Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever. ~ Lance Armstrong
Friday, May 27, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
ITG trip!
I'm on my way to The ITG Conference for the first time in seven years.
I have to admit, I'm pretty charged about it. Yes, I'll do all the trumpet nerd stuff, but I'm really looking forward to two things; hearing my student at UNM, Tony Sadlon, perform in the finals for the Solo Competition; and the hang that's going to happen. I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with several colleagues that I haven't seen in too long, as well as seeing some old college buddies from my days at Michigan. I also hope to make a few new friends along the way. It's gonna be a blast. Stay tuned, I'll be updating the week here.
I love going to these kind of conferences or festivals, mostly for the reason that it's great to be reminded of how many great guys and gals there are in this business. And if can learn something from them, all while having a few good beers AND a few good laughs, then it is all worth while, if you ask me!
And that's what these trips are all about!
Well, that, and geeking out in the exhibits!
I won't buy a new horn....I won't buy a new horn......I won't buy a new horn...... ;)
JM
I have to admit, I'm pretty charged about it. Yes, I'll do all the trumpet nerd stuff, but I'm really looking forward to two things; hearing my student at UNM, Tony Sadlon, perform in the finals for the Solo Competition; and the hang that's going to happen. I'm really looking forward to reconnecting with several colleagues that I haven't seen in too long, as well as seeing some old college buddies from my days at Michigan. I also hope to make a few new friends along the way. It's gonna be a blast. Stay tuned, I'll be updating the week here.
I love going to these kind of conferences or festivals, mostly for the reason that it's great to be reminded of how many great guys and gals there are in this business. And if can learn something from them, all while having a few good beers AND a few good laughs, then it is all worth while, if you ask me!
And that's what these trips are all about!
Well, that, and geeking out in the exhibits!
I won't buy a new horn....I won't buy a new horn......I won't buy a new horn...... ;)
JM
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Motivators
"Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success." ~ Napoleon Hill
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Spreading my wings!
One of the things that I love about my career right now is the extra-orchestral things I occasionally get to do. Next week, I'm going to the International Trumpet Guild Conference in Minneapolis. Aside from all the trumpet-geeking-out that is going to happen, I get to perform with the professional trumpet ensemble, Tromba Mundi.
Let me just say, these guys are good! And not only that, they are GREAT guys! I had the distinct pleasure of performing with them this past January, and I have to say, it was one of the most fun times I've ever had playing the trumpet. I can't wait to play and hang with them all again.
Which brings me to my point of today's blog. A lot of us trumpeters have a specific genre that we "belong" to. For me, it's the "orchestra player" gig that I'm known for. And I love that job. Yet, I hate it. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE playing the repertoire, as the orchestral rep is some of the greatest music ever to have been written. But the business of being an orchestral player has worn me down a bit the last couple of years. Granted, my situation, with a folding orchestra has certainly magnified things a bit, but I have to say, I've been feeling an urge to "spread my wings" the last couple of years.
Luckily, I've been able to do that the last year and a half. I've had the pleasure of appearing as a soloist with some great organizations locally, such as Chatter, the Church of Beethoven and the UNM Wind Symphony (Google them, they are some cool groups). I've played recitals, played with Summit Brass, Tromba Mundi and even went to Brazil to do some teaching and performing. I'm constantly amazed at some of the great places I get to go as a musician!
I have to say, that these gigs, along with my teaching at UNM, has been what really has gotten my juices flowing recently! And as I look back at some of the great orchestral Principals, they, too, had some sort of extra-orchestral gigs going. Roger Voisin, Armando Ghitalla, Thomas Stevens, Charles Schlueter Phil Smith. All of them did solo projects of some kind and, not surprisingly, all have reputations as being the best of the best. I'd like to think that they are that way because they chose to pursue other musical opportunities. That's what I'm trying to do now.
My former teacher, Charles Daval, told me once how he would always prepare to do a recital around the same time that he was preparing to audition for an orchestra. That way, he would not only keep his musical instincts sharp, but he wouldn't burn out on the excerpts. I'm now understanding how that works. I'm more excited about the orchestral rep now because of the solo and chamber rep I've played lately. I guess that variety is really the spice of life!
