Posted by glennled on April 23, 2015
“It’s a Merry Christmas Eve!” sung on a city sidewalk by townspeople and carolers
I confess–I love musicals more than I love opera. I’m simple. After most musicals, I walk out of the theater with some song in my head, some melody in my heart, some lyrics on my lips. I like that. But although some opera music is magnificently beautiful and I like it, too, I often can hardly hum even my most favorite arias.
And so it was when I was invited to play trumpet with the orchestra of Alderwood Community Church (ACC) last Christmas season. Each year, ACC stages a Christmas play, and in 2014, the choice was the superlative religious musical, “A Time for Christmas” by Paul McCusker, David T. Clydesdale, Steven Amerson, and Lowell Alexander.
Mistress Lewis and children sing and dance at the orphanage in 1850 to “With A Little Bit of Faith”
The plot features the very hard-working Bill, a young businessman who gives lip service to Christmas but is too busy to celebrate it, and his consultant, Mary, who understands the meaning of Christmas and loves the joy and hope found in the celebration of it. In a dream, Bill encounters Bartholomew, a mysterious stranger, who leads Bill on a journey through five scenes of various Christmases past, from the birth of Christ to the present. It awakens Bill—through watching others in other times and places, he begins to realize what he’s missing and warms to Mary.
The orchestra and choir were conducted by Linda Collins, and the musical was dedicated to Dave Ballbach, “whose support and encouragement has inspired this endeavor for two decades.” It was presented five times during the weekend of 5-7 December at the church, which is located in Lynnwood near the intersection of I-5 with 196th St.
What tune was I singing when I left the church after the performances? Well, sometimes it was “With a Little Bit of Faith,” but more often it was “It’s a Merry Christmas Day!” And you know it’s a truly special musical when there are TWO songs stuck in your mind and heart!
The photos in the gallery below were provided courtesy of the professional photographer, John Crozier of Edmonds (see http://www.crozierphotography.com). Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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The Overture, “Festive Celebration,” Linda Collins, Music Director, Alderwood Community Church, Lynnwood, WA, 2014
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A city sidewalk, Christmas Eve
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Bill, the workaholic, persuades Mary, a consultant, to do some work on Christmas Eve, despite her protests
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Bill works as Mary sings “No Time for Love”
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Bill dreams, late Christmas Eve
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Bartholomew arrives to take Bill on a musical journey to Christmases past
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A Bethlehem hillside
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In the first century, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, and Gabriel sings “A Savior”
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Bill resists Bartholomew
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A medieval feasting hall in 1450
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Pastor Gunning and worshippers in a small church sanctuary in London, 1657
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Puritans banned Christmas church services in mid-17th century England
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In a Victorian orphanage in 1850, Sarah sings a solo, “I Had a Dream”
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Cheer up, kids!
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Bill likes being mistaken for Santa Claus
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“Here We Come A-Wassailing” by the Twenties Carolers
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“Go Tell It on the Mountain” by the Forties Quartet
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“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” by the Fifties Quartet
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“The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy” by the Sixties Trio
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“What Child Is This?” a Nineties Instrumental performed by Rob Rankin
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In Mary’s Church, “I Believe”
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In Mary’s apartment
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Mary comes to fetch Bill on Christmas morning
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Curtain call
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The Finale, “It’s a Merry Christmas Day” and “He Is Our Hope”
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Trumpets, ACC Orchestra
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The Choir and Orchestra, Alderwood Community Church, Lynnwood, WA, 2014
Posted in Church Music | Tagged: A Time for Christmas, Dave Ballbach, It's a Merry Christmas Day, Linda Collin, lyrics, melody, musical, opera, Rob Rankin, song, trumpets, tune, With a Little Bit of Faith | 2 Comments »
Posted by glennled on April 16, 2015
On 4 December 2014, the two elementary bands (1st year and 2nd year) which are affiliated with Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell played their first concert of the school year in front of an adoring, proud crowd of parents, relatives and friends in the cafeteria/auditorium. Below is a photo gallery of the concert, with an emphasis on the brass section, whom I teach. Shawn McGinn, Director of Instrumental Music, conducted the concert and graciously allowed me to conduct the final piece by the 2nd-year band. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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1st-year elementary band prepares for the 2014 holiday concert
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Featuring the 12 flutes
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Featuring the 18 clarinets
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Featuring the 6 trumpets and 6 trombones
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Featuring the 13 percussion
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2nd-year elementary band
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Mr. Shawn McGinn, Director of Instrumental Music, Skyview Jr. High, Bothell
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Posted in School Concerts, Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 15, 2015
Trumpeters who sounded “Echo Taps”
Why is this holiday on 11 November? Because that’s when World War I ended—at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” of 1918. And that helps explain why, 96 years later on Veterans Day 2014, the memorial ceremony at Veterans Park in Lynnwood, WA commenced at 11 a.m.
