If you would like to hear more from Steph check her out on youtube Hunterblows1122.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Interview: Steph Hollander
Today, I had the pleasure of talking with Steph Hollander about her hobby, sing and song writing. I have posted one of songs before and today we talked about the creative process in her creation: Finding.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
10,000 Page Views
Well 10,070. I missed the milestone because of my time away from the blog over the winter holiday.
This coming semester is bound to be busy and incredibly fun. I am co-heading the stage crew for the Band Clinic here at UMKC in just a few days. The concerto competition is near the end of January; I will be playing the Ewazen Bass Trombone Concerto....memorized this time. Check for a recital date in February. March 7th, I will be returning to Cincinnati for an audition for the New World Symphony. There are many more events that will be happening so please check back soon.
I would like to thank everyone who has made my blog fun and exciting, Carman Lewis designed the amazing new logo, several people have helped with spelling and grammatical errors, and everyone that gave me an interview this summer. Discovering a Classical Musician has hit the editing stage and I will hopefully have a near finished project early this semester.
Again thanks for all the support.
This coming semester is bound to be busy and incredibly fun. I am co-heading the stage crew for the Band Clinic here at UMKC in just a few days. The concerto competition is near the end of January; I will be playing the Ewazen Bass Trombone Concerto....memorized this time. Check for a recital date in February. March 7th, I will be returning to Cincinnati for an audition for the New World Symphony. There are many more events that will be happening so please check back soon.
I would like to thank everyone who has made my blog fun and exciting, Carman Lewis designed the amazing new logo, several people have helped with spelling and grammatical errors, and everyone that gave me an interview this summer. Discovering a Classical Musician has hit the editing stage and I will hopefully have a near finished project early this semester.
Again thanks for all the support.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Year in review
Today marks the end of 2011.
The end of the year is a special time to think about the past and the future. Thinking about our goals and making sure our past is leading us to them. For me 2011 was a very interesting year, my life seems to be on economic rewind. I started the year employed and I have finished yet again, as a student. If you don't mind a story, I will share my 2011 with you.
During the first week of 2011, I found myself frustrated with freelancing in Denver, and looking for a cheaper apartment. I moved into a little garden level apartment with Antonio Ortiz and began searching for students. Then on January 10, 2011 my life changed quite a bit. Too Many Trombones played for Metrobonanzia at Denver Metro University and I was finally able to meet Greg Harper of the Colorado Symphony. That day I was asked to join two trombone quartets and possibly give a masterclass at Metro, my freelancing "career" was looking up. On the way home I got a phone call from a good friend and band director Kevin Keena.
For the next four months I struggled to keep my playing ability up while teaching band at Powell Middle School in Littleton, CO. While teaching I won a position on the Colorado Symphony sub list and took another audition for the New World Symphony in Miami. I would not trade my teaching experience for the world. I grew as a person and as a musician in those short months. I cannot overestimate how much teaching helps individual ability. Again, I say thanks to my students and colleagues from Littleton Public Schools.
In the spring, I also had the unique opportunity to work with the Tromboniacs. The group is a semi-professional trombone quartet in the Denver Metro Region. The other three guys helped me branch out as a musician and gave me awesome teaching advice. Many thanks to Doug Harris, Ron Argostinger, and Kevin Buchanan.
The summer I spent in Aspen, CO playing beside some amazing people. This summer, Aspen energized me beyond believe. The motivation you get from seeing your friends play well and get jobs is incredible. Also, I had the unique opportunity to interview several of the low brass instructors about their careers. (Discovering a Classical Musician is still in the editing phase, but look for it shortly.) My host family was also unbelievable. I enjoyed living and working in aspen.
At the end of August, I started my doctorate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. I managed to play in the new Kauffman Center, recruit a few students, and gig some. I also took an audition in Norway and attend a trombone festival in Holland. All of these activities have lead to better, more efficient, practice.
I am looking forward to 2012, hopefully the new year will bring new and exciting music making activities.
The end of the year is a special time to think about the past and the future. Thinking about our goals and making sure our past is leading us to them. For me 2011 was a very interesting year, my life seems to be on economic rewind. I started the year employed and I have finished yet again, as a student. If you don't mind a story, I will share my 2011 with you.
During the first week of 2011, I found myself frustrated with freelancing in Denver, and looking for a cheaper apartment. I moved into a little garden level apartment with Antonio Ortiz and began searching for students. Then on January 10, 2011 my life changed quite a bit. Too Many Trombones played for Metrobonanzia at Denver Metro University and I was finally able to meet Greg Harper of the Colorado Symphony. That day I was asked to join two trombone quartets and possibly give a masterclass at Metro, my freelancing "career" was looking up. On the way home I got a phone call from a good friend and band director Kevin Keena.
For the next four months I struggled to keep my playing ability up while teaching band at Powell Middle School in Littleton, CO. While teaching I won a position on the Colorado Symphony sub list and took another audition for the New World Symphony in Miami. I would not trade my teaching experience for the world. I grew as a person and as a musician in those short months. I cannot overestimate how much teaching helps individual ability. Again, I say thanks to my students and colleagues from Littleton Public Schools.
