* * *

Sonnet for a Lost French Horn

Valued once for its brassy gleam and sound,
Beauty was not enough in poverty.
Though dusty, tarnished, dented coils still wound,
Sold on the street for a sum of money.
Immediate hit of regret, loss, despair;
A precious gift turned into cash for food.
The potential, the talent, gone somewhere
Has it helped another? I prayed it would.
Beloved tool, my heart’s mellow voice,
Practice daunted by time and bashful fear;
Lacking spine, still, my neglect was a choice.
It lay silent, slept, for over a year.
Entrusted to a new soul, my token.
Somewhere it sings, no longer broken.

* * *

I remember how wonderful it felt to be part of an ensemble, making music together. I remember the pain of swollen and chapped lips, aching wrists and dented skin on my thigh from resting the edge of the bell. Emptied the spit and oiled the valves. I loved its tone, how it could ring and wail, bellow and whisper. One day, I would like to have another for my own pleasure, to play when the house is empty and the time is mine.

Until then, I have the memories. And the man who bought my horn was an older gentleman. I have hope that he took care of it, restored it to a really good condition, and made it sing again.

Band Websites contain the information about  various

Brass Instruments

Cornet – The trumpet and cornet are quite similar; they are usually pitched in B flat, both are transposing instruments and they both have valves. But whereas the trumpet is used in jazz bands, the cornet is usually used in brass bands. Trumpets also have a more powerful sound and has a cylindrical bore. Cornets, on the other hand, have a conical bore.

Trumpet – Although the trumpet underwent changes during the Renaissance, it has been in existence far longer than that. Used at first for military purposes, studies show that ancient people used materials such as animal horns for similar purposes, for example, to announce danger.

Tuba – The tuba is deep-sounding and is the largest instrument of the brasswind family. Like the trombone, music for the tuba can either be written in the bass or treble clef. Although it doesn’t require as much lung-power as the trumpet, the tuba can be difficult to handle due to its size.

French Horn – Horns were used in operas during the 1600′s, especially when a hunting scene is included. The main characteristic of a French horn that makes it stand-out is that its bell points backwards. In marching bands the mellophone is a type of French horn used with the bell pointing .

]]> http://bandinstrument.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/the-era-of-grunge-web-originate/ Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:52:04 +0000 claymalone http://bandinstrument.wordpress.com/2012/08/13/the-era-of-grunge-web-originate/

Design trends often come unexpectedly and evolve over time. Then all of a sudden they come to be pointless and ultimately disappear from the establish landscape. The world of web establish is enduringly evolving and is a field that is particularly prone to over-hyping and over use of one type of design. When a establish or style becomes a trend it loses its request for retrial for many as it is no longer unique or innovative and a new establish trend is then born.

Web 2.0 is an perfect example of this. In 2007 we saw an explosion in the use of glossy buttons, rounded corners etc and they could be seen almost everywhere. Today we have a much more diverse range of styles and in this description we will take a look at grunge design.

Band Instrument

What is grunge style?

Grunge is an emerging style that web designers have been exploring at great distance in the last six months. They are often dirty, irregular and sometimes crooked seeing designs. On a web page this look creates a very distinguished effect and adds whole new dimensions to a web page. The unconventional approach means that it’s a style that won’t request for retrial to all designers but it is in fact popping more and more.

Where Grunge Styles Are Most Used

The unique look that designers can generate with grunge styles means that they lend themselves to sure types of websites. For example this style works well on music sites and blogs. Many rock bands have used grunge styling on their websites to help express sure feelings and themes from their songs. It creates an exciting blend.

Designing a Grunge Style Website

When designing a new website there are a integrate of key areas in which sway the success of the design. These contain layout, font face and graphics. Web designers spend hours sifting through font types and for grunge designs fonts such as ‘dirty ames’ and ‘sidewalk’ are extremely popular. Fonts for these designs not only need to big but also textured and well emphasized. Very few fonts do this so designers whether use practice fonts such as the ones mentioned above or look to generate ones themselves.