VFW Post 1040 hosted the event, attended by hundreds of people who gathered to honor all veterans. Participants included Lynnwood Mayor Nicola Smith, Puget Sound Honor Flight, Northwest Junior Pipe Band, Boy Scouts Troup 49, Cub Scouts from BSA Pack 331, Legion of Honor of the Nile Shrine Center, and the VFW Post 1040 Honor Guard.
As VFW Post 1040 bugler, I sounded three bugle calls: “Assembly” to call the people to order to commence the ceremony, “Echo Taps” to conclude the ceremony, and afterwards at noon, “To the Color,” to raise the flag from half-staff to full-mast. In playing “Echo Taps,” I was joined by a trumpet student of mine from Juanita High School in Kirkland. Please click on the photo to enlarge it.
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Assembly, bugle, bugler, echo taps, Northwest Junior Pipe Band, To the Color, trumpeters, Veterans Day, VFW Post 1040 | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 14, 2015
Shorewood Thunderbirds
Grandma knows best—that’s why she sent me an email on 10 November 2014, about starting trumpet lessons with her grandson, a freshman in the band at Shorewood High School in Shoreline, WA, just north of Seattle. “He seems to enjoy the school band,” she wrote, “but I would like him to be successful, and wonder if you would have time to schedule him for some lessons.” And so we began.
What I found during our first session at his home was that some of his fundamentals were weak. His embouchure formation was fine and his tone decent, but his note recognition was not yet automatic and his upper range was too low. Developing embouchure strength and increasing range is pretty straightforward. However, developing automatic note recognition, reflexive fingering, and embouchure slotting can be very problematic for some students. I selected two instruction books for him: I Recommend by James D. Ployhar and Exercises for Ensemble Drill by Raymond C. Fussell. Other books will follow if he wants to develop further.
What does it mean to him to play trumpet well? He will have more confidence, enjoy playing music more, develop closer friendships, and have more fun in band. He’s on his way to becoming Grandma’s success story!
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: band, Exercises for Ensemble Drill, fingering, I Recommend, James D. Ployhar, lessons, music, note, Raymond C. Fussell, Shorewood High School, slotting, Thunderbirds, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 13, 2015
Chris Botti, trumpeter
Natalie Dungey. trumpeter
“We’re a musical family!” says the Mom of my 22nd trumpet student, a 7th grade student at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell. His first lesson with me was on 1 July. He plays his Mom’s trumpet, the one her parents bought for her when she was in 10th grade at age 16. (Her Dad played cornet.) She made All-State Band in Texas, and now her son (13), has an even loftier ambition–to become a professional musician and play “awesome” trumpet. His favorite trumpeter is Chris Botti (www.chrisbotti.com/us), and he’s a great admirer of Natalie Dungey (www.nataliedungey.com).
