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Archive for April, 2012

Teacher’s Satisfaction—One Trumpeter Promoted, Another Switches to Trombone

Posted by glennled on April 12, 2012

One of my private trumpet students just got promoted by the band director at Skyline Jr. High in Bothell to 2nd-year (6th grade) elementary band. She’s a 6th grader who just started band this year, so she’s been playing among 5th-graders in the 1st-year band. She’s advanced far enough on the fast track that she now belongs among her own age group. I recommended the promotion to the band director, and he accepted it.

Another 1st-year band trumpeter has been struggling with her tone (airy) and articulation (splatters). This week, I told her that because of her embouchure, I thought she might produce a better tone with sharper slotting on an instrument with a bigger mouthpiece. I asked her to try playing a trombone for me, and she was willing. So in a small practice room, she blew on a school-owned trombone—and out came some big, fat solid tones over a wide range. I called in the band director, and we were all so excited. Given a choice of baritone or trombone, she chose trombone.

And again, I experienced the teacher’s thrill—I helped two students get a taste of success.

Posted in Student Competitions, Honors & Awards | Tagged: articulation, band, baritone, director, embouchure, Skyline Jr. High, slotting, teacher, tone, trombone, trumpet, trumpeter | 2 Comments »

Photo Gallery of April Band Concert at Skyview Jr. High in Bothell

Posted by glennled on April 7, 2012

Jazz combos played as the crowd seated itself in the gym at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell last Tuesday night, 3 April. And the Jazz Band I finished the night’s concert with some high energy, big band sounds and solos. Sandwiched in between these two on the program were performances by the 1st-year (5th grade) and 2nd-year (6th grade) elementary bands and the 3rd-year (7th grade) junior high band. The concert left the parents, relatives and friends in the audience feeling very good about the strength and benefits of these kids being in band! Here are selected photos from the concert. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.

: Jazz Band II

: Saxophone solo

: Trumpet solos

: Trumpet solo

: 1st Year (5th Grade) Elementary Band

: Brass Section, 1st Year (5th Grade) Elementary Band

: 2nd Year (6th Grade) Elementary Band

: Brass Section, 2nd Year (6th Grade) Elementary Band

: 6th Grade (left), 7th Grade (center), and Jazz I (right) Bands

: 3rd Year (Jr. High) Band, Mr. Shawn McGinn, Conductor

: Trumpet Section, 3rd Year (Jr. High) Band

: Jazz Band I

: Trumpet solos

: Piano solo

: Trumpet solo

: Drum solo

Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: 5th, 6th, 7th, band, big band, brass, combos, elementary, grade, jazz, junior high, Shawn McGinn, Skyview, solo, trumpet | 2 Comments »

My Trumpet Student Plays in Seattle All-City Honors Elementary Band and Orchestra Concert

Posted by glennled on April 2, 2012

2012 Seattle All-City Honors Elementary Band

Last Saturday, another of my trumpet students played in the annual concert performed by the Seattle Public Schools’ All-City Honors Elementary Band and Orchestra. This year it was held at Chief Sealth International High School in West Seattle. He’s now a 5th-grader at Lawton Elementary School where Lindsey Dustin is band director (see my blog posts of 17 February 2012 and 14 November 2010). Next fall, he plans to attend Hamilton International Middle School in Wallingford.

The 123-member band representing 41 schools packed the large stage, and the auditorium was almost full, too, with parents, relatives, friends and a few tutors like me. He was one of only 18 trumpet players in the 2012 honors band. Think of that—one of the best 5th grade trumpeters in Seattle Public Schools—that’s impressive! The band’s guest conductor was Marcus Pimpleton, a 2002 graduate of the University of Washington who now serves as music department head at Denny International Middle School, Chief Sealth International High School, and the Seattle Schools All-City Marching Band. Mr. Pimpleton was a drum major with the UW Husky Marching Band (see http://www.huskymarchingband.com/). He now has a Master’s in Theology and a Doctorate in Religious Education from Bishop A.L. Hardy Academy of Theology in Seattle.

Part of the 18-member trumpet section

The talented honors band sounded very solid when playing three pieces: “Oxford Overture,” “I’m An Old Cowhand,” and “A Little Cha-Cha Music.” The Honors Orchestra was conducted by Heather Shaffer, who is Director of Orchestras at Denny and Sealth. They played “Hunter’s Chorus,” “Jamaican Spice,” and “Legend of Dark Mountain.” At this level, the orchestra is comprised solely of strings. There were 88 students representing 32 schools—a great honor, indeed!

Please click on any photo to enlarge it.