When your birthday comes around what do you think about?
I generally have a day of reflection and thanks for my life. I try to spend it with my wife and other close family if they are around.
When I pick up my horn I say, here you are still playing a year later. What is different? What is the same?
The difference in ages 16 and 56 is huge, but what is the same? Physically big changes have happened. Emotionally and mentally as well. What are those changes? Are they beneficial to my life and to others? That is my big concern and contemplation.
As far as my trombone playing goes, there are things I cannot do like I could when I was 19 or 20 years old. Especially with volume power and overall endurance. Now it is different on that level. The 'power' expresses itself in another form. The reason for playing is the same but much more refined and 'highly' tuned.
Do you ever ask yourself, who or what you play for in your mind's eye? Is it your teachers, parents, mentor's or artists you look up to and respect? I realized who I have always played for. Regardless of the many cloaks it took over the years. I used to play for my grandma, mother, father or some teachers and performers I looked up too. I always played the best for my close relatives. They believed in me and loved me. Playing for my wife Carol is truly an experience of a profound kind. Her 'acoustic' resonates with whatever is coming out of me in a pure and truthful way. With great support for my life wanting it to be as good as it can be.
All these people represent the One behind all life. That is who I play for and have always played for whether I consciously knew it or not. I always wanted to express what was in me with a purpose. I never needed a big audience to feel satisfied. I never feel 'alone'. For I believe you are never alone.
For that living reality, for all the close people in my life from the beginning to now including , parents, grandparents, siblings, wife, son, uncles, aunts, life guides, teachers, band directors, friends, pets, and students too!, I have the deepest gratitude for you all for making my life richer, more honest and fulfilling.
Music is no different to life. The One sound in all sounds. The One life in the many!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
No Rest For the Determined
Holiday time is a wonderful time to visit with family and friends. It can also be great to have time away from our usual schedule to reconnect to ourselves and get refreshed. But, it can also be a time during these winter, spring or summer breaks to get a lot of good solid practice in.
This past summer, the topic for the Frequency Bone Summer Music Connection was about what is improvement and truly making the most out of our practice time when on summer vacation. If you plan it right, you can have a good three hour practice session and still be with family, friends and getting some good rest.
Some people seem to have a hard time with planning their own practice time without a schedule to work around like a summer music festival or school activities. But if you need motivation outside yourself, remember that lots of festival auditions take place not that much after school gets back in session in January. Plus there are school auditions and some competitions as well.
I used to love school vacations because I could practice all day if I wanted to and did many times! I would go outside when I lived on a farm in southern Minnesota and practice projection in three dimensions. That is how I developed my 3D sound exercises. Plus being with the trees and huge Minnesotan sky, I felt like a part of nature and the feeling of my sound and overall music making would take on different characteristics.
Practicing can be enjoyable and so constructive even when we are not planning for any particular event. Just for our own development and love of playing music through our instruments. Vacation time doesn't mean you need to go vacant in your mind and playing. Make the most out of your time by setting all kinds of short term, mid term and long term goals.
Why take lots of time off when you are young and still in school? If you really love and want something, keep at it with rest periods of course. I am not anti rest! Rest is vital but one must learn to tell the difference between rest and neglect born of laziness or lack of motivation. When you really are determined, you don't even think in terms of taking time off. You think, when can I get at it again?
One excellent thing to do this time of year is to reflect on what we did this past year. Ask yourself what you would like to improve on and acknowledge what progress you did make. Reflection and keeping a journal is a wonderful way to chart our development and see where we are at. You can also detect your patterns and cycles.
Happy New Year! May your practicing be bright, merry and connected!
This past summer, the topic for the Frequency Bone Summer Music Connection was about what is improvement and truly making the most out of our practice time when on summer vacation. If you plan it right, you can have a good three hour practice session and still be with family, friends and getting some good rest.
Some people seem to have a hard time with planning their own practice time without a schedule to work around like a summer music festival or school activities. But if you need motivation outside yourself, remember that lots of festival auditions take place not that much after school gets back in session in January. Plus there are school auditions and some competitions as well.
I used to love school vacations because I could practice all day if I wanted to and did many times! I would go outside when I lived on a farm in southern Minnesota and practice projection in three dimensions. That is how I developed my 3D sound exercises. Plus being with the trees and huge Minnesotan sky, I felt like a part of nature and the feeling of my sound and overall music making would take on different characteristics.
Practicing can be enjoyable and so constructive even when we are not planning for any particular event. Just for our own development and love of playing music through our instruments. Vacation time doesn't mean you need to go vacant in your mind and playing. Make the most out of your time by setting all kinds of short term, mid term and long term goals.
Why take lots of time off when you are young and still in school? If you really love and want something, keep at it with rest periods of course. I am not anti rest! Rest is vital but one must learn to tell the difference between rest and neglect born of laziness or lack of motivation. When you really are determined, you don't even think in terms of taking time off. You think, when can I get at it again?
One excellent thing to do this time of year is to reflect on what we did this past year. Ask yourself what you would like to improve on and acknowledge what progress you did make. Reflection and keeping a journal is a wonderful way to chart our development and see where we are at. You can also detect your patterns and cycles.
