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: Aaron Copland, Fanfare for the Common Man, Feather Theme, lessons, Mexican Hat Dance, piano, students, Taps, Tattoo, This Land is Your Land, trumpet, Yankee Doodle | 2 Comments »
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.”
Posted in Professional Concerts | Tagged: band, concert, Desperado, Don Henley, Eagles, Get Over It, Glenn Frey, Heartache Tonight, Hotel California, I Can't Tell You Why, In the City, Joe Walsh, Key Arena, Life in the Fast Lane, Lyin' Eyes, New York Minute, One of These Nights, Peaceful Easy Feeling, Pretty Maids All in a Row, Seattle, Seven Bridges Road, Steuart Smith, Take It Easy, The Long Run, Tim Schmit, trumpeter, Wasted Time | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 25, 2010
Surprise! the condu
ctor 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: advanced, band, brass, concert, cornet, downtown Seattle, elementary, Essentially Ellington, Garfield High School, intermediate, jazz, Minor Rock, music, New York, North Seattle, orchestra, Regal March, Sawmill Creek, school, trumpet | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on May 12, 2010
Last night I went to hear one of my trumpet students play in the spring music concert at his elementary school. In his introduction, the principal alluded to the 1st place finish by Garfield High School’s jazz band in the Essentially Ellington jazz competition in New York City on Monday. It was their second victory in two years and their fourth (a record) in the 15-year history of this nationwide competition. He endorsed music education and wished his elementary students success in their music endeavors.
Six groups performed: Beginning Strings, Advanced Orchestra, Beginning Brass, Beginning Winds, Beginning Clarinets, and Advanced Band. He’s in Beginning Brass, along with four other trumpeters and one trombonist. The band director commented that they were going to play some Christmas music. It was a typically cool night on an overcast day in Seattle, but Christmas in May?! Yes, we heard the brass ensemble play “Good King Wenceslas” and “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” as well as “Crusaders March” and “Frere Jacques,” in the school cafeteria with the stage. My student and another played lead trumpet, and I could clearly distinguish his strong, confident tone and clean articulation. Way to go!
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: articulation, band, brass, Christmas, concert, director, education, elementary, ensemble, Essentially Ellington, Garfield, high, jazz, music, New York City, school, Seattle, spring, tone, trombonist, trumpet, trumpeters | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 11, 2010
My 8th trumpet student of this school year, a 12-year old sixth grader in a Bothell elementary school, just started private lessons with me in late April. All year long, he had been in the 1st-year band and was struggling with his tone. It had become very frustrating. Most of the other sixth grade band members, his peers, had started playing trumpet in fifth grade and are now in the 2nd-year band. At our first lesson, I heard the tones and saw the problem: his embouchure. We made one simple, easy adjustment on how he should position the mouthpiece. The following week, his tone was twice as good as before–100% improvement! And the following week, after more practice, it was even better. Now he sounds just like some of my other trumpet students. That’s when he told me an amazing story.
He is now in 2nd-year band! How did this happen? Well, he said, the very next day after our second lesson, he went to the band director and asked to audition for 2nd-year band. He played the required music, won the promotion, and now sits in the Trumpet II section amongst his classmates. Wow! I’m impressed with both his spunk and his capabilities. Only one thing was holding him back, and he overcame it. I’m very proud of what he just did–in only 8 days!
Next year he’ll be in the junior high school band. Wonder how far he wants to go with this? 🙂
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: 6th, 8th, band, band director, Bothell, elementary, embouchure, fifth, junior high, lesson, lessons, music, private, promotion, school, sixth, tone, trumpet | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on May 11, 2010
Purples 14, Whites 13! The team with the second-string offense, led by freshman quarterback Nick Mon
tana, beat the team with the first-string offense in the Huskies spring game on Friday night, 30 April. Montana, the son of NFL Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana, was 21-34 for 156 yards, capped by his 2-yard touchdown pass on the final play. Earlier, he threw a 31-yard touchdown strike down the middle in the third quarter. The Whites got a touchdown in the first quarter from an interception off Montana, his only big mistake on a cold, windy, rainy night.
The Husky Varsity Band was among the crowd of 15,000, and a few Alumni Band (HMBAA) members mixed in and played with them. Everyone is very excited about the good recruits coming to Washington next fall, and we’re all hoping for an improved team and a better win-loss record next season…maybe even a bowl game! It’s only a few months away. When the Torchlight Parade (31 July) and SeaFair Sunday (8 August) roll around, then the next big event is fall football–Go Huskies!
Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: alumni, band, HMBAA, Husky, Montana, NFL, quarterback, SeaFair, spring football, Torchlight Parade, touchdown, trumpet, Varsity | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 19, 2010
My 7th student of this school year is a fourth grader in an alternative elementary school in Seattle. The Band meets only one day a week, and the Band Director is already telling him to play ahead of the rest of the band in the school music workbook. There are no formal homework assignments, yet he sits down and practices every week just for the fun of it. He likes trumpet! We began his private lessons today. His tone is very solid, and his articulation is clean. These techniques seem to come naturally to him. What more could a trumpet instructor ask for?–a motivated, talented student! It will be my pleasure to help him become his best. I’m a lucky man.
