Such a Classicist... I can leave an Impression

Yesterday I performed an obscure French pieces by Pierre Lantier titled Introduction, Romance, et Allegro. 
This is a piece I can live with! There was so much beauty in the music that I didn't even have to TRY to figure out how to make it come to life.

A fellow bass trombonist describes the piece:
Although quite satisfying, the three movement work is rarely played. The opening movement is beautiful and has an ethereal quality that reminds one of an impressionistic painting. The second movement opens with a playful theme before turning to a more serious mood. The last movement is very rhythmic and concludes with an open cadenza. Extended harmonies in the piano and chromaticismin the solo part are both prevalent throughout the three movements.


Chromaticism??? Yes please. Regardless of it's obscurity... I enjoyed playing written music for once... 


Honestly, if it weren't for the French and Jazz composers... none of us would be working.


You can listen to the performance here.

Thanks Lou

This week has been a great playing week for me.

Let Go

After weeks of feeling unsure and doubting my playing, my teachers fulfilled their promises in a single lesson.

First, in my brass pedagogy class, we discussed "breathing". Now this is has always been unusual to me, since I have breathing since the day I was born.  Most brass players will get caught up in the ideas of correct breathing or textbook routines. 

"If you follow this method, you'll sound like the player who wrote it down"

Not to say that these method books are bad, just sometimes people take them to literal.. and do more damage than good.  Back to breathing, the number one routine step most of us do, is play long tones. Breathe in, play a Bb for 4 beats, slur down to an A breathe on beat 4. Repeat down chromatically.  AKA Remmington #1.  (From Emory Remmington)  The issue is an intake of 1 and blow of 7. a 1-7 ratio.  This is not how the body NATURALLY functions.  When brass players start their day this way... they spend the next 20 mins trying to get relaxed... they have induced a sense of tension.  This leads to perhaps starting the day with a 1-1 ratio. In (with a relaxed, conversational breath) for 1 beat blow a note for one beat, repeat up the scale.  Then move to a 1-2 ratio, in for 1 blow the note for 2 beats. ETCETERA until you reach a comfortable goal.  Now my friends will notice that this is much more methodical than I am used to, but it didn't hurt to try... as a matter of fact, it felt great!!! 

The next little lesson came from the notion of the actual intake of air.  Action or reaction??  Is the reaction of breathing in blowing the note? NO!! That is what everyone is taught.  Instead, the reaction of blowing out is breathing in (to survive) again, something I've been doing since day 1 of existing.  When a brass player breathes in, it is similar to sneaking up behind someone and spooking them.  The tension and quick breathe in... anxious feeling... The mind recognizes the similarities and therefore... playing is fear based.  The initial quick intake is done in fear of not having enough air... this is ass backwards... the body should be relaxed on the intake... not tense.

Again, it's like telling someone to not focus on focusing.  There isn't a correct nomenclature for this... it's just trial and error.  

Just Go With It

The biggest lesson came from helping a friend who is struggling with these concepts.  We put the metronome on a quick enough tempo (80 or so) and played one note back and forth descending chromatically.  G---G---F#---F#-----G----G----F----F--- etc... we did that for an hour.  What this does is allows the player to aurally hear and physically feel where the resonance meets the sound to create the tone.  By having a partner to do this with, and doing it at a quick tempo.... you don't have time to think... you just BLOW....

The biggest issue with most musicians is that we think too much... Over thinking and over analyzing separates the body from the mind.  (to quote Tool)

Why was this so important... because I realized that I didn't come here to become more creative or to inspire me... I'm already quite driven and you can't force creativity.  I came here to learn how to play more efficiently and play in good mental and physical health so I can continue to do this for the rest of my life.  You just have to learn to let go, because you never know who or what is going to take you left!

In the Pursuit of Happiness

This past week has been a bit of a struggle.  Other than the Patriots losing the Super Bowl... I've started thinking that I have made the wrong decision about coming down to Texas.

Weekend Workstation

It's a drag really, coming down here with expectations of easier living... but artistically NOTHING is happening down here.  At least back in the city, I may have been struggling, but I was working on the shit I wanted to, and was developing my own thing.

Being surrounded by mediocrity is not my thing... being surrounded by the past is not my thing....
"going against the current" IS my thing.

I've never accepted everything to be written in stone, I always question... that's what we are raised to do!

Being treated like a child is not part of my life either... I had to grow up fast, and to be talked down to... even in a large group... irks me to no end.

BUT, after talking to several friends and teachers across the nation this week, I've come to a conclusion:
"Sometimes you have to do the things you don't want to do, in order to figure out what you do want to do."

I will stay here at UNT for the semester, and most likely next year... but who is to say I will finish the degree here... or even finish the degree.

I've declared that if a job opportunity comes up... I'm taking it. (but everyone is saying that)

Even typing that I realized that I have fallen victim to this mediocre mentality. I am a creator... fuck waiting on something to come up... I am going to make something happen.

Life

It has been over a year since I last spoke to my dad.... coming up on a year since I last saw my dad
Tonight... I realized one of the many reasons why I miss him


He taught me MANy things... notice the word MAN... yes... I was a MAN raised by a MAN... someone who took up for themselves.. who said "Fuck you" to the status quo... someone who didn't even know that status quo was a "thing"


We all look up to someone... and I have met and engaged many times with my idols... but my dad...
The person you meet... when you meet me... the ideas and the life you see... all comes from him.

I miss my dad... and yes I am  pissed that he is gone.. yes I feel it to be unfair... and YES... I wish he was here

but at the end of the day... he taught me to live on my own.. without help.

I love you dad.
and like I said this time last year... everything I do now... is for you.