They are the perfect couple. The couple which gets their weddings photographed in magazines, and all the people around the world look at them and wish for what they have. Their story is the continuation of every cheesy American teenage movie, the continuation you just do not see. They are the sweet country girl and the hard-working city boy. They are the ugly-but-with-potential artsy-fartsy girl and the school leading goal scorer. They are the sexy model couple; they come packaged and delivered to you in every commercial, every movie, every magazine, and now, in this story.

They’ve been together since they were 16, and six years have passed, neither of them looking at another person, finding the whole universe inside each other’s eyes. You’d think they’d have names like, Romeo and Juliet, Khalil and Dumma, Kays and Leila, Tristan and Iseult etc. They got engaged, they got married, their families rejoicing by their children’s perfect all-loving relationship, their light love, initiated like a well structured symphony, like old Arabic poetry, perfect meter and perfect rhyme. Their wedding was full of smiles and bright lights, full of water and cake and perfect order and timing: three hundred people were invited, three hundred people attended; all the food was eaten and no one felt the need for more; it started at 8 and was done at the stroke of midnight. The bride wore her ten-thousand dollar snow-white floor height, sleeveless, silk dress; the best hair and make-up designers ornamented her like Nefertiti. The groom wore his double-breasted shawl-collared tuxedo, a cotton shirt and a silk bow tie, all from Ralph Lauren, covering a muscle-tuned, all shaven body; his hair, made by a female hair designer, forming a pompadour Elvis Presley-rockabilly hairstyle.

The wedding ended, they entered the limousine while the three hundred attendees waved and threw rice and clapped and hugged each other. The perfect couple drank champagne on their way to their hotel suite and cuddled and kissed of soft kisses and drowned in each other’s love, black tinted glass veiled them from the outside world and the driver who was smoking and drinking red wine as he drove.

Their hotel suite smelled of red roses. Their bathroom smelled of Gardenia. They saw the heart-shaped bed with red covers and white sheets and they hugged each other and released themselves on the bed. They made love and fires of wild incantations sounded from their chests and pumped from their heart. The right amount of blood came out of the precious bride. They drank more champagne and made love once more, merging like hot wax in a lava lamp.

Their limousine driver died in a car crash after dropping them off at the hotel.

The ceremonial order of their lives went on after their honeymoon, after they moved in together into one home, after the husband defecated in the bathroom and the smell of his feces permeated throughout the whole house and even after the wife’s menstrual blood stained the sheets. They made love almost every night. They transformed themselves into twin fires dancing around each other. But heaven is never forever, and bliss is just a blue sky forming in the sleep of a spent storm.

One night, the husband came staggering drunk on wine. The wife did not know what to do. Her husband’s intoxicated breath revolted her. He was shouting and dancing and stripping. He held his wife and started getting excited. His wife felt his erection and tried to move away. His hands wrapped around her like the two serpents enveloping the staff of Hermes. They formed a Caduceus: his hands becoming serpents, his penis the staff, and she the winged bird, spreading her wings, trying to escape. She screamed and slapped him, and he kept smiling and moving his eye brows up and down. Completely naked, he started following her and laughing loudly, she was running away and weeping; he was Dionysus in pursuit of Amethystos. He called her name desperately after he tripped and fell on the ground. She came to him, like a loving wife, kissed him, and they made love, or did they?

The next morning they woke up, both on the bed, his wife’s feet facing his head; they slept in a 69 position, hardly aware of it when they slept, wildly aware of it when they woke up. They were both embarrassed, both felt estranged from their seemingly animalistic position. Did it happen? They looked at each other not daring to ask the question. The husband went to work and the wife went to her mother’s house, both did not speak to each other, both in a hurry to get away from each other.

That night, they had their first fight and for the first time they did not sleep with each other. The fires were not dancing with each other anymore, but fighting each other. They both felt like they were undergoing surgery without anesthesia. The pain of their apparent estrangement from one another created a gap between them, and they only saw this gap after the tightly formed circle of their relationship reverberated as a result of the husband’s intoxicated shouts. The husband saw no solution and neither did the wife. They sat together but apart in the living room, watching a cheesy American movie which gave them a retrospective look at what they once were. Both were disgusted by the dreamy suggestion of the movie that love can succeed the way it is shown. Both were angry.

