Posts Tagged ‘band’
Posted by glennled on March 16, 2012
Symphonic Band, Kenmore Jr. High, 79 members
I had heard about the exceptionally strong music program at Kenmore Jr. High, and on 14 March, I heard with my own ears what the fuss is all about—an outstanding school concert, loaded with young star musicians, including a trumpet player whom I tutor! [See my blog post of 13 November 2010, for more about this student.]
Almost 200 students comprise the three bands and seven ensembles which performed under the leadership of Debbie Montague, Ph.D., Director of Instrumental Music. Her command and control were flawless, and the music she selected was challenging and entertaining. She attracts and produces high-achievers. Consistently, many of her students are winners in various band and ensemble competitions. She says that in band, they learn not only music but also concentration and responsibility. Those are great character traits to carry with them into Inglemoor High School and beyond.
The Symphonic Band supplied the peak performance of the evening, playing Triumphant Fanfare by Richard Saucedo; On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss by David R. Holsinger; and Earthdance by Michael Sweeney.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
The Symphonic Band is participating in the prestigious Festival of Gold at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, Los Angeles, CA, 30 March-3 April. This festival combines with the Festival at Carnegie Hall to create the Elite Performance Series. Only ensembles that have received a Gold rating at a WorldStrides Heritage music festival or regional festival are accepted into Festival of Gold. The Honor Concert culminates the festival weekend and features the highest scoring ensembles of the festival.
See www.scfta.org and http://www.worldstridesheritageperformance.org/fog/festival_of_gold.php.
As part of the remodeling project now underway at Kenmore Jr. High, a new band room is being readied for use late this school year. It will include a built-in recording system to record the bands and various music groups.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Seventh Grade Band, 47 members
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Trumpet section, Seventh Grade Band
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Concert Band, 68 members, playing “The Great River” by Michael Story
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Symphonic Band, Kenmore Jr. High, 79 members
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Alto Sax Trio from the Symphonic Band, playing “Shenendoah”
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Bassoon Quintet from the Symphonic Band, playing “Liberty Bell.” Mona Butler, Coach, substitutes for an ensemble member who was sick.
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The popular Marimba Group from the Symphonic Band, playing “Hidden Treasure”
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Dr. Debbie Montague conducts Symphonic Band
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Two tubas, one baritone
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Trumpet Section, Symphonic Band
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Trumpet Section, Symphonic Band
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Trumpet Section, Symphonic Band
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Debbie Montague, Ph.D.
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Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Los Angeles, Orange County
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, Debbie Montague, Festival of Gold, Kenmore Jr. High, Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Symphonic Band, trumpet, WorldStrides Heritage | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on March 12, 2012
Lots of people start band and drop out, only to regret it in later years. My 19th trumpet student did just that—dropped out after his first year in band when he was a 5th grader at John Muir Elementary School. Now he’s a 9th grader at Kamiakin Junior High in Kirkland, and his goal is to join the band next year as a sophomore at Juanita High School. He’s given himself one year to catch up and be ready. It’s a rare, ambitious attempt. So far, so good.
Last September at the start of the new school year, he found himself eating lunch alone—all his best friends were in band rehearsal during his lunch period. Well then, rejoin band, his mother suggested. “Ok, I’ll try,” was his response.
His mom contacted the high school band director, Mariko Lane, to determine whether she would accept him into band. Yes! Kids
join at all levels of performance, she said enthusiastically. She then advised him to stay with his original instrument, the trumpet, and to find a good tutor right away. In our first meeting, I listened to the story of why he quit and why he wants to start again. I wondered, is this his goal or someone else’s? Is this realistic or just a pipe dream? So I grilled him thoroughly with tough questions and provactive comments, giving him every opportunity to drop the idea or select a different tutor. But he stayed cool and stood fast, which pleased me, so we embarked on the challenge together.
Our first weekly lesson was on 3 November 2011. They ordered the instruction book I prefer for beginners, “Progressive Trumpet,” by Peter Gelling. It happened to be out of stock in local music stores and took a few weeks to arrive on special order. Why is this important? Because he is now finishing that book after about only three and a half months! A fifth grader takes much longer. He is now more mature, he is more dedicated, he has more self-discipline–in other words, he practices regularly! He works at it, so he’s on the fast track. It’s that simple. But simple is not always easy, is it? Simple can be the most difficult.