Happy New Year! May your practicing be bright, merry and connected!
Friday, December 10, 2010
A Trio of Seconds
Yesterday I attended a BSO retiree get together which happens about three times a year. It was my first time doing this since I left the orchestra in December of 2007, exactly three years ago. It was really nice to see everyone who was there. When I joined the BSO in 1975 I was the youngest member at 20 years old. Now at 55 years old, I'm the youngest retiree! Life is funny....
In this picture, there are three former BSO second trombonists. From left to right: William Moyer, Ronald Barron and myself. William 'BIll' Moyer had to play one of the most intense Mozart Requiems. It was for the internationally televised broadcast of the JKF funeral with the Boston Symphony playing. There is an old recording of it and Bill played wonderfully! I think the whole world, especially the US, was in such a state of mourning that it was an actual 'requiem' atmosphere. It was not a concert situation with the usual judgements or newspaper critics. Bill totally rose to the occasion. He was also the BSO personnel manager for many years after serving for 15 years as second trombone. Ron became 2nd trombone in 1970 and I replaced him as 2nd trombone in 1975 after he won the principal position.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Seventeen years ago today....
Seventeen years ago today, starting at 10pm, in the chorus room in Symphony Hall and lasting until 2am, fourteen trombonists gathered to go where few have gone before, and never in this way, entered the domain of the Frequency Band….taking a journey into color, ancient places, well being and noble human qualities. The music was living, breathing and pulsating through us and around us creating tangle atmospheres and deep feelings. The Frequency Band was born!
Since this time the Frequency Band has been on an incredible journey of discovery and development. Ever growing in the core of it's arising, 'A Unity Born of Humanity'. A path leading to the essence of the music where the human instrument is the most important instrument. A place where your mistakes cost you nothing. A real sanctuary for music as a living thing.
I wish to thank all who have been in the Frequency Band over the past seventeen years and for those who have been supporters of it's arising. I personally want to thank my dear wife and co-director of the Frequency Band, Carol Viera, for her unstoppable will, depth of thought and perception and humanity she brings to this endeavor. The Frequency Band would not be what it is without her powerful connections and insight.
I wish you all the greatest happiness, connection and well being! It has been such an honor to be a part of this undertaking. May it live on and on for generations to come.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREQUENCY BAND!
Please visit the Frequency Band on Facebook too!
Since this time the Frequency Band has been on an incredible journey of discovery and development. Ever growing in the core of it's arising, 'A Unity Born of Humanity'. A path leading to the essence of the music where the human instrument is the most important instrument. A place where your mistakes cost you nothing. A real sanctuary for music as a living thing.
I wish to thank all who have been in the Frequency Band over the past seventeen years and for those who have been supporters of it's arising. I personally want to thank my dear wife and co-director of the Frequency Band, Carol Viera, for her unstoppable will, depth of thought and perception and humanity she brings to this endeavor. The Frequency Band would not be what it is without her powerful connections and insight.
I wish you all the greatest happiness, connection and well being! It has been such an honor to be a part of this undertaking. May it live on and on for generations to come.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREQUENCY BAND!
Please visit the Frequency Band on Facebook too!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Beware of Over Extending
It has been a while since I've posted anything. It has been really busy with all the schools starting. I will still put up more pictures from my trip to Venezuela working with El Sistema hopefully in the next couple of weeks. Plus, I just finished a new piece for trombone and wind ensemble called "One Trek". I will premiere it on February 15th in Jordan Hall with Charles Peltz conducting the NEC Wind Ensemble. More details about the piece will be coming in another post.
Since school has started, I have seen people over extending themselves. This has led to wrecked chops and with that a bit of a depressed state. It can be hard to juggle all the various playing responsibilities we have with ensembles, lessons and our practice time. Knowing when to STOP is absolutely vital. Knowing when to have shorter practice times is vital. Knowing when and what to practice according to how we our feeling needs to come into it too, especially if fatigue and strain are becoming a daily feature.
Play, feel-think, play. This means play something, then 'listen' to what has happened. Be simple but thorough. Play it again, take the mouthpiece off, and remember what you just did. Ask yourself, was it closer or further away from your desired result?
If you have mashed up your embouchure, take care to go slow. Warm-up, carefully using your air support. When our chops get hurt we can often get very preoccupied with them and forget about our air support and mental concepts to help us in our playing. Always connect to your love and reasons why you are in music. Take the time to listen to music you love or want to get to know better. This will keep you mentally and emotionally more satisfied.
You might want to think about what your practice sessions each day. Perhaps you need to have an alternate day schedule with certain things. High range every other day. Extreme loud on another day with lots of breaks making sure there is not undue strain in any part of the body or embouchure. And plenty of soft playing.
This I know takes patience, especially when there is a lot of music to learn, or we really want to improve at a more rapid pace.
Remember the golden rule: Start with what you can do and GRADUALLY extend from there. Even if it is what you think is too slow or elementary. Your embouchure will be very thankful to you for doing this and will recover sooner then it would otherwise.
