I’m getting ready to travel to China with a community orchestra, and, barring my current stuffy nose and the 13-hour plane ride, I’m looking forward to it. As with each time I travel, I think of the news stories of both professionals and amateurs who arrived at their destinations, only to end up with broken […]
One, Two, Three, What?
Even with years of performance experience, an innate sense of various musical styles, and a professional demeanor, one of the unfortunate situations encountered by community musicians is an unorganized and/or unprepared director. I would guess this is not an issue that professional musicians must deal with. Conducting Style It’s all about communication. Numerous times I’ve conducted […]
Thoughts on the Effects of Stage Fright
I was talking to a band director friend last night and we got on the subject of stage fright. I said that I thought most folks would use their performance nerves/fear as a way to focus on the music while on stage, therefore putting forth a more accurate, musical result. He suggested that many players […]
The People You Meet – Thanksgiving 2017 Version
You never know who you’re going to meet at a party, or what their hidden talents might be. It’s always interesting to hear some people’s stories after they learn I’m a musician. Most will tell me they used to play an instrument in high school or college. Others will say they have no musical abilities, […]
Performing ‘Taps’ for Veterans Day Amid Distraction
Veterans Day (https://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/) was last week, but I continue to think about what it means to play trumpet for a crowd of veterans and vet-supporting families. Military personnel are all over Washington, D.C., and those who have served or are currently serving our country have no more presence to American civilians than here in the […]
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