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: 7th, articulation, band, elementary, lessons, school, tone, trumpet | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on February 19, 2010
Last night, I attended an excellent band concert at Kamiakin Junior High School in Kirkland, where one of my 6th grade students plays trumpet in the Intermediate Band. What fun! First came the Beginning Band (80 students), then the Intermediate Band (~50), then the Symphonic Band, and finally the 8th Grade Band–four bands! They were all well-rehearsed and well-behaved. And they played well! All totaled, there must have been about 35-40 young trumpeters on stage. The stands were filled with about 300-400 parents, siblings, grandparents and other relatives, friends, and other interested parties like me. Soloists, duets, and trios also played and were given medals for doing so. It’s one of the strongest band programs I have seen and is a great credit to the enthusiastic, energetic, pleasant, and obviously competent Band Director. Congratulations!
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, concert, director, Eastside, Jr. High, trumpet, trumpeters | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on January 7, 2010
Last weekend, J.S. found me on www.TeachStreet.com and enrolled in my class for private trumpet lessons. It turned out that during the holidays he was in New York, where he was raised, visiting his parents who are in their 80’s. A child of the 1960’s, he grew up listening to Herb Alpert and The Tijuana Brass, and he’s always liked mariachi music. A jazz song, “Minnie the Moocher,” featuring a muted trumpet, is a big favorite of his–it’s the “He-De-Ho” song by Cab Calloway, first recorded in 1931 during the Great Depression–very fun to listen to and sing along with. Try it (free) at www.lala.com. It’s a good example of why I claim that the trumpet is the most expressive of all brass instruments.
J.S. always wanted to play an instrument. Flute, guitar and trumpet appealed most to him. Now, at age 49, he’s making the time and effort to do it–bully-bully for him! And naturally, the trumpet stood the tests of time and imagination and won out. 😉
When he returned to Seattle this week, where he and his wife have lived downtown almost six years, we got together and talked things over. Next week, we start working on the horn and his dream. It’s his goal to play for his parents when he returns to New York for another visit next summer. We’ll see if an adult man can learn trumpet faster than my four other beginning students who are 10 to 12 years old. By next July, if we were to unite them all to form a trumpet quintet, who would be sitting first chair? We’ll see. Now really, they’re only in competition in my own head. It’s a fun mind-game for me. “Become your BEST!” is my slogan. That’s really what I want for every student. And now I want to recruit two more–of any age, at any skill level.
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: Cab Calloway, Herb Alpert, lala.com, lessons, mariachi, Minnie the Moocher, New York, sixth, TeachStreet, Tijuana Brass, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on December 30, 2009
"O Holy Night"
The Christmas Eve tradition in our family, hosted in our home, goes like this. All family members who are in town come over for dinner. (We have two grown sons, a daughter and three grandkids in southern California, Las Vegas, and New Zealand.) This year we were 10 locals (including four grandchildren) around our dining room table. After dinner, we sing Christmas carols. My wife is a piano instructor. While she plays, everyone sings the lyrics from the songbook she created a few years ago, especially for this annual occasion. Once, one of our local grandsons played the clarinet for us. This year it was my turn to solo at the family concert. I played “O Holy Night,” accompanied by my wife. Our daughter videoed our duet. I encouraged all my students to play something for their families during their own holiday festivities.
After Bible readings from Luke and Isaiah about Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and prayer, we do what the kids have been patiently waiting for: open presents! Finally, there is an evening snack, and they all go home, stomachs full, arms and hands laden with prize gifts, faces beaming, and eyes sparkling. Santa Claus is coming tonight!
My cornet is a “Super Olds” model with the nickel-silver rimmed bell, made by F.E. Olds & Son in Los Angeles. Miles Davis, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Louis Prima, and Raphael Mendez are among those who played various Olds instruments. Olds started making trombones in about 1910, and later added other brass instruments, introducing the Super Olds line in 1932. My cornet ranked in the mid-range of the various Olds models of its time. Today, the equivalent horn probably costs about $1,700. Mine cost my parents $250, and I was so proud! Why did I choose a cornet? Simple: our high school band director specified that we all play cornets, not trumpets. He preferred the cornet’s more mellow tone and wanted a cornet section, not a trumpet section, in his band.
My Super Olds has been around. I played it all through high school and college. It took me to All-State Band in Texas and on music scholarship to Abilene Christian College and the University of Washington. It went to the Rose Bowl when we marched in the Rose Bowl Parade and gave a half-time performance during the football game: UW Huskies beat U of Minnesota Gophers, 17-7. Now I play it in the Husky Alumni Band.
I’ve played my Super Olds in concert, jazz, dance, and pep bands, in orchestras for operas and musicals, and in a U.S. Navy bugle corps. It’s traveled from Texas to Washington to Rhode Island. And now I’ve played it in a duet with my lovely wife in our own warm living room for our own special family. Yes, my horn looks a little worn, but it plays as well as ever. I like that.
Posted in Musical Events at Home | Tagged: Abilene Christian College, carols, Christmas, concert, cornet, duet, F.E. Olds & Sons, Freddie Hubbard, Husky Alumni Band, Isaiah, Jesus Christ, Louis Armstrong, Luke, Messiah, O Holy Night, parade, piano, Raphael Mendez, Rose Bowl, solo, Super Olds, trumpets, University of Washington | 2 Comments »