What does he think of his progress so far? “It’s more possible than I originally thought,” he said. Yes, it is. He has finished the first instruction book faster than any of my other students. When he finishes the second book, he’ll be ready to join high school band. Immediately, he’ll have to learn to march while playing. Then he’ll get three, fun, high school band years full of wonderful, lifelong memories with his friends—just by playing music, and that’s fun in itself. It’s one of those things that’s better “The Second Time Around.”
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: band, instrument, John Muir Elememtary, Juanita High, Kamiakin Jr. High, lesson, Mariko Lane, music, school, trumpet, trumpeter, tutor | 2 Comments »
Posted by glennled on February 17, 2012
Yakima, Washington is being invaded by more than 1,000 music educators and 1,600 student musicians over Presidents Day Weekend. This happens annually when the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) conducts its state in-service conference. This is the Diamond Jubilee Conference, celebrating WMEA’s 75-year support of music education.
The event will include more than 100 educational sessions, 30 performing groups, and 80 exhibitors. The students represent various WMEA All-State honor groups from grades 5 through 12. Concerts will be held on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, 18-20 February. For more information, see www.wmea.org.
I can’t wait until one or more of my trumpet students makes All-State Band or Orchestra. I want to help someone become the best he or she can be! 🙂
Posted in School Concerts, Student Competitions, Honors & Awards | Tagged: band, choir, conference, educators, jazz, music, orchestra, trumpet, WMEA, Yakima | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on February 17, 2012
For the second year in a row, one of my trumpet students has been selected by the Seattle Public Schools music program to perform in the annual All-City Elementary Instrumental Music Honors Concert. The band will play at Chief Sealth International High School, 2600 SW Thistle, Seattle, on Saturday, 31 March, at 4 p.m. The concert is free.
Students were selected because of their dedication to improving their skills and their exemplary musicianship. The event celebrates their success and provides the city schools’ best 5th-grade musicians the opportunity to play together among their peers. I’m very proud of my student—indeed, he is among the best! He attends Lawton Elementary School in Magnolia, where Lindsey Dustin is the Instrumental Music Teacher (see www.LawtonElementary.org).
Posted in School Concerts, Student Competitions, Honors & Awards | Tagged: 5th grade, All-City, band, concert, elementary, honors, instrumental, Lawton, Lindsey Dustin, music, musicians, school, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on February 9, 2012
NSD 6th Grade Honor Band, 2012
More than 300 students performed last Tuesday evening at the annual Northshore School District’s Sixth Grade Honors Concert held at Northshore Junior High School in Bothell. The 2012 Honor Orchestra, Choir and Band filled the entire length of the gym floor, and their parents, relatives and friends overflowed the grandstand and lined the walls to hear them perform 10 music pieces.
My prime interest was in the Honor Band, for I teach brass instruments to sixth graders from Canyon Creek, Crystal Springs, and Fernwood elementary schools, under the leadership of Mr. Shawn McGinn, Director of Instrumental Music, Skyview Junior High School in Bothell. From the group I teach, there were four trumpet, one French horn, one trombone, and one baritone players in the Honor Band. In addition, Mr. McGinn’s schools were represented by two 
flute, four clarinet, one bass clarinet, one alto saxophone, and one percussion players.
Mr. Alec Wilmart, band director at Kellogg Middle School, conducted the Honor Band. He is past president of the Sno-King Music Educators Association and is chief arranger for the University of Washington Husky Marching Band. He holds degrees in Percussion Performance and Music Education from UW.
The band played “Declaration and Dance” by Harold Bennet and arranged by Larry Clark; “Summit March” by Bill Calhoun; and “Antiquitas” by Larry Clark.
The audience waved often, clapped hard, and went home very proud!
Posted in School Concerts, Student Competitions, Honors & Awards | Tagged: Alec Wilmart, band, brass, concert, honor, Northshore Jr. High, school, Shawn McGinn, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on December 14, 2011
Eckstein Wind Ensemble
At Eckstein Middle School in northeast Seattle on 8 December, more than one-quarter of the entire student body performed in one of four bands at the winter concert. These bands are comprised of 341 musicians out of the student body of 1280 students–that’s 27% and that’s success! You simply can’t argue about the superiority of this music program when you look at all the trophies in the hallway outside the auditorium, which was packed with parents, relatives and friends like me.
