October 22, 2009
***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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September 10, 2009
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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September 2, 2009
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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August 10, 2009
Filed under:
pedagogy — tom gibson @ 12:29 pm
***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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August 3, 2009
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pedagogy — tom gibson @ 9:27 am
***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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July 8, 2009
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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July 6, 2009
Filed under:
pedagogy — tom gibson @ 3:01 pm
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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June 1, 2009
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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May 26, 2009
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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April 4, 2009
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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March 21, 2009
Filed under:
pedagogy — tom gibson @ 11:57 pm
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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March 18, 2009
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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February 3, 2009
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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December 19, 2008
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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December 12, 2008
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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November 21, 2008
Some very interesting feedback on The Drones Episode from our resident physicist, Greg, plus tips from Ron……and Kingsized! The links mentioned herein include:
Tone Generator: http://www.nch.com.au/tonegen/
Audacity (great recording software….and FREE): http://audacity.sourceforge.net
And this we received from Ron:
“You may find these two websites helpful with the supporting calculations you may need to make:
<http://www.birdsoft.demon.co.uk/music/notecalc.htm> is a Frequency to Note calculator. Put in a frequency and it will provide the nearest note and the offset in cents (440Hz = A4).
<http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/jw/notes.html> goes the other way giving a table for finding the frequency of a given note….While looking for a better tuner, I came across a better source of data for generating drones: Go to the Peterson Tuner website (click here) and click on Tuning Library, then select Cents to Frequency Chart from the pull down menu. A programmable table is generated which gives note to frequency (and vice versa) translations. This includes offsets by a number of cents, which eases building intervals with just temperament, etc. You can also go directly to the page at:
http://www.petersontuners.com/index.cfm?category=15
Peterson Tuners uses Adobe Flash for the display of this table.”
Thanks to Ron, Greg, and all of you for the great feedback. Students, believe me: even a cursory exploration of these resources, I believe, will improve your overall sound production and intonation. It will open your ears, and perhaps the creative mind.
Check out Kingsized HERE Ladies and Gents: www.kingsized.biz
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November 18, 2008
Here are the Drones prepared by Brad Edwards (as explained in Episode 106, Part 1). These are uncompressed audio files, so they should really sound good on your system, or in headphones as I like to do. The “download” link below is to a .ZIP file. If you cannot get it to open, you might need to do some Google searching for free software. Try searching ” opening ZIP files”.
The Contents of the CD can be viewed (and printed) by clicking HERE.
Enjoy! Thanks again, Brad.
Once you click the link below, 376MB of juicy drones will begin to download…..
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Filed under:
pedagogy — tom gibson @ 4:52 pm
Eric Bubacz joins us on this Episode as our friend Dr. Brad Edwards explains how he likes to use drones in his daily practice. It’s a very effective way to induce RESONANCE into your sound, and improve INTONATION. Plus, it’s fun.
Following this video Episode, I will post a HUGE audio Episode as Part 2. It’s large because the files are not compressed. They will sound great as you play along with them. It is an entire CD of drones that Brad has very graciously given us. Thanks, Brad!
BTW- Brad’s website is:
www.bonezone.org
***NOTICE: the responses to both Boko’s interview and Larry’s tour of “Mighty Mo” have been terrific. Thanks for the overwhelming feedback. I am glad you liked them so much! I am preparing the footage of Joe Patten and you’ll find him to be a fascinating gentlemen, I trust. Thanks, all! Enjoy the Drones.***
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October 31, 2008
Yup, that’s what it is….plus a few plugs for our friends:-)
October 15, 2008
Bruce Mangan and Ron Chenoweth are our guests, ladies and gentle men…..they’re experts in helping folks find their new trombone. I try out a few “Eastman by Shires” in this episode and we talk with the experts about finding the horn that’s JUST right. Buying a new trombone can be a daunting, confusing, stressful task. How do you know which is the best? What should I be looking for? Hopefully, some of those questions will be answered within. We hope you learn from this episode, but please write us with questions/concerns:
tom@trombonelessons.com
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