Posts Tagged ‘trumpeter’
Posted by glennled on March 22, 2016
As far as I know, I might have been the only trumpeter who attended the Spring Recital hosted by Lessons In Your Home (LIYH) on 20 May at the Woodland Park Presbyterian Church in Seattle. That’s because of the approximately 38 student musicians who played their instruments in front of about 150 audience members, four played the violin, four played the guitar, and 30 played the piano. Next year, those missing trumpet students had better show up! 😉
There were eight of us music teachers present—we’re all part of the LIYH staff, and I’m one of the trumpet tutors among the Seattle group. LIYH is led by Jay Maurice of Atlanta, GA, who founded it in 1997. Jay emceed the Sunday afternoon recital.
Today, he operates his business in nine cities, including Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Orlando, Miami/South Florida, and Atlanta. Lessons in Your Home has more than 250 teachers nationwide, teaching music to more than 1,000 students in their own homes. Jay personally interviewed and selected us teachers. See http://www.lessonsinyourhome.net.
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Jay Maurice, founder of Lessons in Your Home
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Posted in Recitals | Tagged: lessons, Lessons in Your Home, music, recital, teacher, trumpet, trumpeter, tutor | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on February 22, 2016
NSD 6th-grade Honors Orchestra and Choir, 2016
Three hundred and thirty-three students from the Northshore School District made the Honors Orchestra, Choir and Band this year and played a concert for their parents, relatives, teachers, and friends at Northshore Jr. High School in Bothell on 9 February. And among them, three (~1%) are my students in elementary band at Skyview Jr. High—one trumpeter, one baritonist, and one trombonist. I’m in my fifth year as a para-professional teacher of beginning brass for fifth and sixth graders who come to Skyview from Crystal Springs, Canyon Creek, and Fernwood elementary schools for classes each week.
Guest conductors were Eileen Treusch (orchestra), Darcy Morrissey (choir), and Frank Halferty (band). The program allotted four pieces to the orchestra, five to the choir, and three to the band. If this were a contest instead of a concert and if I were an adjudicator, I would give the “Best Performance Award” to Darcy Morrissey and her choir. The orchestra was 111 members strong, but the choir was even larger: 128! And the band was 96; that’s a big band, too. I wonder what percentage of the band students are taking private lessons—20%, 10%, 5%? That’s how you “Become your Best” (my motto). And that’s how you eventually make Washington State Band in high school.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Honors Orchestra (L)
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Honors Orchestra (R)
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Honors Choir
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Ted Christensen (R), NSD Music Coordinator
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Music Directors from five NSD junior high schools
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Honors Band
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Honors Band (L)
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Honors Band (R)
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Trumpeters
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Trumpeters
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Trumpeters
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Trumpeters and Baritonists
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Baritonist from Canyon Creek Elementary School
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Baritonist from Canyon Creek Elem School
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Trombonists
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Trombonist from Crystal Springs Elementary School
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Trombonist from Crystal Springs Elem School
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Trumpeter from Crystal Springs Elementary School
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Trumpeter (R) from Crystal Springs Elem School
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Tenor Saxophonist from Canyon Creek Elementary School
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Charlie Fix, Orchestra and Band Director, Skyview Jr. High School
Posted in School Concerts, Skyview Junior High, Student Competitions, Honors & Awards | Tagged: band, baritonist, brass, choir, honors, lessons, Northshore School District, orchestra, Skyview Jr. High, teacher, trombonist, trumpet, trumpeter | Leave a Comment »
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
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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.
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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 22, 2015
When school started this fall at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell, there was a new faculty member in the music department for the first time in 15 years. Welcome to Mr. Charlie Fix, Band and Orchestra Director. Mr. Fix has a Masters Degree in Music Education from Florida State University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Wisconsin. Like his predecessor at Skyview, Mr. Fix is a trumpeter!
Mr. Fix has previously taught at Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, Carlsbad Unified School District in California, and Mount Vernon Community Schools in Iowa. He has taught music at all levels, elementary, junior high, and high school, in addition to teaching as a graduate assistant at Florida State.
Here at SJHS, he has three para-professional assistants to help with the 1st and 2nd year elementary bands. One teaches flutes, one teaches clarinets and saxes, and the other teaches brass–that’s me!
Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, brass, Charlie Fix, orchestra, Skyview Jr. High School, trumpeter | 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 April 13, 2015
Chris Botti, trumpeter
Natalie Dungey. trumpeter
“We’re a musical family!” says the Mom of my 22nd trumpet student, a 7th grade student at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell. His first lesson with me was on 1 July. He plays his Mom’s trumpet, the one her parents bought for her when she was in 10th grade at age 16. (Her Dad played cornet.) She made All-State Band in Texas, and now her son (13), has an even loftier ambition–to become a professional musician and play “awesome” trumpet. His favorite trumpeter is Chris Botti (www.chrisbotti.com/us), and he’s a great admirer of Natalie Dungey (www.nataliedungey.com).
