Posts Tagged ‘brass’
Posted by glennled on May 26, 2014
Skyview Jr. High School, Bothell, WA
On 16 September 2013, I resumed teaching beginning brass at Skyview Jr. High School (SJHS). Students from three elementary schools come to SJHS for classes from 7:55-8:35 a.m. The three elementary schools are Canyon Creek, Fernwood, and Crystal Springs. A few students from other nearby schools also attend.
First-year band students come on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for sectional classes, and second-year band students come on Mondays and Wednesdays. Then on Fridays, I conduct a class for the whole second-year band. Mr. Shawn McGinn has been Director of Instrumental Music at SJHS since 1999, and has taught over 10,000 students! His students feed into Bothell High School.
There are numerous other posts, with photos, on this blog about the many band concerts that have been held at Skyview and at the Northshore Performing Arts Center in Bothell since I’ve been been teaching trumpet and other brass instruments here.
Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, brass, Canyon Creek, Crystal Springs, elementary, Fernwood, music, Northshore Performing Arts Center, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Jr. High, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on June 3, 2012
Puget Brass, a British brass band, since 1999
The Salvation Army, Northwest Division, is hosting a concert on 3 June at 6 p.m. at the Seattle Temple, 9501 Greenwood Ave. N., Seattle. The featured special guest is Puget Brass, a local British brass band of about 30 musicians which performs throughout the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by the movie, Brassed Off, and formed in 1999, Puget Brass performs a varied repertoire from brass band classics and marches to classical, jazz, and popular music. Please see http://pugetbrass.org/.
Also participating are the Seattle Temple Brass Band, Seattle Temple Songsters, and young musicians from The Salvation Army School of Music (SASOM). SASOM offers daily after-school tutoring and music education at the temple location. According to SASOM’s mission statement on Facebook, “We believe music is the key to creating and instilling in every child an appreciation for community, a desire to achieve, and the ability to excel individually and collectively.” See http://www.facebook.com/TSASOM and click on “About.”
Red Kettle Concert Band, Salvation Army, Northwest Division, Seattle
The Salavation Army, Northwest Division, has served Seattle for 125 years (1887-2012). For a synopsis of the history of The Salvation Army itself, see http://www1.usw.salvationarmy.org/usw/www_usw_seatmpl.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/F3B07AB3CC15DE438825766C00133A8C?openDocument&charset=utf-8.
Posted in Professional Concerts | Tagged: band, brass, Brassed Off, British, classical, jazz, marches, music, musicians, popular, Puget Brass, Salvation Army, SASOM, school, songsters, temple | Leave a Comment »
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.
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Jazz Band II
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Saxophone solo
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Trumpet solos
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Trumpet solo
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1st Year (5th Grade) Elementary Band
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Brass Section, 1st Year (5th Grade) Elementary Band
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2nd Year (6th Grade) Elementary Band
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Brass Section, 2nd Year (6th Grade) Elementary Band
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6th Grade (left), 7th Grade (center), and Jazz I (right) Bands
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3rd Year (Jr. High) Band, Mr. Shawn McGinn, Conductor
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Trumpet Section, 3rd Year (Jr. High) Band
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Jazz Band I
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Trumpet solos
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Piano solo
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Trumpet solo
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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 »
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 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 March 28, 2011
I’ve decided there is something wicked about any composer or arranger who writes music in the key of F-sharp major! Why in the world would you choose to do that, when right next door, a mere half-step up or down the scale, are either the key of F (with one little flat, B-flat) or G (with one little sharp, F-sharp)? When I was young, I might have played in the key of F-sharp, but at my age, why should I want to or have to? Holy cow, come on! 😉
Last Sunday, I played trumpet again in that wonderful church orchestra about which I wrote in my post of 25 December 2010. During the two services, we played a total of 8 pieces. Wonderful worship services! Loved the music selection and most of the arrangements…except the one for “Let the Church Rise.” Great piece, but tell me—why six sharps for B-flat instruments including the trumpet? For C instruments such as the piano and flute, that is the key of Concert E, which has four sharps and is bad enough in itself. Mercy!