In the spring, I also had the unique opportunity to work with the Tromboniacs. The group is a semi-professional trombone quartet in the Denver Metro Region. The other three guys helped me branch out as a musician and gave me awesome teaching advice. Many thanks to Doug Harris, Ron Argostinger, and Kevin Buchanan.
The summer I spent in Aspen, CO playing beside some amazing people. This summer, Aspen energized me beyond believe. The motivation you get from seeing your friends play well and get jobs is incredible. Also, I had the unique opportunity to interview several of the low brass instructors about their careers. (Discovering a Classical Musician is still in the editing phase, but look for it shortly.) My host family was also unbelievable. I enjoyed living and working in aspen.
At the end of August, I started my doctorate at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. I managed to play in the new Kauffman Center, recruit a few students, and gig some. I also took an audition in Norway and attend a trombone festival in Holland. All of these activities have lead to better, more efficient, practice.
I am looking forward to 2012, hopefully the new year will bring new and exciting music making activities.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Musical Creativity IV
Check out Steph Hollander!
I attended with CCM with Steph. She is an excellent horn player and one creative girl!
I attended with CCM with Steph. She is an excellent horn player and one creative girl!
Monday, December 19, 2011
More Braveheart
Support: Think about the amount of air support it took Mel Gibson to scream "FREEDOM" in the famous torture scene. This is even more impressive when you realize his inside are leaking out just off screen. Although the beginning is nice, his airstream kinda dies near the end.
Direction: The opening of the movie is a little slow. However, there is never any doubt that the images of the Scottish highlands and character development will give way to something...epic. Even soft openings have to go somewhere.
Support and Direction: The very last thing to happen in the movie.....The iconic sword toss. Think about the amount of support it would take to toss a broad sword even five feet, let alone halfway across a battlefield. And that arc, perfect. Every phrase should have that direction and support.
Direction: The opening of the movie is a little slow. However, there is never any doubt that the images of the Scottish highlands and character development will give way to something...epic. Even soft openings have to go somewhere.
Support and Direction: The very last thing to happen in the movie.....The iconic sword toss. Think about the amount of support it would take to toss a broad sword even five feet, let alone halfway across a battlefield. And that arc, perfect. Every phrase should have that direction and support.
Braveheart and Teaching
What?!?!
Today, I used Braveheart while teaching a lesson. I had a couple of reasons, and I teach out of my apartment so I had a copy of the movie handy. And, yes, we did watch some of it.
Telling a story: Many teachers and performers encourage young musicians to tell a story while they play. Strong emotions can help inform style and direction. However, simply coming up with a story might not be enough. Actors rely on pervious experience to draw a strong correlation between real life and make believe. My students aren't old enough to have a good handle on life, so why not use movies. Braveheart is a perfect example of a tumultuous love story with emotions so over the top everyone can understand.
Solo Piano: Creating a proper mindset for a student to play piano in solo piece is also tricky. In their experience they see p and think as quiet as I can play. Many of them have never seen a concerto performed because they have never been to see the orchestra. And many more have never seen a brass concerto with the orchestra. I usually try painting a picture, you are standing infront of the orchestra (80-100 musicians) and you are standing infront of 1,000-2,000 people in a huge hall. Now everyone has to hear you over the orchestra. In this case p means with a soft quality, not necessarily quietly.
Today, I used Braveheart while teaching a lesson. I had a couple of reasons, and I teach out of my apartment so I had a copy of the movie handy. And, yes, we did watch some of it.
Telling a story: Many teachers and performers encourage young musicians to tell a story while they play. Strong emotions can help inform style and direction. However, simply coming up with a story might not be enough. Actors rely on pervious experience to draw a strong correlation between real life and make believe. My students aren't old enough to have a good handle on life, so why not use movies. Braveheart is a perfect example of a tumultuous love story with emotions so over the top everyone can understand.
Solo Piano: Creating a proper mindset for a student to play piano in solo piece is also tricky. In their experience they see p and think as quiet as I can play. Many of them have never seen a concerto performed because they have never been to see the orchestra. And many more have never seen a brass concerto with the orchestra. I usually try painting a picture, you are standing infront of the orchestra (80-100 musicians) and you are standing infront of 1,000-2,000 people in a huge hall. Now everyone has to hear you over the orchestra. In this case p means with a soft quality, not necessarily quietly.
In both the opening and closing monologues of this movie, Robert the Bruce and William Wallace are speaking clearly, articulately, softly, and yet loud enough to be heard. Actually in the every last scene, Robert the Bruce pleads with an entire army in a soft manor. They still had to hear him.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Little Sound-Huge Air
When you play soft you use less air?
When playing soft your air must be every bit as compact and the same speed of air as if you were playing forte. A huge mistake when playing soft is to back off your air, causing bad articulation and sluggish response. There are bunches of ways to visualize this.
When playing soft your air must be every bit as compact and the same speed of air as if you were playing forte. A huge mistake when playing soft is to back off your air, causing bad articulation and sluggish response. There are bunches of ways to visualize this.
Mighty Mouse
Here is a great image. Little dude, big punch.
Li'l Sneezer (Tiny Toons)
For those of you who grew up in the '90s, I think this is a better image. Li'l Sneezer, off of Tiny Toons, sniffles constantly. His character comes off pretty weak. But, with the help from some pepper, his sneeze can level a city block.
The Brain
Alright Smarty Pants, stop thinking and go try this.
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