He likes classical music but also plays in the school jazz band, which he says helps him make different sounds and improves his ability to read music. Within the past year, he’s taken up drums (his Dad plays drums) and tinkers around on the piano. He’s started a composition for an ensemble of 2 trumpets, 2 violas, 1 tuba, 1 snare drum, 1 alto sax, and 1 flute. Meanwhile, he also wrestles and plays soccer. And his older sister sings and plays piano, guitar, and clarinet, while his younger sister “sings like a mocking bird,” says her Mom.
Why did he choose trumpet? Because it has such a “powerful sound that it hits you in the face, but at the same time it can make soft sounds that are pure beauty.” Right on!
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts, Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, Chris Botti, classical, drums, ensemble, jazz, lesson, musical, Natalie Dungey, piano, trumpet, trumpeter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on June 29, 2014
Two great leaders and positive thinkers who excel, Russell Wilson and Daniel Rowe
The “Year-End Band Concert” by the outstanding four bands from Hamilton International Middle School in Seattle on 12 June brought the audience to its feet for two standing ovations, as the director, Mr. Daniel Rowe, made the stunning announcement that he would be retiring after 35 years of teaching music in public schools. But four days later, after the weekend, he said he had re-thought his plans and announced that he would teach another two years—whew!–the band students and parents must have heaved a huge sigh of relief.
No doubt, three other people did, too: Cindy Waters, HIMS Principal; Angela Babbitt, Director, Beginning Band; and Zari Magness. President, FOMAHI (Friends of Music at Hamilton International), the booster club. They all participated in the concert, held at Lincoln High School Auditorium in the Wallingford neighborhood.
The 49-member Beginning Band played five pieces, including the crowd-pleasing “Slidin’ and Glidin’,” featuring the trombone section. The 93-member Cadet Band played four pieces, concluding with “Fiero.” And the 91-member Concert Band played three pieces, “Into the Storm,” “Shenandoah,” and “Highlights from ‘Frozen.'”
Trumpet trio, Juliana, Aadi, and Colin play “Bugler’s Holiday”
The Symphonic Band began its four-piece set with “Bugler’s Holiday,” by Leroy Anderson, featuring a trio of double-tonguing trumpeters. [Recall from my post of 21 June that a trumpet trio from the Wind Ensemble from Inglemoor High School had played the same piece just one week earlier. And I recall that I’d played it in a college band concert long ago.]
Mr. Rowe has each band vote for three annual awards: Most Inspirational, Most Improved, and Outstanding Musician of the Year. Two trumpeters won such awards: in the Cadet Band, Corinna Sanger was voted Most Inspriational, and in the Symphonic Band, Colin Ovens was voted Outstanding Musician.
After Mr. Rowe made his shocking announcement, he led the band in what he had planned to be his final concert piece–the “Overture to Candide” by Leonard Bernstein, arranged by Clare Grundman. Later, I asked him about the signicance of this music to him. He said that during his first year at HIMS, he’d had his Symphonic Band play it. That was five years ago, and the band had 41 members. He wanted to conclude his career by having his current 88-member band play it, too. Whoever succeeds him in 2016, will inherit a very strong band program.
Please click on any photo to enlarge it.
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Angela Babbitt, Director, HIMS Beginning Band
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Angela Babbitt
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Trumpeters (12), Beginning Band
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Angela Babbitt features her band’s trombonists
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Trombones are “Slidin’ and Glidin'”
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Zari Magness, FOMAHI President, thanks key supporters and volunteers
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Cindy Watters, HMIS Principal, thanks Zari Magness, FOMAHI President
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Daniel Rowe conducts the Cadet Band
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Trumpeters (18), Cadet Band
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The HIMS Concert Band
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Trumpeters (16), HIMS Concert Band
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HIMS Concert Band plays “Highlights from ‘Frozen,'” the Disney movie
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Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks, Super Bowl 48 Champions–one of several gifts to Daniel Rowe
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Symphonic Band (88 members) accompanies the trumpet trio in “Bugler’s Holiday”
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Trumpeters (8) in HIMS Symphonic Band
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Stunning retirement announcement–coming in two years
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Benjamin, my first trumpet student, switched to tuba–oh, no, how could he?!
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Trumpet soloist
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Standing ovation for Mr. Daniel Rowe and HIMS Symphonic Band after the “Overture to Candide”
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, beginning, Bugler's Holiday, cadet, concert, Daniel Rowe, Hamilton International Middle School, symphonic, trumpet, trumpeter | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on June 19, 2014
On 26 May, when we arrived at Veterans Park in downtown Lynnwood near the public library, the flag of the 
United States was at half mast. It remained there only until noon, when it was raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. The symbolism of this is for us, the living, to remember and honor those who came before and sacrificed their all, while we resolve to continue the fight for libery and justice for all…that they shall not have died in vain. That’s part of America, the beautiful.