They exchanged looks that blamed the other, and they both understood them. Magazines on the dinner table showed photos of their wedding, a photo of them smiling at each other, a light in between their faces showing their jovial features, blurring out all the other extravagant faces. But the husband could not look at it anymore, it was a faded dream, he thought, this is not real, none of what he felt was real, it was all how it was supposed to be, how the world wanted them to be. The wife looked in dismay at the memories of the wedding, at her mother’s clown-smile and her father’s proud look.

Their silence could go on no longer, and so they initiated a conversation. They asked each other questions about their day. She asked about his job, he asked about her girlfriend, she asked about the condition of the car, he asked about her daily chores. But beneath all these question, in the tone of their voice, was the important one: What do we do now?

The interrogation continued monotonously, like a game show, both answering correctly, both asking correctly, until, until the wife mentioned the wine. He told her that his boss invited him to a dinner with his buddies; that they went to a pub afterwards; that his boss ordered a hundred-dollar bottle of imported Bacchus wine. He could not refuse the gesture. She rolled her eyes and looked at the ground in disappointment. He looked at the ground in shame. They saw their shadows meet at the head and then they looked at each other, she was angry with disappointment, he was angry with shame. They came towards each other and they slapped each other. She smiled and he smiled. He laughed and she started running away laughing as well. But they knew that their act would be incomplete. They hurried down, went to the nearest liquor store and bought two bottles of red wine. They drank them and they fucked. They drank more and fucked a second time. She no longer thought of her mother and her father; he did not think of how they were supposed to be; they did not think of the wedding and all the distant memories. This is how they are. They were supposed to be making love, but they were fucking, she was drinking wine from the grail which is his mouth, he was pouring wine all over her body, making her white marble skin turn to purple crystals. He fingered her and she played him like a rusty trombone. From anal-strawberry-shakes to S&M fetishes, every night, they indulged in each other’s bodies more severely, the twin fire burning all coyness and all order, squeezing vines and blowing flutes, dancing madly upwards, enjoying their orgiastic existence in an exuberant manner, their inflamed bodies became moving, living statues of their own creation. With every fuck, every night, their love will be eternally reborn and return again from destruction in Dionysian ecstasy.

His name is Denis. Her name is Arianne.

We had a chance to see a really great concert Saturday night thanks to our son, Andy.  Despite the snowy weather, we headed out to Lakeland Community College to hear the Heritage Brass Quintet’s annual Christmas concert.  Now, I have a soft spot in my heart for the brass section, having spent 8 years playing the trombone in elementary, junior high, and high school.  I played in everything, marching band, concert band, pep band.  Even went to regional contests a couple of years in a brass quartet, where our group did very well thank you very much.

Andy and friend taking tickets and passing out programs (Andy on the right)

So we were thrilled when Andy was asked to be an usher at this concert since that got us all in for free.  He ushered last year too with his school class.    He’s not in school now but we ran into his teacher at another function and she asked if he would like to usher again and he of course said yes.  This teacher is one of his favorite people so we knew he would want to work with her again.

Despite their formal appearance, in bow ties and tails, this is an informal concert for the group.  They joke with the audience between songs and with each other during and between songs.  For this set they played traditional and pop holiday songs.  The tuba player is also an instrument technician and he brought out a some “oddball” instruments -  a contra-bass trombone , pitched a fourth lower than a regular trombone;  an odd instrument called an “offenclyde.”   I have no idea how to spell it but it looked like a cross between a saxophone and a horn.  He also brought out some kind of very low pitched tuba.  One of the trumpet players also had an old instrument called a “keyed trumpet” that was used in the 1800’s.  They used these instruments to play renaissance pieces.  That plus their relating the history of the music made us feel transported back in time.  They are all excellent musicians and their great personalities make this concert one of the best of the year.  Next year will be their 30th year performing a Christmas concert at Lakeland.

Their version of “Sleigh Ride” had us all tapping our feet and near the end we were led in a sing-a-long of traditional Christmas carols.  They finished big with Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.”

Everybody left in a happy holiday mood.  We had fun and got to see some friends we don’t see very often.  Andy enjoyed working with his teacher’s and classmates again. 

If you live in our area, visit the quintet’s web site to see where they will be performing.  CD’s of their performances are also available.

I had to include this photo of Andy as he waited for his job to begin.  He was so proud of his Christmas tie!

Merry Christmas from all of us in the Kennedy house!