Since school has started, I have seen people over extending themselves. This has led to wrecked chops and with that a bit of a depressed state. It can be hard to juggle all the various playing responsibilities we have with ensembles, lessons and our practice time. Knowing when to STOP is absolutely vital. Knowing when to have shorter practice times is vital. Knowing when and what to practice according to how we our feeling needs to come into it too, especially if fatigue and strain are becoming a daily feature.
Play, feel-think, play. This means play something, then 'listen' to what has happened. Be simple but thorough. Play it again, take the mouthpiece off, and remember what you just did. Ask yourself, was it closer or further away from your desired result?
If you have mashed up your embouchure, take care to go slow. Warm-up, carefully using your air support. When our chops get hurt we can often get very preoccupied with them and forget about our air support and mental concepts to help us in our playing. Always connect to your love and reasons why you are in music. Take the time to listen to music you love or want to get to know better. This will keep you mentally and emotionally more satisfied.
You might want to think about what your practice sessions each day. Perhaps you need to have an alternate day schedule with certain things. High range every other day. Extreme loud on another day with lots of breaks making sure there is not undue strain in any part of the body or embouchure. And plenty of soft playing.
This I know takes patience, especially when there is a lot of music to learn, or we really want to improve at a more rapid pace.
Remember the golden rule: Start with what you can do and GRADUALLY extend from there. Even if it is what you think is too slow or elementary. Your embouchure will be very thankful to you for doing this and will recover sooner then it would otherwise.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Back from Venezuela!
What an honor, privilege and a joy to work with the over 50 trombone players that attended the seminar put on by the El Sistema program in Caracas Venezuela!
The week was so full. We started at 9 in the morning for 3 or 4 hours and again in the afternoon starting at about 3 for the same amount of time. Plus, we listened to 2 concerts a day!
There were 16 of us from NEC who were working with the students, woodwind, trombones, strings, percussion, big band. We were treated extremely well. The appreciation and the spirit of the students was almost overwhelming.
The trombones were one of the biggest numbers of like instruments at the seminar. Maybe the biggest! The ages ranged from 8 to 30years old I believe. The 8 year old named Kasin, was SO talented and SERIOUS! He never lost his focus. Really impressive for anyone let alone an 8 year old!
The trombone teachers who were present included Miguel Sanchez, the main teacher who is a fantastic trombonist, performer, teacher, person and founder of the Veneszuela Trombone Ensemble. His sister Melissa is also a terrific teacher, coach, performer and person. Their father, Angel Sanchez was also participating in my classes and was a big teacher for many years in Caracas. He was present in all the classes. Really inspiring.
Our times together were spent in group warm-ups, choir, solos, quartets, many discussions and workshops on all aspects of playing. Lots of laughter, serious times, the deeper questions about music and profound musical connection to the spirit of the music and above all an incredible humanity.
I will write more about the specifics soon. I will also be posting more pictures so you can get more of a flavor looking at the wonderful people participating. Our theme turned out to be, music + technique = Art. They were so grateful that the music was the most upfront feature and that technique was to be used as a facilitating skill for the communication of the music. They totally understood that attitude and feeling is key to connecting to the music. The joy and thankfulness I felt from the fact they got my (and Carol's) essential message, was monumental and would be difficult for me to put into words.
More soon!! Stay tuned!
The week was so full. We started at 9 in the morning for 3 or 4 hours and again in the afternoon starting at about 3 for the same amount of time. Plus, we listened to 2 concerts a day!
There were 16 of us from NEC who were working with the students, woodwind, trombones, strings, percussion, big band. We were treated extremely well. The appreciation and the spirit of the students was almost overwhelming.
The trombones were one of the biggest numbers of like instruments at the seminar. Maybe the biggest! The ages ranged from 8 to 30years old I believe. The 8 year old named Kasin, was SO talented and SERIOUS! He never lost his focus. Really impressive for anyone let alone an 8 year old!
The trombone teachers who were present included Miguel Sanchez, the main teacher who is a fantastic trombonist, performer, teacher, person and founder of the Veneszuela Trombone Ensemble. His sister Melissa is also a terrific teacher, coach, performer and person. Their father, Angel Sanchez was also participating in my classes and was a big teacher for many years in Caracas. He was present in all the classes. Really inspiring.
Our times together were spent in group warm-ups, choir, solos, quartets, many discussions and workshops on all aspects of playing. Lots of laughter, serious times, the deeper questions about music and profound musical connection to the spirit of the music and above all an incredible humanity.
I will write more about the specifics soon. I will also be posting more pictures so you can get more of a flavor looking at the wonderful people participating. Our theme turned out to be, music + technique = Art. They were so grateful that the music was the most upfront feature and that technique was to be used as a facilitating skill for the communication of the music. They totally understood that attitude and feeling is key to connecting to the music. The joy and thankfulness I felt from the fact they got my (and Carol's) essential message, was monumental and would be difficult for me to put into words.
More soon!! Stay tuned!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Venezuela - El Sistema!
Some first photos from my trip to Venezuela working with El Sistema! It is such a great experience being here! The last photo is of some of the trombonists trying to copy my faces! I'll write more about all the photos and my time here when I'm back next week. Till then I hope you enjoy the photos!
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