My theory is that Mr. Arranger must be bored or demonic or both. Must have played a string instrument or piano, I’ll bet. Hates brass. Must be on a crusade to force musicians to practice. Mean guy. The devil himself must be behind this…sneaking the key of F-sharp into church music for laughs. Spoiler…saboteur. Yes, Mr. Arranger is possessed.
Now listen, students, if you’re still reading this—this is called “venting” or “blowing off steam.” It’s also called “whining,” “avoidance,” and “blaming” others for your troubles. It’s refusing to take responsibility for yourself. Another name for it is “stinkin’ thinkin’.” Consider this: is the horn designed and built to play in six and even seven sharps or flats? Answer: yes. Then the question is, “Can we, can you, can I do it?”
The truth is that if you want to master the horn, you must practice enough to play well in any of the 12 key signatures. That’s just how it is. No shortcuts, no excuses. Come on, Glenn, get to work. Watch your self-talk. “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7).
“Just do it,” says Nike. “The Lord rewards those who help themselves,” they say. “If you pray to God to move a mountain, be prepared to wake up next to a shovel,” someone said. Go practice the scale, arpeggios, and etudes in the key of F-sharp, Glenn, and be better prepared the next time you’re called to play in this church orchestra. It’s what they do, and so can you. The fact is that they like certain arrangers who like certain key signatures with lotsa sharps. It is what it is. Get on board the train. 🙂
Posted in Church Music | Tagged: arranger, as a man thinketh, brass, church, composer, F-sharp, flat, key signature, Let the Church Rise, mountain, orchestra, self-talk, sharp, shovel, trumpet | 8 Comments »
Posted by glennled on February 16, 2011
Something special happened in Bothell last night—315 young musicians filled the floor of the spacious gymnasium at Northshore Junior High School and gave the adoring audience some thrilling sounds! It was the annual Honors Concert of the 22 elementary schools within
Honors Band (foreground), Orchestra (center), and Choir (background); Mr. Shawn McGinn (lower left)
the Northshore School District. Equally packed were the stands, overflowing into standing-room-only spaces for the many relatives and friends in attendance. And outside in the rain, their cars crammed into every feasible space in the school lots and out along the streets of the surrounding neighborhood for blocks. This was a big deal!
I attended because I teach some of the kids in the 105-member Honors Band. I am an Instructional Assistant to Mr. Shawn McGinn, band director at Skyview Junior High (see my blog post, “Glenn Now Teaches Brass…,” 6 September 2010). On Mondays, I teach the trumpeters and trombonists of the 2nd-year elementary band, and on Fridays, I conduct that entire band.
From Mr. McGinn’s band program, 15 students were selected for Honors Band. Of these, there were three flutists, four clarinetists, one bass clarinetist, one percussionist, two trombonists, and four trumpeters. They come from either Canyon Creek, Crystal Springs, or Fernwood elementary schools. I’m so proud of them all.
Honors Band, Janie McDavid conducting
Janie McDavid conducted the Honors Band. She currently teaches elementary instrumental music at Kenmore Junior High and Meridian Park and Echo Lake elementary schools. She led the band in three selections which ended the concert: “American Spirit March,” “The Tempest,” and “Eye of the Tiger.” Outstanding!
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: American Spirit March, band, Bothell, brass, Canyon Creek, choir, Crystal Springs, Echo Lake, elementary, Eye of the Tiger, Fernwood, honors concert, instructional, instrumental, Janie McDavid, Kenmore Junior High, Meridian Park, musicians, Northshore Junior High, Northshore School District, orchestra, school, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Junior High, The Tempest, trombonists, trumpeters | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on December 20, 2010
Photos by Blackberry camera
Early last Wednesday, about 150 parents and relatives swarmed into the cafeteria at Skyview Jr. High (SJH) in Bothell, WA, to see and hear their kids play in the winter concert by the two elementary bands conducted by Mr. Shawn McGinn. It was a standing room only crowd! The 1st-year and 2nd-year bands are comprised of about 85 students in the 5th and 6th grades from three elementary schools which feed into SJH: Crystal Springs, Canyon Park, and Fernwood. As you know, I’m Mr. McGinn’s assistant for brass instruction with both these bands (see my post on 6 September 2010).