Maxwell Street (yesterday), French Quarter: some places are so strong in spirit that all you have to do to go there, in mind if not in body, is say their name.

Rebirth Brass Band, live, New Orleans’ French Quarter, 2008

Dr. Ed Joffe, Joel Weiskopf , Pete McGuiness, Roseanna Vitro, Joe Magnarelli, Tim Horner, Andy Eulau,  Bobby Malach, Mark Sherman, Allen Farnham. and Paul Meyers. On December 14th I took the red eye from San Jose California to New York City just in time to go home for 1 hour, and go out to New Jersey City University where I have been teaching for the last 3 years. I felt it was very important to basically go with no sleep for 24 hours, to make it to the final semester juries for all the jazz students at NJCU. Of course 5 of the students are mine, but the rest study with the professors above. Our fearless leader Ed Joffe has built a tremendous jazz department, as he has surrounded himself with an incredible faculty of professors, who all put their individual hearts into this program. I am sure anyone of these teachers would have done the same thing I did to honor their commitment to the program. Personally I love to give to these students everything I have, with my 30-35 years of professional experience, Juilliard education, and vast touring experience. I know Ed Joffe has done the same with his countless years of dedication to the program, and as a Juilliard graduate as well feels very strong about this program, as when both Ed and I attended Juilliard, there was no jazz program. Now of course they have a thriving jazz program, but NJCU is right there with all the top programs in the New York area offering great private instruction, combos, big band, and many jazz masters coming to do master classes and performances with the NJCU big band. I highly recommend this program for all aspiring jazz students. You get a great jazz education at NJCU!! Bravo Dr. Ed Joffe!!

Sms sent approx 9.30am, Friday 18 December, 2009

Good Morning.

I have chosen to sit on the priority seat because i know i am a passenger with special needs.

Oh look. Now i’m sharing the seat. No eye contact because i know he knows i’m more special.

Anyways. We’re all special and my thought of the day is: sit on it when you want to.

In case i forget and i might without those jingle bells - playing trombones,

Merry Christmas!

…and if that’s not you,

Have an awesome day (in the sun if you can manage it)

Gfx

*****************

Reflections: if someone had arrived at platform one with more special needs than I have, I would have moved. However this morning I felt extra special and I wasn’t about to stand in front of an empty bench seat without taking up the offer of a seat.

I might add that unlike Preferred Seating when buying tickets, there was nothing special about the location of the seat. There was also nothing special about the experience of sitting on it as the seat was made of rather hard and cold metal.

The sitting in the sunshine bit was very special however.

Sometimes it’s really good to make yourself special.

My friend B found this quote and stuck it on his status today:

 “The eccentric never change themselves; never even contemplate doing that… They’re always true to their own nature and as far as they’re concerned, the rest of society can either like them or not. Instead of considering what is wrong with me that is fine and no harm or trouble; one might look at what’s wrong with the world that descends to suggest that I am not well”. Unknown.

I love Unknown. You know it!

GF thinking: The eccentric are just accepting and likely to be embracing their specialness.

Hi Guys! :3 What’s up?

I was planning on writing this last week but I had Midterms (and well, for computers, it’s a final). @n@ I didn’t like the subjective ones, but the objective ones ( D:> Those are the ones that are multiple choice right?!) are easy so far

I’m sorta sick though. Starting on Friday, I began to be very hot but I was cold. Now I get to the point were I’m freezing. Also, when I walk or sometimes even sit, I get dizzy and it feels like in I’m walking on a cloud. I also get massive headaches, and my throat hurts a little. But I’m feeling better today <: )

Urgg, I change from computers to P.E next year. Well, it’ll do me good XD But some guys that will be in P.E are so ugh >:C  (They’re in Comps too, our small period will all go to P.E DX ). Computers is so much fun :’C and the teacher rocks too! (~=3=)~ Music is going good too. We had Christmas shows last week . I have to say, for kids that have been playing only 2 months, we ROCKED! 8D Gahaha, I play my trombone a lot better now I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL XMAS! XD  Gahhh!!!! I LOVE XMAS!  Only 12 more days!

Okay, well, bye!

