Glenn’s Trumpet Notes

News & Tips for Trumpet & Cornet Students

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800 Cheerleaders & Dancers Perform in Spectacular UW Husky Half-time Show!

Posted by glennled on November 11, 2010

Half-time Finale to ABBA's hit song, "Waterloo"

Wow, this was spectacular…you should see the videos below! At the UW-Stanford football game on 30 October, about 800 cheerleaders and dancers from 44 junior high and high schools from Washington performed for the fans during the half-time show. It’s such a big show that it’s sponsored by the Cheerleaders of America (COA), headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, and it bears the official name, “Second Annual UW Half-time Spirit Extravaganza.” 

The theme, chosen by the UW Husky Varsity Marching Band, was music by the famous group, ABBA. The cheer/dance teams performed a featured routine to a medley of ABBA songs, followed by a mass scramble to spell out “HUSKIES” to the popular sports song, “Rock and Roll Music, Part II.” The cheer/dance teams then

Band plays ABBA medley while cheerleaders wait to return to field for finale

joined the Husky Band to cover the entire field while the band played ABBA’s “Waterloo” for the finale. Beautiful show that lifted the spirits on a cold, rainy night when the home team wasn’t doing so well on the football field—way to go!

Watch it all (both the rehearsals and performance) at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wx9zGPKB9Gg and

Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Stanford Cardinals 41, UW Huskies 0, Three Bands 100!

Posted by glennled on November 11, 2010

Thrilling Pre-Game Percussion Performance--Wow! Those Drummers!

The Stanford Cardinals skunked the University of Washington Huskies, 41-0, a couple of weeks ago. It was

Crushing half-time stats!

 the Huskies’ first home shutout in 34 years (since 1976)! Our team stunk so bad that fans started leaving by half-time. No doubt, the cold rain made that an easy decision for many fans. But if you came for the bands and the music, then Husky Stadium smelled sweet as a rose, and you were entertained in high fashion. The half-time show, especially, was fantastic!

Husky Alumni Band

There were three bands at the game: UW Varsity Marching Band, UW Husky Alumni Band, and a visiting band named “Musica Grato Himi” from Himi, Japan. (As you know, I’m a proud member of the Alumni Band and stayed at the Stanford game to the bitter, cold, rainy end.)

The half-time show was spectacular! Not only was the music superb (from the movie, “Mama Mia”), but

also some 800 cheer and dance team members from 44 junior high and high schools performed on the field along with the UW Varsity Band and Musica Grato. The entire field was covered with enthusiastic, fit people in the most colorful uniforms! For more about cheer and dance squads, please see the next post on this blog.

Finale of the 2nd Annual UW Half-time Spirit Extravaganza

Some final notes about the Japanese band. Musica Grato is Italian for “give thanks to music.” In 2005, the UW

It was a sloppy game

Husky Marching Band performed in Himi, Japan, and Musica Grato performed in Seattle at both a Husky football game and at a concert with a band from the Northshore School District located in Bothell/Woodinville. Since Musica Grato was formed in 2003, it has steadily achieved magnificent results. Atop the list of their awards and honors are their performance at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China in 2008, and the Sudler Shield prize from the John Philip Sousa Foundation of America. During the 2010 trip to Seattle, they again performed a joint concert with the Northshore School District Band on Monday, 1 November, two days after the UW-Stanford football game.

The Huskies will come back

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My Windy 6th Grade Brass Players

Posted by glennled on October 1, 2010

Nine boys and I have now had three band classes together.  The oldest boy in the group just turned 12 last week. They are the trumpeters (8) and trombonist (1) who play in the second-year elementary school band which practices at 7:45 a.m. at Skyview Jr. High in Bothell. On the first day, we played a name game to help me get acquainted—they already know each other—and since then, we’ve worked on lip slur exercises, “Apollo Fanfare,” and “Cameroon.” For fun, during warmups, we play some little tune on our mouthpieces like “Happy Birthday” and “Old MacDonald.” I play a phrase, and they repeat after me.

Today, after talking about proper breathing using the diaphragm, we had a contest to see who could play and hold Concert B-flat the longest. The guy who won the first round had to drop out of round 2. Then the winner of round 2 had to drop out of round 3. Finally, we were down to the last two guys, and that established the order: every guy now knows how windy he is (i.e., his  lung capacity), as compared to his classmates. They’re competitive, and it was fun! We’ll do it again someday to see if there are any changes. It pays to practice…

Next week, the new kids in first-year elementary band start work. The band director was a master recruiter this year–about 70 kids signed up, paid their fees, and rented or purchased their horns. That’s terrific! Next week, we start learning music together. Stay tuned…  🙂

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Glenn Now Teaches Brass Instruments at School in Northshore School District

Posted by glennled on September 6, 2010

Concert, 8 June 2010 - L-to-R: 2nd-year band, jazz band, & 1st-year band

Wow, here’s a totally new experience for me! I’m now an assistant to the band director at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell. He hired me for the 2010-11 school year to teach brass instruments to beginning band students from the local elementary schools which feed into that junior high. Each week, early in the morning, elementary band students will be bussed to Skyview for band classes. I’ll conduct rehearsals and teach the brass players (trumpet and trombone). 

