Posts Tagged ‘trumpet’
Posted by glennled on November 26, 2015
Sarah Dunsmore, Trumpeter, sounds “Taps,” Veterans Day, 2015
The program for the Veterans Day Ceremony announced that as Post Bugler for VFW Post 1040, I would play “Assembly” to open the 30-minute ceremony at Veterans Park in Lynnwood on 11 November. Then at the conclusion of the event, my trumpet student and I would perform “Echo Taps.” But at the last moment, I could not play.
So the young lady, a senior at Juanita High School in Kirkland who has taken trumpet lessons from me for the past six years, had to solo. And that she did. Today, as I post this article, is Thanksgiving Day. I am thankful to Sarah Dunsmore—she “saved my bacon.”
Meanwhile, others on the program performed as planned. That included the following:
- Northwest Jr. Pipe Band
- Legion of Honor, Nile Shrine Center
- Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1040 Honor Guard
- Martin Spani, VFW Post 1040 Past Commander
- Nicola Smith, Mayor, Lynnwood
- Manuel Ventosa, US Army WWII Veteran
- Jim Smith, Former Lynnwood City Councilmember
- John Beam, Pat McGrady, Bob Jeske, Ray Colby, Max Bettman, Veterans
- Myra Rintakmaki, Gold Star Mothers
- VFW Post 1040 Honor Guard
- Boy Scouts of America, Lynnwood Troup 49
- Cub Scouts of America, Pack 331
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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VFW Post 1040 Honor Guard
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Entrance Procession, Legion of Honor, Nile Shrine Center
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Veterans Day Ceremony, Veterans Park, Lynnwood, 11-11-2015
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Martin Spani, VFW Post 1040 Past Commander, US Marine Corps
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Myra Rintamaki, Gold Star Mothers, escorted by Frank Martinez, VFW Post 1040 Honor Guard Captain
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Northwest Jr. Pipe Band
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Glenn Ledbetter and Sarah Dunsmore, trumpeters
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Assembly, echo taps, lesson, Northwest Jr. Pipe Band, solo, Taps, trumpet, trumpeter, Veterans of Foreign Wars, VFW | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on November 21, 2015
Sarah Dunsmore, LWSD Honor Band Trumpeter
She started trumpet lessons with me in 2009—six years ago—and thus became my fifth private student. Now she’s a senior at Juanita High School in Kirkland and made the High School Honor Band in the Lake Washington School District (LWSD). Her plans are to study music education at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, starting in fall, 2016. I’m proud of her—Sarah Dunsmore.
On 3 November, she played in the LWSD Honor Concert at Redmond High School. There were 8 trumpeters–three from Juanita, two from Redmond, two from Lake Washington, and one from Eastlake high schools. The band’s guest conductor was Dr. Christopher Bianco, who is the Department Chair, Associate Professor, Director of Bands and Brass at Western Washington University (WWU) in Bellingham. The 59-member Honor Band played three pieces to conclude the concert:
- Festive Overture by Shostakovich, arr. Hunsberger
- Irish Tune from Country Derry by Percy Grainger,
- Joy Revisted by Frank Ticheli
The 58-member Honor Orchestra opened the concert with Dr. Ryan Dudenbostel conducting. He is Director of Orchestral Studies at WWU. Next came the Honor Choir, comprised of 37 members who were conducted by Dr. Geoffrey Boers, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Washington.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Dr. Chris Bianco, Western Washington University
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Dr. Chris Bianco, WWU, conducts LWSD Honor Band
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LWSD Honor Orchestra (R), Honor Band (Center), and Honor Choir (L), 2015-16
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LWSD Honor Orchestra, 2015-16
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LWSD Honor Orchestra (R) and Honor Band (L), 2015-16
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LWSD Honor Choir (L) and Honor Band (R), 2015-16
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LWSD Honor Choir, 2015-16
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Dr. Geoffrey Boers, UW, conducts LWSD Honor Choir
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, choir, concert, Dr. Chris Bianco, Dr. Geoggrey Boers, Dr. Ryan Dudenbostel, Frank Ticheli, honor, Hunsberger, Lake Washington School District, lesson, LWSD, orchestra, Percy Grainger, Shostakovich, trumpet, trumpeter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on September 27, 2015
My 20th trumpet student, a 6th-grader in 1st-year band, took private lessons from me for a few months starting on 8 November 2010. Apparently, she has a great voice, because she made the Northshore School District’s Honors Choir in 2011. And when she had to register for 7th grade classes at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell, she chose choir, not band.
Today, when I was compiling a list of all my trumpet students since 2009, I found I’d never written a blog post here about her…until now. She must have been “out of sight, out of mind.”
But now I remember. That next year, when I would occasionally see her in a school breezeway, I would tease her about leaving and try to re-recruit her. She would just smile broadly and walk on by. It reminded me of John Benson Sebastian’s song, “Did you ever have to make up your mind? You pick up on one and leave the other behind…” Here’s The Lovin’ Spoonful singing it (1966): http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=did+you+ever+have+to+make+up+your+mind&FORM=HDRSC3#view=detail&mid=670FAA7BDA3F05CECD73670FAA7BDA3F05CECD73.
She had come to a fork in the road, and “now she’s gone, gone, gone, o-o-o-o-oh.” Just kidding. Best wishes for the Good Life, Young Lady! See you in the movies.
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts, Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, choir, John Benson Sebastian, lessons, Skyview Jr. High School, song, The Lovin' Spoonful, trumpet, voice | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on September 21, 2015
My 25th private trumpet student wanted help this summer to prepare for entry into the 7th-grade band at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell this fall. You see, last year he was a sixth-grader in the 1st-year band, whereas most of his classmates had started one year earlier and were then in 2nd-year band. This fall he is one of them. But they have had two-year’s experience, whereas he has had only one. Along with some other band students, he’s skipping 2nd-year band. Summer lessons were his way to catch up, as much as possible, with his peers.
