Session 4 of FBSMC4 is coming: ENDURANCE

In the next day or two, Session 4 of Frequency Bone Summer Music Connection 4, A Musical Approach to the Basics will be posted. It will be about endurance.

One might ask, "What would be a musical approach to endurance?" That is a good question because the usual association with endurance is very physical  or athletic. But I have seen 'musical' athletes and I'm not talking about whistling or singing in the shower. The way they play the game has a fluidity to it, a great sense of rhythm and poise. So yes, there can be a musical approach to endurance.

Endurance is one of the basics after someone has been playing awhile. It does take strength to get get through the etudes and a band concert. No matter what level we are talking about, stamina is something that needs to eventually be developed especially if the player has career aspirations or wants playing to be a regular part of his or her life.

Endurance might not be totally what you think either. For the physical aspect is only part of it! Here is a contemplation for you: endures = sure end.

P.S. I hope you also are enjoying and gleaning the wisdom of Dr. Carol Viera from the FBSMC4 Extra! INTERVIEW. Watch for some more extras in the near future!

FBSMC4 EXTRA: CONTINUATION OF INTERVIEW

These next 2 videos are the continuation of my interview with Dr. Carol Viera. I really was thrilled to do these videos with her which were totally unrehearsed and in the living moment!


continuation 1

continuation 2

Frequency Bone Summer Music Connection 4, EXTRA! Interview

 I've wanted to do an interview with my wife and partner, Dr. Carol Viera, for a long time. So today we sat down and did some spontaneous videos! This is an interview in which we begin to talk about basics of auditioning which might not be what you think. Here is the first video. Maybe more to come. We'll see!

interview continued in the next post....

Session 3 of FBSMC4: Warming-up

Here is Session 3 of FBSMC4, tilted "Warming-up."

Part 1 

Part 2

Part 3

FBSMC4, A Musical Approach to the Basics, Intro into Session 3: Warming-up

Warming- up is basic to brass playing. Not only to brass playing, but to anyone who uses their body as a vehicle for achievement. Athletes, martial arts people, dancers, musicians and actors and actresses to name a few. And don't forget those of us who exercise to keep our bodies healthy so it can continue to function well for as long as it can.

Sometime in the next 12 to 18 hours, 3 new videos will be posted on warming up. This is what our Session 3 will be about. Remember this is a musical and organic approach that hopefully will inspire warming-up as something meaningful and practically useful. Warming-up is allowing ourselves the space to tune ourselves to ourselves and put all of our various parts in harmony with one another. It is a whole thing. Body, mind and our Self or Essence. It does not have to be some boring task or 'necessary evil' so we can really just do what we want to do. It is a part of the whole connective integrated process.

In Session 3, Part 3, (video 3), endurance naturally starts being brought up. I hope this will prove to be good introduction into Session 4, which will be about endurance, a musical approach to it. Yes! Endurance is a part of the musical process because it has to do with the ability to stay within the connection no matter what. But that is for next week...

'See' you soon on a, musical approach to warming-up!

Session 2 of Frequency Bone Summer Music Connection 4: "Articulation Not Attacks!"

Here we are in "A Musical Approach to the Basics" Session 2, titled: "Articulation Not Attacks!" The description of these videos was posted earlier today, so please refer to those in the last blog post. Hope you find these useful!


Session 2: 
Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

FBSMC4, Some Insights into Session 2, "Articulations Not Attacks!"

Either later today or tomorrow, FBSMC4, Session 2 titled "Articulation Not Attacks!" will be coming to the blog. It is in 3 parts and of course consists of 3 videos.

 In Part 1, I was working with my new microphone trying to get a better setting so the sound of the trombone would not be distorted. So many things just started to flow out of me that I just kept this video which was really meant to be a test for microphone placement! When it is happening, let it happen! So from this 'test', lots of stuff flew out of me including the subject of articulation. So I took that cue and kept running with it.

Part 2 could have the subtitle, "Find the Breathing Room within the Standard." What I mean by this, is to keep our minds and bodies from getting stiff while we get more specific about what we are looking for. There is aways room in what appears to very little room for 'error.' Even in the touchy realm of intonation! :-) Legato is brought up in this video and one of the important things is the attention to the musical approach. Musical here meaning, an idea that has gesture, contour and clear feeling or imagery. 


Part 3 could have the subtitle, "Basics are All Around Us" or, "Change is Basic to Living." Again, this video is very spontaneous and live at the point! There is a lot of fun and important information for teachers and students in this presentation.

*As you can see from these videos already, I am being myself. I am giving myself lots of room while keeping on task. This is what works for me. If you watch all the videos, I'm sure that a lot of your questions that arise from my seemingly jumping around in the subject matter and weaving many things in, will be answered. If you have questions, please send them in the comment section and I will address them.