I don't want this to sound like a slam on the orchestral gig. It is a great gig! And I wish that every musician could feel what I feel when I'm playing a great piece of orchestral literature. It's a tremendous rush when you finish playing Picture at an Exhibition and the crowd is going bonkers over the orchestra's performance. But for every Pictures concert, there is a kiddie concert, or Pops concert with awful arrangements, or Baroque orchestra gig where you sit more than you play. It can be a grind.
That's where the outside gigs come in. I think that every trumpeter can benefit from going outside their comfort zone. Are you a classical player? Go sit in with a big band or transcribe a jazz standard for a recital. Jazz cat? Play with a brass quintet and do some baroque transcriptions. Play a broadway show. Go to a jam session. Play with a reading orchestra. Organize a trumpet ensemble. It doesn't matter, as any wing-spreading is GOOD!
Let's be honest. We all got into music because as young children because we thought it was fun. Why does that have to change now that we are aspiring or practicing professionals?
I choose to enjoy my job as a trumpet player. It's the greatest job on earth, and if you're loving it, you never work a day in your life!
"I love this job!" - Mel Broiles, former Principal trumpet, Metropolitan Opera
JM
Let me just say, these guys are good! And not only that, they are GREAT guys! I had the distinct pleasure of performing with them this past January, and I have to say, it was one of the most fun times I've ever had playing the trumpet. I can't wait to play and hang with them all again.
Which brings me to my point of today's blog. A lot of us trumpeters have a specific genre that we "belong" to. For me, it's the "orchestra player" gig that I'm known for. And I love that job. Yet, I hate it. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE playing the repertoire, as the orchestral rep is some of the greatest music ever to have been written. But the business of being an orchestral player has worn me down a bit the last couple of years. Granted, my situation, with a folding orchestra has certainly magnified things a bit, but I have to say, I've been feeling an urge to "spread my wings" the last couple of years.
Luckily, I've been able to do that the last year and a half. I've had the pleasure of appearing as a soloist with some great organizations locally, such as Chatter, the Church of Beethoven and the UNM Wind Symphony (Google them, they are some cool groups). I've played recitals, played with Summit Brass, Tromba Mundi and even went to Brazil to do some teaching and performing. I'm constantly amazed at some of the great places I get to go as a musician!
I have to say, that these gigs, along with my teaching at UNM, has been what really has gotten my juices flowing recently! And as I look back at some of the great orchestral Principals, they, too, had some sort of extra-orchestral gigs going. Roger Voisin, Armando Ghitalla, Thomas Stevens, Charles Schlueter Phil Smith. All of them did solo projects of some kind and, not surprisingly, all have reputations as being the best of the best. I'd like to think that they are that way because they chose to pursue other musical opportunities. That's what I'm trying to do now.
My former teacher, Charles Daval, told me once how he would always prepare to do a recital around the same time that he was preparing to audition for an orchestra. That way, he would not only keep his musical instincts sharp, but he wouldn't burn out on the excerpts. I'm now understanding how that works. I'm more excited about the orchestral rep now because of the solo and chamber rep I've played lately. I guess that variety is really the spice of life!
I don't want this to sound like a slam on the orchestral gig. It is a great gig! And I wish that every musician could feel what I feel when I'm playing a great piece of orchestral literature. It's a tremendous rush when you finish playing Picture at an Exhibition and the crowd is going bonkers over the orchestra's performance. But for every Pictures concert, there is a kiddie concert, or Pops concert with awful arrangements, or Baroque orchestra gig where you sit more than you play. It can be a grind.
That's where the outside gigs come in. I think that every trumpeter can benefit from going outside their comfort zone. Are you a classical player? Go sit in with a big band or transcribe a jazz standard for a recital. Jazz cat? Play with a brass quintet and do some baroque transcriptions. Play a broadway show. Go to a jam session. Play with a reading orchestra. Organize a trumpet ensemble. It doesn't matter, as any wing-spreading is GOOD!
Let's be honest. We all got into music because as young children because we thought it was fun. Why does that have to change now that we are aspiring or practicing professionals?
I choose to enjoy my job as a trumpet player. It's the greatest job on earth, and if you're loving it, you never work a day in your life!