Many attendees at this year’s ceremony said it was the best ever. For example, the Northwest Junior Pipe Band, under the direction of Kevin Auld, are getting so good that they are fund-raising in order to compete in the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in 2015. Please see http://www.nwjpb.org and http://www.theworlds.co.uk. At this ceremony, they played “Scotland, the Brave,” “The Rowan Tree,” “God Bless America,” and “Amazing Grace.”
Service flag, WWII-era, indicating three family members in military service, one of whom died during the war
A special wreath was laid this year by Myra Rintamaki, a Gold Star mother, in honor of the fallen. Her son, Cpl. Stephen Rintamaki, US Marine Corps, was killed in action in Iraq on 16 September 2004. The Gold Star Mothers Club is comprised of such mothers. Its origin comes from World War I, which the USA entered in 1917. George Vaughn Seibold, 23, an American, flew British planes with the 148th U.S. Aero Squadron of the British Royal Flying Corps. That prompted his mother, Grace Darling Seibold, to do community service, visiting returning servicemen in hospitals in the Washington, D.C. area. Suddenly, his letters stopped, and on 11 October 1918, George’s wife in Chicago received a box marked, “Effects of deceased Officer 1st Lt. George Vaughn Seibold.” He’d been killed in action in an air battle on 26 August. His body was never identified.
Gold Star Mothers stamp, a commemorative issue in 1948
Grace organized a group of grieving mothers whose sons had lost their lives in military service. During that war, families of service members displayed a banner, known as a service flag, in a window of their homes. The banner is defined as a white field surrounded by a red border. A blue star on the white field represents each family member serving in the Armed Forces of the USA during time of war or hostilities. A gold star represents a family member who died during service, regardless of the cause. On 4 June 1928, twenty-five mothers established the national organization, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. It continues to operate today, commonly known as the Gold Star Mothers Club. To learn more, please see http://www.goldstarmoms.com and http://www.goldstarmoms.com/Depts/WA_ID_OR_AK/WashChapt/WashChapt.htm.
Photos by Nancy MacDonald. To enlarge a photo, simply click on it.
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After warmups and tuning, Glenn (Taps) and Robert (Echo) await the ceremony
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Legion of Honor from the Nile Shrine Center
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Northwest Junior Pipe Band processes to the ceremony site at Veterans Park, Lynnwood
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Guest speaker, Brig. Gen. Raymond Coffey, USAR/WSG/USAVR, a member of VFW Post 1040
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Jim Smith, former Lynnwood City Councilman
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WW II veterans lay a wreath
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Myra Rintamaki, a Gold Star mother, lays a wreath
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Northwest Junior Pipe Band
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Robert, trumpeter, Inglemoor High School, Kenmore
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Glenn Ledbetter, VFW 1040 Post Bugler
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Ceremony site in Veterans Park, Lynnwood, just south of the public library
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Three relatives, each a veteran, Veterans Park, Lynnwood
Posted in Ceremonies & Celebrations | Tagged: Brig. Gen. Raymond Coffey, bugle, bugler, echo taps, Gold Star Mothers Club, Inglemoor High School, Jim Smith, Lynnwood, Memorial Day, Northwest Junior Pipe Band, trumpeter, Veterans Park, VFW Post 1040 | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on June 3, 2014
On 1 April, four bands from Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell gathered before a gym-full of parents, relatives, and friends to present their “Skyview Spring with Tunes and Swing” concert in the SJHS gymnasium.
Glenn Ledbetter prepares to conduct Skyview Jr. High School’s second-year band, 1 April 2014
On Fridays, I rehearse the second-year band, and Mr. Shawn McGinn, Director of Instrumental Music, graciously let me conduct one piece (“Front and Center”) that night. It was the first time I ever conducted a band in public–what fun! The feeling was kind of like playing with a wind-up toy–first you practice, practice, practice to acquire the skill, and then on concert night, you just let it go and it does its own thing, automatically, perfectly! I was so proud of the kids.
The first-year elementary band (mostly 5th graders) played “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Eye of the Tiger.” The second-year elementary band (mostly 6th graders) played “Front and Center,” “Clarinet Boogie,” and “I’m a Believer.” Then came the 7th-grade band from SJHS, playing “The Tempest,” “A Song for Friends,” and “Furioso.” And finally, the Skyview Jazz Band played “Dorian Journey,” “Moanin’,” “Work Song,” and “Mr. PC.”
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Shawn McGinn conducts SJHS Elementary 1st-year Band
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Shawn McGinn conducts SJHS Elementary 2nd-year Band
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Skyview Jazz Band, 4-1-2014
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Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: band, Bothell, jazz, music, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Jr. High School, solo, trio, trumpet, trumpeter | Leave a Comment »
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 