Congrats

I believe that was a very good concert this past evening, next years should be better. And congrats to everyone who worked hard to make all the others laugh for once. That's all I got to say about that.

This is early...

Couldn't fall back asleep so decided to blog about my lesson last week, which I should have done last week. Me and Josh covered the basics of my Rochut and Kopprasch and my solo sounded way better than it has over the past month so hopefully that will be ready when I perform it on the 21st. Getting better at being able to recognize Time Signatures, just got to actually study those a little bit more. That's all I got

Yeap...

So not much to chat about this week, same old same old. But hey the recital did well today enjoyed the work people put into each of their own pieces. Lesson tomorrow, hopefully will get a practice in before hand, tired as hell....

Have mercy....

Been having an urge to listen to some ZZ Top this week, as any good american should, and today I just couldn't help the feeling inside. When it comes to a good ole' american band that is good to listen to and relax it's ZZ Top, they are what everyone should listen to now and again. They aren't too old to rock and I know enjoy I could party every once in a while. So take it from them, you're never to old to rock or to have a good time.

Yeah....

I hate to be the one who pointed out the weather we are currently having, but hey we knew it couldn't last long. Anyways I hope some people are enjoying the half day off of school, it's good to have a day off, to sleep, and practice of course....
Any who I believe that we need to have a good awesome practice on Monday for Jazz Band and kicking practice on Tuesday for Symphonic Band. Peace.

Awesome sauce

So my lesson went quite well today, despite the fact that my mouth seemed really dry, and my tonging wasn't on the ball. But hey can't complain about a good lesson, it's the reason I enjoy them, I always get something out of them. Like when Josh once again had to teach me how to read a Time signature, and yes I can't read the complicated ones, but I'm getting better at it. Just repetition is all I need. Then later we had a good convo about different things about college, although I kinda dug into Toad's lesson time, sorry bout that. Anyways good weather so far, hopefully we don't get that freakin' snow.

Spring ahead, to lose some sleep...

So I just remembered this weekend is the annual, lose an hour of sleep on Sunday. For all those who haven't paid attention in the past and thought this was a myth, well now is time to set aside those delusional fantasies of getting that extra hour of sleep and be ready to lose one! Let's see I need some music oriented stuff in this one... how about... Ringo Starr!

Radio

The radio has no long the needs to be called, the Radio. It doesn't play music, except for like a sound byte of different songs, it just does the stupid commercials! What happened to listening to the radio for music? It seems like someone needs to remind those at the radio stations why the radio exists. Yeah we have the XM radio and all that but that is just another way of getting people to "buy" the radio. It's like the MTV without the actual music. I don't know it just seems that we need to get rid of the radio if all they do is play 2 or 3 songs in a row and then 30 commercials. It isn't radio.

Ah...

Only a couple more days of our break is left, and of course this one is ending bitter sweet. We are getting snow, and more of it, for some ungodly reason. Hopefully this doesn't put a damper on the ending to some spring breaks, but remember it's time to really hit the mouthpieces come monday! Hope everyone gets home safe!

Just be over!!

I think everybody can agree with me when I say: IT'S TIME FOR A BREAK!!! Now obviously I don't mean from practicing, cuz really who needs that? But anyways this week needs to be done! I am not in the mind set of playing well when I know that my break is so close! And I probably made Josh mad in my lesson because I wasn't focusing as well as I should have, plus I've not gotten much sleep, that probably constituted my bad playing too. But yeah it's time for a break, we all need one! Keep practicing, keep real.

Ah!

So during my lesson with Josh this past Thursday I'm starting to truly understand how to control my air. It's been sucking lately and I think it's because I'm not thinking about it enough. Eventually I know that I will get control of the way I let out air, "like a garden hose" is how Josh states it. Just gotta get my behind in the practice room a little more and just work on breathing. OH and I need a metronome, if anybody finds one cheap that would be fantastic.

Just throwing it out there...

When is it good to practice? I think any time is good, but really does it help if you are tired and don't really focus on the music? I ran through some stuff today and I need to do a little penny gaming on a few spots on stuff that I've now been on for almost 2 weeks now. I believe that trying to practice and getting through practice are two different ways of practice: trying means you want to practice, and getting means you want to just run over things and put the instrument down. I felt like today I did a little of both, it seemed like I could have done more but I did work over some troubled areas so I didn't feel like complete crap.

What was I talking about?