How did this happen? It’s all the result of a chain of events after I helped one of his band members last spring. Please go to “Archives” on the left side of this blog and click on “May 2010”; then find the post, “6th Grade Student Earns Quick Promotion!”

At that time, I wasn’t seeking a teaching position with any school, but I was (and am) seeking new students for private lessons. I met the band director, attended the concert in June, spoke to both his bands about private lessons during the summer—one thing led to another, and “Voila!”—here we are. This is gonna be fun!  🙂

Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments »

Ballard High Freshman Tackles Trumpet

Posted by glennled on September 6, 2010

My 9th trumpet student is from Magnolia and enters Ballard High School next Wednesday, the 8th. He’s never played trumpet before, but his grandparents encouraged him to take it up now, even when many of his classmates have already been playing for about four years. To catch up to their level and be admitted into the high school band, if he wants to, would be quite a challenge. He’s almost 15 years old. “Better late than never” is just part of the grandparents’ idea, and so we began in late July. They really just want him and his three younger siblings to learn to play, understand and enjoy music. On top of that, if he decides to join band someday, that’s fine. If not, fine.  His little sister already plays the flute. His two brothers have taken a few beginning lessons with me, too, and it is yet to be determined whether they will continue. Perhaps their big brother’s experience will influence them. BTW, their older cousin is a Husky football player at UW. Wouldn’t it be very special if, as trumpet players, they also someday play on that field at Husky Stadium in front of 72,000 cheering fans?! But if not, that’s fine, too…  😉

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Marching in the Seafair Torchlight Parade

Posted by glennled on August 4, 2010

Parade photos by Elliot Suhr, seattlepi.com

It’s only about 2.5 miles from the Space Needle to Qwest Field along the route of the Seafair Torchlight Parade, but if you’re in the parade, near the end, it takes many hours to get there. That’s what I learned last Saturday, when several other members of the Husky Alumni Band and I mixed in with the UW Varsity Marching Band to play our music along the parade route through downtown Seattle. The obvious enthusiasm and pleasure of the hundreds of thousands of spectators of all ages who lined the streets made the whole event very fun for us all. And the weather was perfect. Oh, what a night!

There were Seafair pirates and a police motorcade and firemen and floats and clowns and drill teams and a queen and Hawaiian princesses and military bands and school bands and cheerleaders and–you-name-it! Our band was #81 of 105 groups in the parade. Fourteen awards were presented to the best and most creative entries. The parade was sponsored by Alaska Airlines.

The UW band was big, although not full size, which you’ll see as soon as football season starts next month. About 18 of us trumpeters came for the parade. If you ever have a chance to be in the parade, don’t turn it down…it’s so much fun!



Posted in Festivals & Competitions, HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Elementary School Spring Band Concert in Bothell

Posted by glennled on June 11, 2010

At this elementary school in Bothell, there are two bands, one for beginners and the other for more advanced students. But they don’t practice at their own school–they bus to a nearby junior high school for that. And their spring concert was held this week in the gymnasium of that junior high, where this picture was taken. One of my trumpet students, a 6th grader, is a member of the advanced band. They played “Farandole” by Georges Bizet and “William Tell Overture” by Gioachino Rossini.

It’s a strong program, and the energetic band director is anxious to build it to even higher levels. They sound good! He has good control of the bands, they are well-rehearsed, and they have fun. I was impressed with his conducting sytle. While it is expressive and animated, it is also very clean and clear. A musician would have no trouble following his lead, knowing exactly where the beat is, and playing with the intensity that he desires at any given moment.

To supplement the band performances, a jazz ensemble from the junior high played also. The band director encouraged everyone to continue to practice throughout the summer and take private lessons to improve. He stressed the benefits–better results, faster! He wants to see some of his musicians audition and be chosen for District Honor and Junior All-State bands next year. Go for it, kids!

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“Homey” Spring Recital for Trumpets & Piano

Posted by glennled on June 9, 2010

“Oh, no!” is sometimes a student’s first reaction to hearing that a recital is coming. But that soon turns to “OK,” and afterwards, the feeling is “Ah, that wasn’t so bad” and even “Wow! that was fun. I’ll do that again.”

It certainly was fun for me and my wife. Six of my students came with their trumpets and cornets and one of her piano students came to our home last Saturday to play music. We filled the living room with chairs for grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. Four students played in the morning session, and three played in the afternoon. One trumpet student was away on an overnight school trip. Think of it: my first student began taking lessons with me just 10 months ago!