The Beginning Band (31 students) conducted by Chris Boscole played three pieces. Next was the Junior Concert Band (109 students) conducted by Cuauhtemoc Escobedo (aka “Mr. E” or “Moc”), Director of Bands at the school. The Junior Band played five pieces, finishing with Leroy Anderson’s “A Trumpeter’s Lullaby,” featuring three trumpet soloists. After that, Mr. Escobedo conducted the Intermediate Concert Band (107) in another five pieces, one of which featured another trumpeter. Finally, Mr. Escobedo conducted the Wind Ensemble (94) in yet another five pieces. Soloists included two clarinetists and five flutists.
Flute soloist in Eckstein Wind Ensemble performs "Gemeinhardt Suite" by Robert W. Smith
The music, including some Bach and Mozart, was challenging for the students—there was no effort to “play it safe” with easy compositions—and the students were up to the challenge! It was very impressive and enjoyable.
Two of my trumpet students performed—see my blog posts of 18 November 2009, and 19 April 2010. One is in the Wind Ensemble, and the other is in the Junior Concert Band. I was very proud of and happy for them.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
Thus ends "Sheherazade" by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Students don Santa hats for the finale, "Sleigh Ride," by Leroy Anderson
Three trumpeters accept the applause from the Eckstein Junior Band (standing) and the audience after soloing in "A Trumpeter's Lullaby" by Leroy Anderson
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: A Trumpeter"s Lullaby, band, concert, Cuauhtemoc Escobedo, Eckstein Middle School, ensemble, Leroy Anderson, Rimsky-Korsakov, Sheherazade, Sleigh Ride, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on December 13, 2011
Mr. Shawn McGinn (left, front), 2nd-year band (left, back), and 1st-year band (right)
On Thursday, 8 December, the parents and relatives gathered at band period (7:55-8:35 a.m.) to hear their kids play in the band in the school cafeteria at Skyview Junior High School in Bothell. For the 1st-year band, it was their first concert ever, and the featured song was “Jingle Bells.” Then the 2nd year band played two pieces: “Apollo Fanfare” by Robert W. Smith and “Five Christmas Favorites,” a medley. The band director is Shawn McGinn, and I am his assistant for brass instruction (trumpet, trombone, baritone, and French horn). Photos by I-Phone; click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Mr. Shawn McGinn (left, front), 2nd-year band (left, back), and 1st-year band (right)
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, Bothell, brass, concert, elementary, Skyview Jr. High, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on November 18, 2011
Near capacity crowd pushes Alumni Band out of the stands and onto the track
As the largest crowd of the season, 69,407, watched the UW Huskies fall to the University of Oregon Ducks, 34-17, the Husky Alumni Band was wondering about it future. Will the band play at the Husky home games at Century Link Field in 2012? Will the band be allocated free seats and play at games in the newly renovated Husky Stadium in 2013 and beyond? As the band pondered its future and consulted with the university, so did The Seattle Times in an article on 4 November, wondering what will become of the band and its traditions (see http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016692667_alumniband05m.html).
At the game day rehearsal prior to kickoff, the president of the Husky Marching Band Alumni Association (HMBAA) announced to the band that the university has committed to keeping the Alumni Band as “part of the game day experience” for Husky fans. Exactly what that means and on what terms it would be implemented are yet to be determined.
Husky Alumni Band President, Tameem Bakkar (right), makes announcements at pre-game rehearsal
At present, the band gets free parking and arrives ready for rehearsal three hours before the game. Then we play for tailgaiting fans at 4-5 pep rallies at different spots surrounding the stadium. The last spot is always by the bronze husky and Coach Jim Owens statues at the west entrance. Once inside, we sit in free seats in the west end of the stadium. If the game is not a sellout (or nearly so), then we sit in the stands, but if fans buy all the tickets (or nearly so), then portable chairs are set up for us on the track. We play during selected timeouts, and we play in front of the south stands following the Varsity Band’s half-time performance. After the game, we again play for the fans as they depart the stadium. We like playing fun music and enhancing others’ enjoyment of the day.