December 10th, 2009

On the D.L. ”by” Randy Pingrey

Tygart Valley by Kathy Olson

Stone Age Rhumba by Randy Pingrey (more info)

Blues for Mac by Kathy Olson

Reverie by Kathy Olson

My Waltz by Kathy Olson

Low Contrast by Randy Pingrey (more info)

Venus de Milo by Gerry Mulligan, arranged by Randy Pingrey

Kathy Olson – bari sax
Randy Pingrey – trombone
Mark Zaleski – bass
Austin McMahon – drums

What a great evening!  Kathy and I can’t thank Mark and Austin enough for being so shockingly perfect for our music, and it was wonderful to see so many people at the gig.

And special thanks goes to Rutman’s Violins for having us play…

…and an extra special thanks goes to Joel and Laura for being totally awesome.

I just came back from dropping my fifth grader off at school.  Baby it’s cold outside.  Of course, those in the East are rolling there eyes at us Californians.  We’re abuzz about the below freezing temperatures we’ve had these past few days.  Snow in Elk Grove?  When was the last time?  Did anyone see any this time?  Connecting to winter.

Today there was a change in the Cendro household’s school morning standard operating procedures.  I drove Kevin to school.  Mind you, it’s a bit warmer today, but he had his enormous trombone to bring with him.  I think this decision was a bit self centered though.  I won’t have to bring the horn over for band practice at 2:30 this afternoon. Connecting to school days.

Driving to the school this morning, put me in an unexpected happy mood.  I watched a smile appear on Kev’s face as he discovered one of his best buddy running to school.  We’re not sure why he was even going…he’s off track.  But Kevin connected to his friends right at the start of the day.  Friends are very important you know.  I then proceded to exchange perky “good mornings”  with a few parents…waving and sending good cheer from my car window.   On my way out of the parking lot, I got a warm greeting from Kevin’s teacher.  After watching a parent get pulled over by Elk Grove’s finest, there were three additional neighbors sending warm waves of “have a great day”.  Connecting with a smile.

Now as I’m home, warm and cozy, my outlook for the day is so happy.  I just know a great day lies in front of me.  I think I’ll make it even better by spreading the good cheer that I received.  Happy Thursday everyone!  Connecting to life.

The December 10th Rutman’s hit is quickly approaching for the Olson Pingrey Quartet!  Kathy, Mark, and I had a lovely rehearsal last night and I thought I’d post a sample of one of the new tunes we’re going to play.  It’s called Stone Age Rhumba.  Here are the first two minutes:

Stone Age Rhumba

Kathy Olson – bari sax
Randy Pingrey – trombone
Mark Zaleski – bass
Recorded on December 8th, 2009

(by the way – the piece features an extensive drum part – which you’ll have to come to the gig to hear!)

My intention for Stone Age Rhumba was to write a tribute to the great trombonist Bill Harris while continuing the vibe of other pieces I had written for this ensemble (this piece shares a few motivic ideas with my piece Low Contrast, which you can listen to here).  Harris was the featured trombone soloist of the Woody Herman Big Band starting in the 40’s.  His technique, imagination, and sense of humor were totally unique and second to none, and his playing has been a recent source of inspiration for me. 

Harris’ most famous feature in the Herman big band was the tune Bijou by Ralph Burns.  It was once described by Woody Herman as a “stone age rhumba”, which is where the title of the piece comes from.

And as one final reminder – the Olson Pingrey Quartet plays on December 10th at Rutman’s Violins in Boston, MA.  We’ll start at 8PM and play until 9:15 or so.  There’s a $10 suggested donation, and we would really love for everyone to come out.  Thank you!

Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009

&

Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009

5:00 – 8:30 pm 

Andy’s Jazz Club 

11 E. Hubbard Chicago, IL

(312) 642-6805

Russ Phillips and Tim

Coffman on trombones,

Phil Gratteau on drums,

Andy Brown on guitar

and Stewart Miller

on upright bass.

For the past few months I’ve been working on solo trombone improvisations, but it’s been a while since I’ve thought about it much – I’ve been busy dealing with other issues.  However, just recently my friend James Wylie put on a concert of solo saxophone improvisations, and that inspired me to revisit the subject.

The music of the first generations of jazz trombonists has interested me more recently.  I’ve been checking out Miff Mole, Vic Dickenson, and Bill Harris in addition to the trombonists I was already into (viz. Teagarden, Dickey Wells, Lawrence Brown).  It’s that spirit that has been influencing me more and more.