When coming to generate graphics for a grungy design, designers tend to go for the stressed look. These are images that have texture and feature sure lines or cracks. Borders are particularly prominent here and again images should be well emphasized.

Finally the aim is to bring these elements together to generate structured yet unique look for your website. It is more difficult than it sounds and takes designers many attempts to get it right. As with many things in web design there are many great tutorials and resources out there to help you put together a grunge style website. You can also invest in tools, psd’s and other establish instruments to help make the process that bit easier. So if you are seeing to generate something that exiguous bit extra extra then why not try a grunge design.

The Era of Grunge Web originate

To some, music is the language of the heart; it speaks to the soul in ways that mere words cannot, it creates ambiance and can relax or invigorate the mind. Either you are a musician or a music lover, creating a music themed wedding can be fun and intriguing for both your guests and the happy couple. You may like country or you may like rock n’ roll, your sweetie may play in a hard rock band or may be a violin virtuoso in a classical ensemble, but anything you musical background is, you can make your reception come alive with both music inspired decorations, sounds and even music wedding favors.

First decree on a musical style for your wedding. A country western theme could be designed nearby country music, cowboy boots, haystacks and even a live country band. A classical music wedding seems very elegant, black tie and upscale. Hire a pianist for the cocktail hour and a classical ensemble for the reception. If you decree on a rock n’ roll theme, you can organize your wedding nearby a single band or performer – or even a single decade of rock music. Riding in on a motorcycle as newlyweds and using electric guitar place card holders would be fitting for such a theme.

Band Instrument

Whatever style of music you decree upon, join it into every aspect of your wedding. The reception can be decorated like you are viewing a band in concert, or you can join the instruments themselves as decorations. Centerpieces could be designed nearby sheet music on stands surrounded by flowers. Tables can be names of songs instead of the usual numbers. Ice or flowers could be sculpted into music notes. The dance floor can be highlighted with lights and even fog. Your wedding cake could be designed as an instrument of your choice.

For your conduct cards, there are a variety of music inspired place card holders to hold your seating assignments such as pianos, guitars, violins, brass ensembles, music notes, or music stands. For wedding favors, why not offer a personalized music Cd with some of the songs which played at your reception? Or for a universal wedding favor, why not purchase Cd holders? The possibilities for designing a music inspired wedding theme are endless, but you may have to think face of the box as this is a nontraditional and extremely unique wedding theme.

Creating a Music Inspired Wedding Theme

Dude, where's my horn?

We all begin our summers with the best of intentions. We plan to spend more time practicing, to learn a new solo or improve our technique. But we’ve all had the experience of suddenly realizing that the summer is nearly over and we’ve accomplished almost nothing! Maybe you haven’t taken your instrument out of it’s case all summer — maybe you’re not even sure where it is!

Here in Charlotte, school is starting back in a few weeks. The year-round schools have already started. If you’ve just realized that you haven’t played in a couple months, you’re probably a little panicked about the first week of band class. Will you even be able to get a note out?

Well, it isn’t too late to get back in shape. If you put in some solid practice time over the next couple weeks, you can start school ready to play. In fact, there’s a good chance your bandmates are in the same position as you. If you start practicing now and they don’t, you’ll have an even better shot at sitting a higher chair this semester! Here are some tips of how to whip yourself back into shape:

How To Practice

If you haven’t played in a while, it isn’t going to do any good to try to cram in 4 hours of practice the night before school starts. Your lips will be all bruised and swollen, and you won’t be able to play at all. Start now, and take it slow.

1. Warm up slowly. This is the most important step, and the most often skipped.

2. Take lots of breaks. You should rest as much as you play. That doesn’t mean goofing off, though. While you rest your lips, you can still practice fingering, articulation, and counting rhythms. I like to play for 10 minutes, then rest for 10 minutes. Spreading your practice over the course of the day works, too.

3. Do a little every day. Just because you don’t have a few hours free, doesn’t mean you can’t make progress! Spend 15 minutes playing some scales — it all helps!

4. Stay hydrated. Your lip muscles (and the rest of your muscles, too) need water to function at their best. Keep a water bottle with you, and drink!