He likes classical music but also plays in the school jazz band, which he says helps him make different sounds and improves his ability to read music. Within the past year, he’s taken up drums (his Dad plays drums) and tinkers around on the piano. He’s started a composition for an ensemble of 2 trumpets, 2 violas, 1 tuba, 1 snare drum, 1 alto sax, and 1 flute. Meanwhile, he also wrestles and plays soccer. And his older sister sings and plays piano, guitar, and clarinet, while his younger sister “sings like a mocking bird,” says her Mom.
Why did he choose trumpet? Because it has such a “powerful sound that it hits you in the face, but at the same time it can make soft sounds that are pure beauty.” Right on!
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts, Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, Chris Botti, classical, drums, ensemble, jazz, lesson, musical, Natalie Dungey, piano, trumpet, trumpeter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 12, 2015
Georgia State hardly had a chance–the University of Washington Huskies never (hardly ever) loose on High School Band Day! And two-legged dogs always beat two-legged cats, no? And so it was on 20 September 2014, that UW came out on top, 45-14, scoring all 45 points in the second half. The first half was a stinker for the Huskies, who got booed off the field into the locker room to re-group. In any case, the win left the Huskies with a 4-0 record thus far in the season.
Could it be that the combined bands’ massive half-time show on High School Band Day inspired the Huskies to come back from 0-14 to win? 😉
Here’s how the bands did it—see the photo gallery below. As always, trumpeters are featured. Field-level shots were taken by Louis Figueroa, and press box shots were by Garry Nakayama. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Pre-game entertainment at the 80,000-s.f. Dempsey Indoor facility at UW
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Emerging from the tunnel at Husky Stadium for morning practice on Game Day
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Pre-Game Time!
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GSU (towards north stands)
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Majorette, UW Varsity Marching Band
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Mel Poll, tenor, on screen singing our National Anthem
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UW Varsity Marching Band enters the field for the half-time show
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2014 High School Band Day at Husky Stadium!
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UW Director of Athletic Bands, Dr. Brad McDavid
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When victory comes, the hats turn backwards, according to UW tradition
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After a UW victory, the band celebrates, and goofy is as Goofy does.
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Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: Band Day, bands, Dr. Brad McDavid, Georgia State University, high school, majorette, Mel Poll, tenor, trumpeters, University of Washington, UW Varsity Marching Band | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 11, 2015
The “Fighting Illini” of the University of Illinois came to Husky Stadium and went home without a victory, losing to the University of Washington Huskies, 44-19, on Cheer Day–the annual football game when high school cheerleaders come from all over the state to participate with the Husky Cheerleaders and Varsity Marching Band in the pre-game and half-time activities. And, of course, the Husky Alumni Band participates, too–and I’m a member! In the half-time show, the Varsity Band commemorated the 50th anniversary of The Beatle’s concert in Seattle.
Below is a gallery of photos, featuring lots of trumpeters, from the game. Louis Figueroa took the field-level shots, and Garry Nakayama took those from the press box. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Cheer Day gathering, pre-game
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The joy of being in Band!
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“All You Need is Love,” The Beatles, 1967
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High school cheerleaders perform on the field at Husky Stadium
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Dr. Brad McDavid, Director of Athletic Bands, University of Washington
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UW Tradition: caps on backwards after a victory!
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Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: Cheer Day, cheerleaders, concert, Husky Alumni Band, Husky Varsity Marching Band, The Beatles, trumpeters | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 10, 2015
I’m back! Lucky me, commencing on 8 September 2014, with the first class of this school year, I get to continue teaching beginning brass students at Skyline Jr. High School in Bothell. Fifth and sixth grade band students arrive early in the morning at Skyline for band classes, and afterwards, they go to their respective schools, Fernwood, Crystal Springs, and Canyon Creek elementary schools for regular classes. Shawn McGinn is the Director of Instrumental Music at Skyline.