"I love this job!" - Mel Broiles, former Principal trumpet, Metropolitan Opera
JM
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
What I'm practicing....
Today is audition prep day (as will be many of the days to come).
I'm currently working on the 1st Mvt of the Tomasi Concerto, which is the required solo for the National Symphony Orchestra Principal Trumpet audition. I've spent the last 3 days working on this movement, VERY slowly! I started at quarter=100, which is very easy for me. Today was move-up day for tempo. I'm aiming for a final tempo of about 135-140. After 3 days of slow practice I was able to get close to that. But it's still not perfect. So, I will return to the slower tempo for a bit more today and then speed up again tomorrow, aiming for perfection at around 130. 135-140 will follow shortly.
I've learned, through the years, that slow practice is the key to confidence! There's something about repeating the same thing over and over again, perfectly, that makes you feel good about your upcoming performance. Everyone has a tempo that they can play their assigned music correctly. I try to make sure I find the tempo where I can play every note, articulation, color, vibrato and intonation as I would want it for a performance. Then repeat. And repeat. And repeat, until I feel I can go a bit faster. Then repeat. And repeat. Until I feel I can go even faster. Then repeat. You get the idea.
I try to do this process on everything, be it orchestra parts, solo rep, quintet, etudes and even fundamentals.
It seems like common sense, yet I'm consistently surprised by how often I have to teach this practice basic.
Slow practice. An under-used fundamental. Re-introduce yourself to slow playing and see how it helps. Let me know the results!
Ok, break over. Back to Tomasi!
JM
I'm currently working on the 1st Mvt of the Tomasi Concerto, which is the required solo for the National Symphony Orchestra Principal Trumpet audition. I've spent the last 3 days working on this movement, VERY slowly! I started at quarter=100, which is very easy for me. Today was move-up day for tempo. I'm aiming for a final tempo of about 135-140. After 3 days of slow practice I was able to get close to that. But it's still not perfect. So, I will return to the slower tempo for a bit more today and then speed up again tomorrow, aiming for perfection at around 130. 135-140 will follow shortly.
I've learned, through the years, that slow practice is the key to confidence! There's something about repeating the same thing over and over again, perfectly, that makes you feel good about your upcoming performance. Everyone has a tempo that they can play their assigned music correctly. I try to make sure I find the tempo where I can play every note, articulation, color, vibrato and intonation as I would want it for a performance. Then repeat. And repeat. And repeat, until I feel I can go a bit faster. Then repeat. And repeat. Until I feel I can go even faster. Then repeat. You get the idea.
I try to do this process on everything, be it orchestra parts, solo rep, quintet, etudes and even fundamentals.
It seems like common sense, yet I'm consistently surprised by how often I have to teach this practice basic.
Slow practice. An under-used fundamental. Re-introduce yourself to slow playing and see how it helps. Let me know the results!
Ok, break over. Back to Tomasi!
JM
Motivators
"The trouble with most of us is that we would rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism." ~ Norman Vincent Peale
Motivators
"If you'll not settle for anything less than your best, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish in your lives." ~ Vince Lombardi
Motivators
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." ~ Winston Churchill
I'm new here.
Be gentle. I'm new here.
Where do I start? Let me just say that it's very interesting how a professional's world can quickly be turned on it's ear. I lost my job. Well, I didn't lose it, it was taken from me. The 78 year old New Mexico Symphony Orchestra folded, taking my, and several other very talented musicians jobs away from us.
We will rebuild. Something will rise from the ashes of the NMSO. More on that later.
What does that have to do with this blog? It's the introduction I needed to demonstrate some of what this blog will be about. It's no longer about how good of an artist you are in this business anymore (although, that still remains the MOST important part). Versatility, compatibility and perseverance are more crucial than ever to an artist's success these days. I'm going to write about what I think is important for musicians, both accomplished and aspiring, to know and understand in this business. I'll also write about the journey I'm about to re-embark on as an unemployed musician. I've been there before, I can do it again.
Call it advice, call it ranting, call it whatever. I hope that this blog will help, inspire and entertain, and I hope you'll come back.
JM
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