5. Cool down. Play long tones and pedal tones to get blood flowing back into your lips. Make “motor boat” noises. Apply lip balm. Whatever. Just don’t play 5 minutes of screaming high notes and then stop for the day.

What To Practice

This practice regimen is really just designed to get you back to where you were at the end of last semester. Time is short. You likely won’t be blowing anyone’s mind at this point. Next summer, start practicing early and take lessons, and maybe you’ll be a rock star. :)

1. Long Tones. Think about the beginning, middle, and end of each note. Do you like your articulation; is it clear and accurate? Does your tone sound good; is it clear; are you in tune; is the sound consistent? How is your release; does it resonate or are your clipping it with your tongue? Long tones allow you to focus on very specific aspects of your playing.

I like to do expanding long tones. Start on a good middle note (for example, G), then play a half-step down (F#), then a half-step up (G#), then another half-step up and down (F, then A), expanding outward chromatically and resting after each note. Continue this pattern over your entire range, as high as you can comfortably play. Don’t strain for high notes – try twice to hit it, and if it doesn’t come out, skip it.

Click to download an example of Expanding Long Tones.

2. Scales. Any scales. All scales. Parts of scales. Extended scales. There is no better exercise than playing scales for improving technique, articulation, phrasing, expanding your range, and increasing your endurance. Practice them with different articulations: all tongued, all slurred, slur-two-tongue-two, etc. And don’t just stick to the easy keys — challenge yourself with the more difficult keys!

Click to download All-District Scales: Trumpet scales | Horn scales | Tromb Euph Scales | Tuba Scales

You can change things up by doing scale patterns. For example, trumpet players love H.L. Clarke’s Technical Studies. Click to download a sample: Clarke Second Study example

3. Sight-reading. As soon as school starts, you’re going to be learning new music. Practicing sight-reading  new, unfamiliar music now will make that process much easier. Use any music you can find. If you have method or etude books, use those.  If you’re in marching band, you probably already have your marching season music to work on. You can also go to sheet music websites (for example, SheetMusicPlus.com) and search for music for your instrument that has a preview available. You don’t need the whole piece, just the first page or two. This is also a good way to try out a wide variety of pieces before you pick out a new solo to learn!

When sight-reading, look at a few things before you even start playing: a) key signature; b) time signature; c) tempo; d) any changes in dynamics, key, or time; and e) anything that looks weird or challenging, like accidentals, rhythms, wide intervals, etc. Once you have a general idea of what the piece is about, take a deep breath and start playing. Keep playing – don’t stop for every little mistake – but do try to be as accurate as possible. Challenge yourself to play musically.

If you put in the time working these three aspects of your playing, you’ll be in good shape when school starts back. Hold yourself accountable: don’t just run through everything and go back to playing video games. Try to play everything the best you can. If you don’t like the way something sounds, work until you do!

If you have any questions or tips about getting back in shape after a long time away from your horn, leave them in the comments below!

Aris is a rising freshman, and has been playing the trombone for 8 months. Paul is a rising senior, and is attending Govenor’s School for music this summer. The recording of Paul was taken at the rehearsal the day before, not at the recital. (Can you believe it, he sounded even better at the recital!) My recorder batteries died after Aris’s performance, so I missed Paul’s performance, as well as that of another student, Jasmine. Unfortunately, I have no additional recording of Jasmine’s performance of “Swinging on a Star,” which was fantastic!

Way to go, Jasmine!

**Keep checking back — I’ll update this page when I hear of more opportunities!**

Charlotte Area

JazzArts Music Camp – a one-week day program for students grades 7 – 12. Includes small combo performance, jazz improvisation, theory, history, etc. Held at Providence Road Methodist Church.

North Carolina

Cannon Music Camp – I had to give this top billing, as it is held at my alma mater, Appalachian State University! One of the most highly regarded music camps in the southeast, this camp is three weeks long and is for students who have completed grade 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12. Focus is on performance and music theory, ensemble playing and private lessons.