It seems to me that we all need a small break, and fortunately it is coming our way in a couple of weeks. Yes I mean spring break, and I'm sure as everybody knows, it won't look like spring which is kind of depressing but it's still a time for break. We've had the days off school, which were a pain, and now it seems that we as musicians are wanting to give up what we practice. Heck I can't say much because I'm just a freshman but still some of us know that it isn't good to practice when you are mad about something. If you go into the practice room with an attitude that isn't healthy you're gonna sound like crap, plain and simple. I've had a couple of practices and a lesson or two where I thought that and it didn't pay off. My simple advice is, if you don't feel that practice is going to do well then do something else because obviously your mind is not in the game. You and only you can fix that problem in your head, and this past week I've had my share of problems as I know everyone else has, and it can be hard to focus on anything. Overall everyone who is not only in studio but in the Music program knows that the only reason we do what we do is because we are good at what we do, we did not just pick up an instrument or begin singing yesterday and be comparable to Carol J. or Joe A. it's that simple. The next time you feel like crap and are about to go practice and have the mind that you won't do well just do this one thing. Don't practice go do something fun for a while, video games, a movie, read a book, ride a bike, listen to other music, etc... get your mind off of what is bugging you and later that day go into the practice room refreshed and ready to play.

Thinking about Practice is Practice?

I just got to my grandparents house and am doing some much needed laundry and I wonder, does thinking about practice a form of practice? I know all I've had this week is like an hour and a halfish practice, and that isn't good. But hey I sure as hell won't make it sound bad tomorrow at lessons with Josh. Plus my solo sounded AMAZING while I was in the practice room so hopefully it sounds the same on friday!

Comedic music: A true music?

I've been thinking and listening to some off the wall charts by some famous musicians and I thought: Is this type of music considered a true form of music? I think of all the bands I like that do nothing but make music for comedy purposes. Tenacious D, Stephen Lynch, Weird Al Yankovich, Frank Zappa are a few people to name that have succeeded at becoming infamous when it comes to making music that is otherwise "subjective" to listeners. So my question is to you, do you think that this type of music should be called music, and why?

Interesting enough

So today I was doing an article review for my World Civilization II class, when I really felt like listening to some music. So I did my normal thing and went to youtube and just started listening to bands I was in favor of hearing. As I listened to them I figured it was a pain in the neck just to have to click every 3-4 minutes just to hear a new song. Then I remembered a friend of mine talking and using an online radio "station" called Pandora Radio. This radio is awesome! You put in a band or song and they give you the types of songs that are equal and just as amazing in that sense. You only get an allotted amount of skips so use them wisely! Overall this website is just amazing a good way to listen to new, or old, music that you have never heard or just like to hear.

Time to think

So this past week was quite interesting enough as it can be, I have been getting over a stupid cold I've had since Tuesday and haven't had a chance to really blow on the horn too much. But Thursday I decided no matter how crappy I sound that I would get through my lesson that I would take what I got no matter what. So I played and to my surprise I did well on the Rochut, regardless my solo still needs some definite polishing for next week. And this weekend is going to be quite odd for me so I'll try to get two more posts in this week.

Time for the new

So this semester ain't going to bad so far, and I stress the word so, and I've started to really learn a lot from the lessons I've had and seem to know that I am hopefully going to get better as this semester works on through. Obviously there are some stuff I really have to get to work on, especially time management with my other degree studies. I try what I can with the time I got, and hopefully will be able to see some major improvement this remaining few months.

Beatboxing with the flute

You may be thinking, oh boy this can't be good. Well hopefully this video will and can prove you wrong. This guy is amazing, look at his other links too after watching this one. Oh, and thanks Josh for the help on Vocalise!

Rochut

This website leads to a very in depth explanation of the works known as Rochut. It was a very ready read for me, so you guys shouldn't have any problem reading it. This probably also gives you more respect for those Rochut pieces.http://www.trombone.org/articles/library/viewarticles.asp?ArtID=197

To say the least... AMAZING!!!

Watch this conductor, he is the guy I wish I could be when I get older. He leads the band in an outstanding way.

Oh yeah...

Just to be that guy that follows everybody else in this new wave of showing off certain bands. Here is a video of the band Dream Theater's James Labrie (Singer) and Mike Portnoy (Drummer) doing a very subjective and yet hilarious rap. Caution contains some strong language, watch at own risk.

Flying Bananas Can't Talk

You may be wondering what flying bananas have to do with music. Obviously nothing but it was an interesting title to begin with and now that you are this far in you have to continue towards the end. "We all need 12 hugs a day" Dr. Lichty, professor in Education building. What does this statement mean for musicians? Well in case you haven't thought, music in it's most mental form is a hug, it is what someone might need to get through the day. Now Dr. Lichty doesn't exactly say physical hugs, although he prefers them, it is almost the best type of pick me up to listen to music before playing music, specifically something that isn't heavy metal or goth/emo type of music. Some interesting songs to ponder and listen to before a practice or the next time you play: Drifting by Andy Mckee, Dear Prudence by The Beatles, Mad World by Gary Jules, any type of comedic song preferably by "Weird" Al Yankovic, anything by Beethoven, Vaughan Williams, Tchaikovsky, and most importantly remember to listen to yourself!

Lessons Blog 1

This is a test blog to see if my account works.