I teach brass sectionals on Mondays-Thursdays, including trumpets, trombones, French horns, and baritones. On Fridays, I teach the full 2nd year elementary band, comprised of 6th graders. We present three concerts by the fifth and sixth grade bands each year. It’s fun!
Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, brass, concerts, instrumental, music, Shawn McGinn, trumpets | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 9, 2015
It was the first Saturday of September, 2014. This was the first home game of the football season for the University of Washington Huskies and the second game under new Coach Chris Petersen. The opponent was the Eastern Washington University Eagles from Cheney, Washington near Spokane. The Huskies won, 59-52, in a wild shootout.
Below is a gallery of photos. featuring the Husky Varsity Marching Band trumpeters, from the game. I am a member of the Husky Alumni Band. Shots from the pressbox are by Garry Nakayama, and those from field level are by Louis Figueroa. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Dr. Brad McDavid, Director of Athletic Bands, University of Washington
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Mel Poll, tenor, sings National Anthem
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Chris Petersen, UW Husky football coach
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Shaq Thompson, UW, scores against Eastern Washington University Eagles
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Cyler Miles, UW, scores against Eastern Washington University Eagles
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UW Cheerleaders-1
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Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: Coach Chris Pertersen, Dr. Brad McDavid, Husky Alumni Band, Husky Varsity Marching Band, Mel Poll, National Anthem, tenor, trumpeters | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on September 18, 2014
Herald trumpeters open The 2014 Royal Edinburgh Tattoo with a fanfare
When you’re producing one of the best entertainment shows on earth, you need trumpets and a fanfare to get the show started! And so my wife and I noticed as we sat in the stands among thousands in the audience at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, 2014, in Scotland on 11 August. Our whole three-week trip to the UK was organized around our tickets to this event. We simply love bagpipes!
The Tattoo is staged on the Esplanade (parade ground) of the Edinburgh Castle. This year it occurred during Scotland’s “Year of Homecoming, 2014.” The Commonwealth Games and the World Pipe Band Championships were held in Glasgow, and The Ryder Cup (golf) will be held on 26-28 September at the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles in Perthshire. According to the wee bit of Scottish history that I have recently learned, there was a massive diaspora of Scots from the homeland during the mid-18th to late-19th centuries. More Scottish descendants now live abroad than currently live in Scotland itself (population ~5 million). Scots spread throughout the globe, and this year they were invited back home to celebrate their heritage.
The 2014 Tattoo reflects this history of emigration. The program was divided into three major segments: “The Departure,” “The Journey,” and “The Return Home.” Groups from Trinidad and Tabago, Malta, southern Africa, India, Singapore, and New Zealand performed. During “The Journey” segment, the performance by the New Zealanders effectively depicted the intermingling of the two different cultures.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Herald trumpeters open The 2014 Royal Edinburgh Tattoo with a fanfare
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The Massed Pipes and Drums march onto the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade
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iNgobamakhosi Zulu Dance Troupe
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The Tattoo Highland Dancers and The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland
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Dancers and The Massed Pipes and Drums
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The Massed Pipes and Drums
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Te Waka Huia and Te Whanau a Apanui and the New Zealand Highland Dancers
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The Massed Military Bands
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The Shetland Fiddlers – Hjaltibonhoga (“Shetland, my spiritual home”)
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“Soldier an’ Sailor Too”
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The Massed Military Bands and Massed Pipes and Drums
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Finale
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The March Out, concluding the Tattoo after the fireworks show
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations, Festivals & Competitions, Professional Concerts | Tagged: band, Edinburgh, fanfare, herald trumpeters, pipes and drums, Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Scotland, trumpeters, World Pipe Band Championships | Leave a Comment »
The orchestra and choir were conducted by Linda Collins, and the musical was dedicated to Dave Ballbach, “whose support and encouragement has inspired this endeavor for two decades.” It was presented five times during the weekend of 5-7 December at the church, which is located in Lynnwood near the intersection of I-5 with 196th St.
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 