These are also the first recordings I have with my new equipment – a Conn 6H - and it’s a horn I love to play.  It makes me feel much more connected to “the tradition”.  Whatever that means.

Here is my most recent work:

I

II

III

IV

V

Feel free to download or stream – whatever you prefer.

And please come to the Rutman’s gig on December 10th!

On their European tour, I’ve had the possibility to make photos of this great and fast rising group from ‘Nueva York’ USA… La Excelencia. With their ‘Salsa Dura’ and incredible rhythms they put the whole crowd on fire! The location this time was the ‘Harmonie’ at Bonn, Germany. On their tour they also played in Berlin, Stockholm and Rome! For more info you can always look at their website!

Thanks guys… and enjoy the pictures!

Also a special thanks to Jean and Christopher to make all this possible!

Here are a few pictures of our Principal Trombonist Sue Addison with Elgar’s orginal trombine which will have its first performance in a concert since Elgar’s death tomorrow evening at the Royal Festival Hall. All pics by Joe Plommer.

As many of you will have heard on the radio or read in the press our performance tomorrow will feature Edward Elgar’s orginal trombone, played by our Pricipal Trombone, Sue Addison. This will be the first time it has been played in concert since Elgar’s death. Below are some links to various press stories and we’ll post some pics of the trombone very shortly.

The Times

Independent

Telegraph

BBC

Tom Service Guardian Blog

The vocal folds, or vocal cords, are the part of our larynx that vibrate creating sound in our voice. When these are made to vibrate, they make sounds such as we wish, like ah, ee, or oo, The mouth assists in this process. But, the folds are critical in the quality of sound production. Not only this, but they gauge the air flow as it leaves the lungs. Therefore, when we play brass, the vocal cords determine the shape and flow of the air stream.

A simple exercise will show this. Open your mouth and say, “Ha.” Now, take one hand and form it in a circle, with your thumb over your index finger. Bring that hand up to your lips, placing your lips on your fingers, and then blow air through the opening in your hand. You should feel a slight difference at the throat. That is, the throat will feel less restricted. This is because the air passes through the larynx with less tension. The tension that forms with many sounds we make is unnecessary, and much of it develops at the larynx, changing the air flow and the quality of sound.

So, the first effort arises from complete relaxation and goes on to complete relaxation maintaining an unrestricted air flow.

Most mistakes occur when the air flow is restricted in some way, a bump, a spasm, a pinch. You can hear and feel this in your playing.

Notice the tongue is attached to the throat and larynx, so when you tongue the larynx is effected. This causes tension, too, which can disrupt the air flow. Therefore, practice complete relaxation when you move the tongue. The goal is a relaxed control over this movement, so you tongue in concert with the unrestricted air flow.

The soft palette sits in back of the hard palette on the roof of the mouth. Take your tongue and scroll it back on the hard bone until you find a soft place and that is the soft palette. This plays a role in the shape of the air as the air comes up from the lungs. Therefore the shape of the soft palette determines somewhat the shape of the air stream. If you keep the soft palette lifted up and open, like a yawn, you can influence the relaxation and easy flow of the air stream. You also make room for the movement of the larynx and tongue.

La Boheme original Opera Poster

This Friday at 8pm and Sunday at 2pm, the Indianapolis Opera and the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra are presenting the wildly popular opera by Giacomo Puccini, La Boheme at Clowes Memorial Hall.

Click HERE for a Quick rundown of the plot and characters.

A trombone players view of Clowes Hall

I have the privilege to be playing in the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra for this production of La Boheme. This is one of my favorite operas. I was fortunate to play this opera while attending the Indiana University School of Music in Bloomington Indiana. That experience has been one of the highlights of my career thus far! This opera has aria after aria of beautiful music. Although encroaching on 2 hours and 45 minutes, which could be a tad long for some, the action and the drama will pull each

James Caraher conducting La Boheme

audience member to the end of this outstanding production.

The sets are simply beautiful (what I’ve seen of them at least) and the cast is wonderful! I feel so lucky to be in a town that does these incredible productions with great orchestras (either the Indianapolis Symphony or the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra) and a great, clear and well versed conductor in James Caraher.

