Year End Message 2013

Hello All! It has been awhile since I have posted anything. Perhaps many of you are traveling and preparing for holidays and time with family and friends. Surely a small break from the crunch of a tight schedule and due dates of various kinds is needed. 

For me, it as been a very busy Fall on all levels. I am grateful for my many friends and family members who are always so supportive of me in my life aims and pursuits. I would especially like to say that my wife Carol is not only supportive, but is with me in what we do together. And that is not to be other than who we are with the desire to never stop evolving. To always keep the Light lit and to help others as best as we can, to keep their own light lit and to be themselves. To be their true Self. She, is a brilliant Light.

I am thankful for my dear son Ben and his support. A wonderful person and musician who will surely make a difference in the world. My brother Neal and my sister Marcey, always there, there love always felt. They, I know, are making the world a better place too, without a doubt.

This video was made on December 22, 2013, in the afternoon. Perhaps it will have some usefulness to some of you. it is called Year End Message 2013.

Your Art is as close to you as you are close to your Self. The closer you are to your Self, the more you will be you and express what your true instrument needs to express. We are all instruments for something. It is wonderful to hear when someone is being 'played' by peace, inspiration, love, the urge to try, the quest for honor, joy, devotion and other such refined qualities. This is a choice. Our choices choose what will 'play' us. And that is part of the deal here. We have the choice. Let's all try to choose wisely.

I wish you all a very joyous, restful, peaceful, loving Holiday. Go where few have gone before, into the ocean of continuance and progression of the Spirit of Life. As a great,  great mentor of mine said to me, "Be the very thing that   lights up your life." 

FBSMC5, Playing Through the Years, Session 5, Part 2

Here is part 2 of Session 5 about the college years. It is an involved topic on many levels. In this video, I discuss certain aspects of what I think is important in college. For example, the choice of studio instructor, what would be useful material, in general terms, to work on. Also,  how important it is, in my view, to eventually start doing some kind of music work outside of school such as freelancing, teaching, ushering and other networking. Speaking of college, it was exactly 40 years ago today, September 3, 1973, that I started going to New England Conservatory. It's living proof of how time truly does fly! Make hay while the sun shines, and keep making hay whatever the sun is doing! So without further delay, here is College, part 2.

FBSMC5, Playing Through the Years, Session 5, College, Part 1

This video is about our college years. Freshman year is a time of new beginnings in many ways for people. Away from home, being a freshman again, new people, often times a new city, dorm life and new teachers. On top of this, it can be a time of starting over again on our instrument. It is a relook and deepening of the foundations of our playing, but this time from a more experienced place in ourselves. So here is a part 1 of college years.

FBSMC5, Playing Through the Years, Session 4, Middle School and High School

So let us continue looking at "Playing Through the Years" with focusing on Middle School and High School. In this 3 part series, we will see how things can start to change very rapidly during this time. With so many big physical changes alone there is much to discuss. The biggest factor is coming to the decision that one wants to pursue a career in music playing their instrument. I will talk about what I think is needed in practice time and what the requirements are for someone thinking about taking college auditions. There is so much to discuss in this area that I encourage people to email me or make comments that I can then respond to.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

FBSMC5, "Playing Through the Years," Session 3, "The First Couple of Years"

The first couple of years can be a very important time as we collect our first impressions of learning music and our instrument. In this 3 part series, I have focused on some basic feelings and thoughts I have about the teacher's role in helping the student develop healthy attitudes about practicing and technique without a lot of pressure or an unhealthy stress. I cite many examples from my own life as well and encourage others to reflect and find the value and (hopefully) inspiration from those early years. Not everybody's first couple of years might have been joyful. Some students who were really pushed into music could have had a terrible first couple of years no matter how talented they were. Hopefully, if they are still at it, there is a relationship that was forged from their finding their own love and connection with the Art.

In Part 1, I talk about my own experiences and address various ways a person may have come to play trombone, either self-motivated or inspired by any number of reasons.  I also speak about how regular practice sessions can be introduced in an inspiring way, with the spirit of the music being integrated during this early playing time.

In Part 2, I get specific about when to introduce more discipline and certain exercises to the young student. I also stress the importance of the teacher's attitude when working with the student and how to introduce healthy habits without stress. A first look at the Overlay System is introduced at this time, as well.

In Part 3, I get even more specific about the needs of of the student at this stage of playing. I also encourage young players to listen to music of all kinds or, at least, kinds they like. The importance of "analogy" is stressed a great deal in this video and I give numerous examples of how to do it. 

Part 1

Part 2




Part 3

FBSMC5, Session 2, "Making a Start"

Session 2 of FBSMC5, "Making a Start," gets into the those very first moments of playing! I tell my own story about my first few notes and lessons to inspire all of you to time travel back and remember that moment or time of your playing life. Everyone has their own story to tell and the human story is such a powerful and personal way to connect to ones life or the life of others. Ask yourself, "how much is that initial spark still in me?" Perhaps it has grown into a marvelous bright star that radiates in many directions or a lamp that warms the soul. Both?  Maybe it needs to be rekindled. Here is Session 2: "Making a Start"

FBSMC5! In The Beginning....

Year five of the Frequency Bone Summer Music Connection is here and so is video 1. In this first session called, "In the Beginning..." I will be giving an overview of what this summer will be about which is titled, "Playing Through the Years." I touch on some issues that come upon us at various times of our playing life and career and what will be the constant most important thing to be connected to. In the other videos, I will be more specific to each age grouping. So without further delay, here is session 1, "In The Beginning..."