His first trumpet lesson with me was on 8 July. That’s when I learned he is of Vietnamese ancestry. His grandmother, who lives with his family in Bothell, got out of South Vietnam in 1975. Welcome to America! I was there as a Navy man in 1965-66. That’s how I qualify for the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), and that’s how I became the bugler for VFW Post 1040 in Lynnwood. I have a special tie with this student.
He’s a good player with a bright future. He says he likes the sound of the trumpet, and it’s lightweight and easy to carry. He learns quickly and has a nice, solid tone. Best of all, he has a great attitude and practices often! He’ll do fine in 7th-grade band—indeed, I predict that he’ll become one of the leaders in the trumpet section.
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: band, bugler, lesson, Skyview Jr. High School, tone, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on September 20, 2015
Posted in Recitals | Tagged: band, bugle, Carnegie Hall, Inglemoor High School, lessons, recital, The Chicken Dance, trumpet, Trumpet Concerto in E-Flat Major, trumpeter, wind ensemble | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on September 17, 2015
Glenn (Taps) and Robert (Echo)
It was the same this year but not the same. Same national holiday, same place, same participating organizations, same order of events, etc. But when it came to 
sounding “Echo Taps,” this was the first time that one of my trumpet students, Robert, was ending his senior year in high school and planning to attend college in the fall. Farewell to Inglemoor High School in Kenmore and hello to Washington State University in Pullman–a big leap for a young man!
This is the second time he sounded “Echo Taps” with me at this place–please see my post of 19 June 2014. For more about Memorial Day, please see my posts of 18 August 2015, 1 June 2013, 2 June 2012, and 3 June 2011 in the Archives (left).
All photos by Nancy MacDonald unless otherwise marked. Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Martin Spani, USMC (Ret.), Master of Ceremonies
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“Welcome,” by Nicola Smith, Mayor, City of Lynnwood
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“God Bless America,” Northwest Jr. Pipe Band, Kevin Auld, Director
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Jim Smith, former Lynnwood City Councilman, sang “Ballad of the Green Berets” and “America the Beautiful”
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Myra Rintamak, escorted by Frank Martinez, lays the Gold Star Mothers’ Wreath
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Glenn Ledbetter, “Echo Taps,” 5-25-’15. Photo by Janelle Squires.
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Glenn Ledbetter sounds “Echo Taps” on Getzen Field Trumpet (bugle)
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Glenn, Robert, and his parents
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Three relatives…
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Comrades gather around the flag
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Assembly, bugle, echo taps, Getzen Field Trumpet, Inglemoor High School, To the Color, trumpet, Washington State University | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 5, 2015
Fernwood Elementary School, Bothell
For his first lesson at his home in Bothell on 26 February 2015 , my 24th trumpet student played for me from the instruction book, Progressive Beginner Trumpet by Peter Gelling. He’s a sixth-grader at Fernwood Elementary and in 2nd year band at Skyview Jr. High School. I asked him what first attracted him to trumpet. “It’s loud,” he said, so it stands out among the other band instruments as a leader, “and I like that.”
What does he like about playing in the band? He likes being amongst his friends, and he likes playing music, although it does not come easy for him. He wants lessons to improve his tone and play higher notes. He’d like to continue in band at least all the way through high school. He knows the music is only going to get more complicated, so he wants to be able to handle it.
His Dad is confident that his son will master the trumpet because he has determination—once he sets out to do something, he sticks with it and gets it done. Mom was a versatile musician in high school. She played tuba, trombone, saxophone, and oboe, and became a drum major in her school band.
That’s what I like—motivated trumpet students who are determined to become their best!
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts, Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, Fernwood, lesson, music, musician, notes, Peter Gelling, Skyview, tone, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 27, 2015
HIMS 2014 Winter All Bands Concert concludes after Dan Rowe conducted “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson
One of the outstanding music programs in Seattle did it again—four Hamilton International Middle School bands gave a great “Winter All Bands Concert” at Lincoln High School Auditorium on 11 December 2014.
Each band performed four pieces. Among those by the 48-member Beginning Band, conducted by Angela Babbitt, was “March Miniature” by Dan Rowe. The other three bands were conducted by Mr. Rowe himself. The 72-member Cadet Band was next, and two of its pieces were by Mark Williams, “Drive” and “Bryce Canyon Overture.”
Beginning with the 66-member Concert Band, some soloists and an ensemble started to emerge from the two remaining bands. The ensemble was featured in “Drums A-Plenty,” arranged by Lew Pollack. And finally, when the 70-member Symphonic Band took the stage, the spotlight fell on an accomplished xylophone soloist, playing “Galop” by Dimitri Kabalevsky.
A gallery of photos of the four bands follows (below). Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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HIMS Beginning Band, Angela Babbitt, Director
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HIMS Cadet Band, Dan Rowe, Director
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Friends of Music at Hamilton International (FOMAHI)
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HIMS Concert Band, Dan Rowe, Director
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“Drums A-Plenty”
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HIMS Symphonic Band, Dan Rowe, Director
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Xylophone soloist performs “Galop” by Dimitri Kabalevsky
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Trumpeters love to “neigh” in “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson
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Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: Angela Babbitt, bands, concert, Dan Rowe, drums, ensemble, FOMAHI, Hamilton International Middle School, Leroy Anderson, Sleigh Ride, soloists, symphonic, trumpet, trumpeters, xylophone | Leave a Comment »
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 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 »
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 