1st-year band
First, the 1st-year band played “Jingle Bells,” followed by “Mr. Dreydl,” featuring the flutes. The clarinet section then played “Ode to Joy,” and the brass section (4 trombones and 22 trumpets) played a duet, “London Bridge is Falling Down.” Finally, the percussion section laid down a rock beat.
1st-year brass
Before the 2nd-year band played, one of its members treated the audience to an amazing solo, playing Metallica’s hit song, “Seek and Destroy,” on his electric guitar. Afterwards, the 2nd-year band played “Apollo Fanfare” and their favorite, “Cameroon.”
2nd-year band
The whole concert was very impressive. The kids were well-rehearsed, well-behaved, and played very well. They’re learning their horns. Everyone is proud to be in these bands!
1st-year brass
Guitar soloist
2nd-year brass
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: 1st-year, 2nd-year, Apollo Fanfare, band, Bothell, brass, Cameroon, Canyon Park, Crystal Springs, elementary, Fernwood, Jingle Bells, London Bridge is Falling Down, Metallica, Mr. Dreydl, Ode to Joy, parents, Seek and Destroy, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Jr. High, trombones, trumpets | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on December 9, 2010
So you like the trumpet and you like Christmas, right? Then put ’em together and either (1) give a CD to someone for Christmas or (2) add a CD to your own Christmas-gift wish list so that someone can give it you. Not just a CD of beautiful Christmas music—make it a CD that features great trumpeters playing great Christmas music!
Through the internet, I’ve conducted an informal poll, asking other trumpeters from around the world to name their favorite Christmas CDs featuring the trumpet. Here are the results (not in priority or genre order):
- Canadian Brass, “A Very Merry Christmas CD” (2010)
- Canadian Brass, “Christmas Tradition” (2007)
- Canadian Brass, “A Christmas Experiment” (2007)
- Canadian Brass, “Noel” (1994)
- Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, “Christmas Album” (2005)
Herb Alpert's "Christmas Album" cover
- Tine Thing Helseth, “My Heart is Ever Present” (2009)
- Rick Braun, “Christmas Present” (1994)
- Chris Botti, “December” (2006)
- Doc Severinsen, “Christmas with Friends” (1991)
- Doc Severinsen, “Merry Christmas from Doc Severinsen” (2000)
- Phil Driscoll, “Heaven and Nature Swing” (2000)
- Boston Brass, “The Stan Kenton Christmas Carols” (2005)
- Wynton Marsalis, “Christmas Jazz Jam” (2009)
- Playboy’s “Latin Jazz Christmas: A Not So Silent Night,” featuring Arturo Sandoval (2001)
- Al Hirt, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” (2000)
- Harry Connick, Jr., “When My Heart Finds Christmas,” featuring Roger Ingram (1993)
- Philadelphia Brass, “Festival of Carols in Brass” (1991)
- Philadelphia Brass, “Christmas in the Grand Tradition” (2010)
- The Airmen of Note, “Cool Yule” (2009)
- The Airmen of Note, “A Holiday Note from Home” (2005)
- Tom Kubix Big Band, “A Jazz Musicians Christmas” (2002)
- James Morrison, “Christmas” (2000)
If you have a favorite not listed here, please click on “Leave a Comment” below this post, give me the artist and title, and I’ll add it to the above list.
If you want to learn more about these favorites and even listen to excerpts from some of them, simply copy the bulleted item, paste it into a search engine box, and hit “search.” You’ll find lots of results that link you to websites featuring that item in some way.
And I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, with God’s many blessings!
Posted in Selected Trumpet Music | Tagged: Airmen of Note, Arturo Sandoval, Boston Brass, brass, Canadian Brass, carols, CD, Chris Botti, Christmas, December, Doc Severisnen, festival, gift, Henry Connick, Herb Alpert, holiday, James Morrison, jazz, Jr., Noel, Phil Dirscoll, Philadelphia Brass, Rick Braun, Roger Ingram, Stan Kenton, Tijuana Brass, Tine Thing Helseth, Tom Kubix, trumpet, trumpeters, Wynton Marsalis, yule | Leave a Comment »
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… 🙂
Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, brass, breathing, diaphragm, elementary, horns, trombonist, trumpeters, tune | Leave a Comment »
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 