Scale Pong!

     This is a game I invented to play with my horn students each semester before scales tests and juries. Here are the basic "official" rules, which seem to change slightly each time we play:

The Most Interesting Things

     On a recent Friday, I noticed that attendance was down in my Music Appreciation class, so I decided to give the ones who were there an easy way to earn a few extra points. I asked them to write down the answer to this question:

"What is the most interesting thing you've learned in this class so far this semester?"

     Some of the answers were too good not to share. Here they are, unedited, of course...

Follow-up: A Small Huge Equipment Change

     As promised in my last post, "A Small Huge Equipment Change," I'd like to offer a quick update on how the change to a wider internal diameter mouthpiece rim is going.

A Small Huge Equipment Change

*Disclaimer: While I like to think many of my posts appeal to a wider audience, non-horn players will have to excuse me while I geek out on this one!

     About 3 weeks ago, I changed my mouthpiece rim.  I'm not one of those players who changes mouthpieces and horns all the time.  In fact, other than a change in my mouthpiece cup a few years ago, this is the only equipment change I've undertaken in the last 9 years.  I usually subscribe to the old adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."  Or, as this cartoon illustrates...

But, this is a change I've been considering for a while, and so I finally took the plunge.

I Love the Olympics

     As long as I can remember, I've always loved watching the Olympics, and the past 2 weeks I've been tuning in as often as I can.  I think one of the reasons I enjoy it so much is that I can relate to the athletes (in a metaphorical way...).

Saint-Saens' Morceau de Concert, Op. 94

I’ve been involved with a project for the past three years that has finally come to fruition!  My colleague at WCU, pianist Andrew Adams, and I have created a critically revised performing edition of Camille Saint-Saëns’ Morceau de Concert, Op. 94.  This has recently been published by Faust Music.

SMBQ Jamaica Tour 2012

     The SMBQ travelled to Jamaica May 13-20, and we played a total of 6 concerts in Kingston and Montego Bay, mostly at all-girls schools.  We played for some huge audiences (1500+), and they were very enthusiastic!  For the majority of these girls, this was the first time they had ever heard a brass quintet live, or any brass instrument, for that matter.