Beyond that, where does the band play? at some Husky basketball and volleyball games and other venues when the Varisty Pep Band is not available. Also, at special parties, celebrations, and events when requested. The band mixes with the Varsity Marching Band for the Seattle Torchlight Parade, the opening home football game of each new season, and the annnual Homecoming game.
Two Alumni Band members chat: Ward Brannman (L) is band director at Kamiakin Jr. High in Kirkland and Jeff Miller (R) is band director at Pine Lake (Sammamish) and Pacific Cascade (Issaquah) middle schools.
Besides performing at home football games, what does the HMBAA band do to merit free 
parking and seats? It raises scholarships funds for Husky Varsity Band students. Each August for the past 8 years, HMBAA has sponsored the Husky Alumni Golf Classic and Auction to raise such funds. The fees charged when the Alumni Pep Band plays for special events also go into the scholarship fund. Would you dine out to support these scholarships? Duke’s Chowder House (at three locations) designated a certain night in October when a portion of the revenues were donated to the band. Georgetown Brewing Co. donated a keg of Manny’s Pale Ale for each location, and 100% of all proceeds were given to the band. Last year, the Husky Alumni Band awarded $28,400 in scholarships!
The motto of the Husky Alumni Band is “A Touch of Class.” And yes, it is indeed a classy organization worthy of the University of Washington.
The following photos of the UW Varsity Marching Band were taken by Louis Figueroa (field) and Garry Nakayama (pressbox). Click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Near capacity crowd pushes Alumni Band out of the stands and onto the track
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National Champion majorette
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Coach Don James and his 1991 National Champion team receive honors
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Husky Alumni Band prepares to play after Varsity Band’s half-time show
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UW girl cheerleaders
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Final post-game Varsity Band huddle in the old Husky Stadium
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Seniors’ farewell
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UW Varsity Band Trumpeters
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Near capacity crowd forces Husky Alumni Band out of the stands and down onto the track
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Husky Alumni Band President, Tameem Bakkar (right), makes announcements at pre-game rehearsal
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Two Alumni Band members chat: Ward Brannman (L) is band director at Kamiakin Jr. High in Kirkland and Jeff Miller is band director at Pine Lake (Sammamish) and Pacific Cascade (Issaquah) middle schools.
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Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: alumni, band, coach, Don James, HMBAA, Husky, Jim Owens, marching, Oregon, pep, scholarship, stadium, University, UW, Varsity, Washington | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on October 26, 2011
How do some kids know what they want so early in life? Some spark in them seems to say, “Other kids may wait, but I’m ready, I can do this 
now.” Most kids join beginning band in 5th or 6th grade at age 10 or 11. But my newest (18th) trumpet student is only 8 years old and attends Tukwila Elementary School, which has a music program but no band for 3rd graders to join. So the parents arranged private lessons. She has spunk!
At first, she was interested in drums, then electric guitar, and finally either clarinet or trumpet. Her mother plays flute, her father recorder, and girl cousin (18) trombone. Standing in the Kennelly Keys Music store near Southcenter Mall, she looked them over. When she held the trumpet in her hands, that did it!
We started weekly lessons in Seattle in mid-September. I love her bright smile and determined, “can-do” attitude. She’s proving that she’s indeed a quick learner. It’s fun to see her make steady progress and eagerly tackle whatever comes next.
Helping her get a two-year head start on other kids her age made me wonder about how good she will be by the time they start to learn what she’s already learning
now. So I asked, “When it comes time to join band, do you think you will do that?”
“Yes!”
“Your cousin–did she march in the high school band?”
“Yes.”
“Would you like to do that some day?”
“And play at football games?—Yes!”
“Maybe someday you will be famous.”
“Are you famous?”
“Well, uh, no, not much. Now it’s time to play…let’s hear what you practiced.”
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: 3rd graders, band, elementary school, Kennelly Keys Music, lessons, Seattle, trumpet, Tukwila | 2 Comments »
Posted by glennled on September 30, 2011
Posted in HMBAA - Husky Alumni Band | Tagged: band, cheerleaders, Huskies, Husky Alumni, trumpeter, trumpeters, UH, University of Hawaii, University of Washington, UW, Warriors | Leave a Comment »
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 