The printed program showed who played what and when. Most played two pieces, and a few played three. I accompanied the ninth grader on “Fanfare for the Common Man,” one of my favorities by Aaron Copland, first performed in 1942, during World War II.

After the program, everyone enjoyed cookies, sparkling apple cider, and conversation. My wife told them that after a few recitals, the group begins to feel like a little family.

Here’s the thing about recitals. Students should feel confident and comfortable with the music. Playing in front of people, including strangers, produces the jitters and the butterflies in one’s stomach. Good, that’s part of music education and development from students into performers. We all learn to handle these situations only by doing. It comes only through experience. But remember the good feeling that comes after a performance, even if it was not perfect? That’s one of the best lessons of the whole adventure: there is life after a recital! You live through it. It doesn’t kill you. And, in the end, it’s fun. And imagine experiencing this: people are proud of you, even if you’re not perfect, and they enjoy supporting and participating in your growth and progress. You feel good about yourself for having done it. We’re talkin’ acceptance and love. It’s all part of becoming your best.

Among the pieces played were “Lavender’s Blue,” “Mexican Hat Dance,” “Minor Rock,” “Doxy,” “Tattoo,” “Yankee Doodle,” “This Land is Your Land,” “Taps,” and “Feather Theme.”

Posted in Musical Events at Home, Recitals | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

The Eagles Concert at Seattle’s Key Arena

Posted by glennled on May 28, 2010

A full house of about 12,500 fans packed Key Arena in Seattle on Wednesday night to hear one of the greatest bands of my lifetime, the Eagles. The audience was mostly “Yuppies” and “Boomers” in their mid-30’s to 60’s, and Glenn Frey, guitarist and emcee, jokingly called it their “Assisted Living Tour.”

Indeed, Tim Schmit, bass guitarist and soulful crooner, got sick while in Seattle and had to be treated at Swedish Hospital. That resulted in a two-week delay from the original concert date. The delay caused about 800 ticket holders to take a refund, but then those tickets quickly resold. Floor tickets cost upward of $250.

The old guys appear to be in great shape—no over-the-belt paunches hanging off these fellows! Man, they are good! The primary four are Schmit, Frey, Don Henley, lead singer, guitarist and percussionist, and Joe Walsh, exceptional guitarist and rebellious rocker. They started recording 38 years ago in 1972. They’re backed by about 10 other musicians: masterful guitarist, Steuart Smith, a pianist, keyboard artist , violinist, two drummers, three saxophonists, and one trumpeter.

Man, does this band have depth and power! They deliver strong voices, rich, tight harmonies, interesting rhythms and syncopation, and meaningful lyrics—just a consistently solid, fluid sound by a polished, impassioned team of musicians. Everyone appreciates excellence and mastery in any field of human endeavor, and these guys have delivered hit after hit after hit. That’s part of what prompts Henley to introduce “The Long Run” as their “theme song after 40 years of doing this.” 

When we dig deep inside ourselves and, through hard work and practice, develop our God-given natural gifts, talents, and strengths into masterful skills and abilities, and finally, produce a useful, needed, sought-after product, we spread joy to the world. The Eagles are among the best bands in my lifetime to have done that. The crowd ate it up and would have stayed all night.

Among my favorites (not in priority order): “Hotel California,” “I Can’t Tell You Why,” “Lyin’ Eyes,” “In the City,” “Peaceful Easy Feeling,” “Desperado,” “Take It to the Limit,” “Get Over It,” “Pretty Maids All in a Row,” “Take It Easy,” “Heartache Tonight,” “Seven Bridges Road,” “Life in the Fast Lane,” “Wasted Time,” “New York Minute,” and “One of These Nights.”

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4th Grader Performs at Spring Concert in Seattle

Posted by glennled on May 25, 2010

Surprise! the conductor at the spring concert last night at an elementary school in downtown Seattle also conducted at the previous school concert I attended two weeks ago in North Seattle (see post below). He does double duty–whew!  That would exhaust me.

At this school, the music program consists of four parts: beginning strings, brass, and winds; intermediate winds and strings; advanced band and strings; and orchestra. For the concert program,  there were 8 group performances. My fourth-grade cornet student is in the Intermediate Winds group, along with two trumpet players. I recognized his tone. He has progressed so fast and far this year! His group played “Sawmill Creek,” “Regal March,” and “Minor Rock.”  He played well and was very well behaved the entire night.

I was proud of him, but not nearly as much, I’m sure, as were his grandparents, sister, and parents, who filmed the event. They said many musicians from this school eventually feed into Garfield High School. And as we know, Garfield recently won the nationwide Essentially Ellington jazz competition in New York for the fourth time. Is that the direction my guy is headed? Let’s just wait and see what happens next year…one step at a time, please. Remember the adage, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

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