for us all a whole lot more than proper tube alignment. Thanks, John, for the hospitality and generosity. I couldn’t be happier with my slides, and I feel like I earned a degree in Humanity in one afternoon.

PS- I’d like to mention this again: I just saw our resident digeredoo expert  Jay Evans (and friends….there’s Jen!) on the “Renaissance Christmas” DVD done in Chicago. It is really wonderful. If you have loved ones asking you about your Santa list, this would be an ideal gift for a good girl or boy:

Renaissance Christmas: “Join Chicago’s celebrated Music of the Baroque Chorus and Brass ensemble for A Renaissance Christmas”

PPS- Holiday Party, December 15, 7pm in Powder Springs, GA (email for info)

Peace.

LOOK! Now you can now download The Piedmont Trombone Society’s debut album “Let’s Get Lost” (winner of the ITA’s 2004 Kai Winding Award). Click the button below for details. We thank you for your support! We will use these profits to start our 2nd album. Thanks, everybody.

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“Hi Dr. Tom,

While I was browsing the web for free Brass Quintet music, I came across your arrangement for ‘America the Beautiful,’ and I thought it could use a bit of beautifying. So I typeset it with Lilypond.

Included in the zipped attachment are the pdfs for parts and score, as well as full Lilypond source.

– Ross” ___________________________________________

Oh, you “thought it could use a bit of beautifying” did you, Ross!? Oh, really. Hmm. Well……..

……thanks! You rock. I really appreciate it. I’ve got lots more if you’re bored:-)

Attached as a .ZIP file to this Episode, friends, is Ross’ work. Beautiful indeed! This is an arrangement for standard Brass Quintet. I’m going to look deeper at Lilypond (check it out HERE). Seems like many of you are using it, eh? Honestly, can I become proficient quickly? I’m curious. I’m a decent Finale user.

PS- I just saw our resident digeredoo expert  Jay Evans (and friends) on the “Renaissance Christmas” DVD done in Chicago. It is really wonderful. If you have loved ones asking you about your Santa list, this would be an ideal gift for a good girl or boy:

Renaissance Christmas: “Join Chicago’s celebrated Music of the Baroque Chorus and Brass ensemble for A Renaissance Christmas”

LOOK! Now you can now download The Piedmont Trombone Society’s debut album “Let’s Get Lost” (winner of the ITA’s 2004 Kai Winding Award). Click the button below for details. We thank you for your support! We will use these profits to start our 2nd album. Thanks, everybody.

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