Brevard Music Institute – For high school and college age students, minimum age is 14.  This intensive, prestigious program lasts for six or seven weeks and is held on the Brevard Music Center Campus.

Eastern Music Festival – A five-week program held on the campus of Guilford College, for students between the ages of 14 and 22. Designed to meet the needs of the pre-professional student. Orchestral performances, chamber music, and private studies.

UNC Summer Jazz Workshop – Held at UNC-Chapel Hill, this five-day jazz workshop is for high school students, college students, and adults. Participants receive college credit.

UNC-Chapel Hill High School Music Camp –  A one-week program for students in grades 8 through 12. Focus on music theory and literature, opportunities for private instruction, small ensembles, performances.

UNCG Summer Music Camp – A one week program for students grades 5 through 12, must have been playing for at least 1 year. There are two different weeks to choose from.

UNC School of the Arts Workshops – (Scroll down on the site to see info on the trumpet workshops) One-week workshops for students age 12 (rising 7th grader) and up. Intensive master classes and coaching. Participants earn high school credit.

UNCW Summer Music Workshops –  These programs are for rising 9th – 12th grade students. UNCW offers both Band and Jazz workshops, and they’re two different weeks, so you could do both if you wanted. This could be added onto a beach vacation!

Everywhere Else
This is just a tiny, tiny sampling of the available music camps in the US and around the world. If you’re looking for a camp in a specific location, chances are there is one!

Purtle.com Brass Camp – A three-day event held at Anderson University in South Carolina. This program is targeted to high school players, college students, and professionals.  Master classes, repair classes, vendors, concerts, etc. For a lower registration cost, you can view the events streaming online.

Bar Harbor Brass Week - For high school and college students in Bar Harbor, Maine. Opportunities for chamber music, coaching, private lessons, master classes. The registration deadline has passed for this year, but it is something to keep in mind for next year.

English Brass Academy – A four-day session for students between the ages 8 and 18, held in Bushey, Watford, England. Yes, it is a bit out-of-the-way, but could easily be included as part of a family vacation in Great Britain.

Possibly difficult to play in tune.

A week or so ago, I was working with one of my young trombone students. (We were working on playing in a legato style, if you were wondering.) Suddenly, I noticed that his trombone had more moving parts than one generally sees with standard issue student horns. The bracing on his bell had broken, causing the bell section to, well, fall off. Playing became more difficult.

I showed the problem to his mother. The horn he was playing belonged to his school, so I told her to get his band director to have it fixed as soon as possible. I didn’t think it should take very long to simply have a bracing re-soldered.

I was mistaken.

It has now been eleven days since the spontaneous disassembly, and my student still has no trombone. To make matters worse, when his band director took his trombone, he didn’t keep his mouthpiece (as I had asked him to do). So now this young student, who was starting to make some real progress in lessons, has not so much as buzzed in nearly two weeks. I’ve advised his mother to rent a trombone until he gets his back.

I should have given my student’s mother different advice, but it is too late now. So if you have a problem with your instrument, here’s what I recommend you do:

• If you have a borrowed or rental horn, then the rental company (often Music and Arts in our area) typically has a repair program. However, your band director is busy, and the repair shop may only do pick ups once a week. Get the address and phone number from your director, and call the repair facility yourself.
• Tell them what problem you’re having, and ask if this is an issue that can be repaired while you wait. If not, ask if they have loaner horns that you can use while they keep yours for repairs.
• If you own your instrument, you are responsible for the repair bill. If it is a rental (and you have repair insurance) or borrowed from the school, they may bill the school or band program. Check before you take your instrument by.
• Keep your mouthpiece. You want to use your own mouthpiece on the borrowed horn. Even if you have to go a few days without an instrument to play, if you have your mouthpiece you can continue to build your embouchure, practice articulation, and practice matching pitch to a tuner or piano. You can keep making progress!

Accidents happen. Things break.  At some point, you’ll need to have some sort of repair made. There is no reason, however, for you to miss out on valuable practice while your instrument is repaired. A little planning will keep you playing!

Here’s Jasmine:

And here’s Paul: