The Summerglen Files

Happy Monday, Summerglen friends!
We’ve been insanely busy over here at the ‘glen. I’ve been working hard on setting up another after-school elementary band and some creativity workshops for businesspeople, and Andrew has been out playing solo percussion shows! (Pics of his latest show will be up within the next couple of days!)

But the [...]

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Ugh. Today I’ve begun a huge transition in my trombone playing–from focusing on ensemble work to honing my skills as a solo player. For the past few years, I’ve centered my attention on strengthening my sightreading abilities, building my understanding of many different musical styles, and developing solid technique that I can incorporate [...]

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As I was packing up my scores after a Wiley Band rehearsal earlier this week, a parent asked me why I was taking my music home. “To study,” I said. The parent replied with surprise, “But why do YOU need to study? You’re a professional!”
Without even knowing it, this lady [...]

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Ever wonder what makes music education so unique and valuable? This recording of composer and music educator Jack Stamp hits the nail right on the head! Music isn’t just something to pass the time or fill the space; it’s an art form that can bring out the very best in those who pursue [...]

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Last night, Andrew and I took a random trip out to Greenville to visit my alma mater, the East Carolina University School of Music. The school has begun hosting an alumni recital each year, and we took advantage of our free Friday night and came to check it out.
The alumni performances were [...]

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This year, Andrew and I have been working with the Millbrook High School Marching Band on their Moulin Rouge show–Andrew’s the percussion instructor, and I’m in charge of the brass line. It’s been a fun and challenging experience, and now we get to see the results of all the students’ efforts over the last [...]

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This year, it seems we’ve had our hands in a variety of ventures all at once. It makes for an exciting life, doing something completely different every day! This week has been all about the Wiley Elementary School Band, and it’s been quite a great experience.
Wiley lost its band last year due [...]

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I’ll close this week with a shout-out to professional musiciankind. Especially in right-to-work states like North Carolina, where one doesn’t have to be a union member to play paid gigs, many people don’t understand the advantages of hiring full-time professional musicians over amateurs. The difference between dedicated pros and hobby musicians can be [...]

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When young trombonists think of practice, they may think of running through their band music or scales. The problem here is, the scales are usually run the same way every time, and the band music is often just played through, top to bottom. To become a great trombonist, it’s wise to mix things [...]

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During the last week, I’ve seen phenomenal results from brass students’ spending time buzzing on the mouthpiece–results so great, I must encourage you fine readers to take some time today to buzz!
When I was a younger trombonist, few of my teachers were strong advocates of buzzing. I got the impression that buzzing [...]

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