Trombone player's view of ACT III, La Boheme

It is interesting playing in the pit, especially as a trombone player. See, we do not play all that much. On average I play every 6 – 12 minutes and have very little cues to know exactly where I am! Throughout this blog, you get to see my view of the opera, which is mainly the conductor, my music and the hall. Every now and again I can see an actor/singer on stage! BUT, that doesn’t diminish my excitement and enjoyment for this art-form! Given a choice, I would love to be stuck under the stage in the pit and play incredible opera music every weekend!

However, there are too many other things to do and play in this musical life, so I simply enjoy the opportunity when I get them!

See you at the OPERA!!

~ Rich

First, click this and listen while you’re reading. I want to marry that bari!

Never heard this before tonight, and I bet I’ve listed to it 20 times in the past three hours. Jazz band is starting for Warren, and he says this is what they’re going to play.

> Which brings me to Thing No. 2. We have a new musical instrument in the house. Jazz bands don’t need tubas, and Warren says he can’t read music for bass guitar well enough. So he’s taking up trombone, and got to bring one home. Yay!

> A guy who graduated high school with me is considering running for president.

> Being on the campus of beautiful Agnes Scott College on a perfect fall day.

> Pimento cheese with tomato, grilled on wheat, at Sun in My Belly. Way too many calories. And worth every one of them.

> NPR makes a list of 50 most important records of the decade. And I am  not a fan of any of the ones on the browse tabs. Except potentially Jay-Z, when I learn to love rap. Which will be any day now.

Actually, this one makes me unhappy. On the whole list of 50, I think we only own two. And those are among Warren’s collection. Well, there are a few things here I’ve been wanting to explore. (Damn, I’m old.)

> Back to the happy . . . This great piece on being a font freak in the New York Times, which led me to look up studies I’ve heard about that show sans serif is as readable as serif in this age of online reading, which led me to this beautifully designed post.

> More news: The Civility Project. What the world truly needs now.
“How can we make sure that civility is interesting?”

> And finally, I’m easing back into my obsession with The Wire. Omar posted this on his FB page .  . . “I got the shotgun. You got the briefcase. It’s all in the game though, right?”

“The man must have his code.”

Kyu~ XD I bet you guys have missed me!!!

Yes?

Maybe?

No? ._. No, I didn’t think so.

XD I am so sorry I haven’t been updating. °v° Facebook is fun <3

Thursday

Coughhhhhh

Math: 8D We learned a lot today. °v° Rational Numbers=Easy… Sorta XD I got homework, but it’s only three pages of problems, and I already finished one and a half of another one. ●ω● But I am not math’s biggest fan.

Science: ●ω● My teacher is super duper nice! We took this quiz weeks ago, but so we  can get a better grade on it, he let us write down the Q’s on another sheet of paper and do the questions we missed again. ●ω● I think I have an A.

NOW THIS IS WHERE THE WORST PART COMES

.__.;; After lunch, we got split. SPLIT. You guys may think: OHMAGAWD YOU LUCKY DUCK…. EHHH YOU ARE SO WRONG. Getting split is the WORST THING EVER. Especially when you get split to where I get split to. It seems like they like putting me in the weirdest classes…. :U And today they put me in a mean teacher class. ;n; She was so strict. I was SCARED to talk. So all I did was do math homework and read. ;n; Next time, I shall not help anyone find their class.

Music: I LOVE ITTTTT

Except for today. Today was boringgg. The trombone is fun though <3 . We got two new kids. Christopher and Valentina (o.e I think..). I think Valentina is gonna pick the clarinet. 8D IDK about Chris. 8D I felt so bad for him today. All he did was sit there in a corner. .n. He still doesn’t have an instrument (They came on Monday). Dude, he might have to play the FLUTE. 8D I think he should just rent a trombone. This is why:

1. :> The more the merrier~

2. There are: 5 flutes + 1 oboe

A whole row of clarinets + 1 alto clarinet

3 saxophones

3 Trumpets

1 Tuba (enough >:C )

1 Baritone (>:C enough )

4 percussion

AND 2 TROMBONESSSS

.n. C’MONNNN GIVE THE TROMBONE SOME LOVE

:3 And also, this happened:

Me: :U I feel bad for Christopher (blahblahblah goes explain why)

Dad: *driving* Do you talk to him?

Me: =n= NO

Dad: >:U So you feel bad for him but you don’t TALK to him?

Me: NO. >:C It is scary >:C Plus, he’ll probably think I’m weird or something.

Dad: He’s just a kid. :U Go talk to him next time

Me: e.e ( You never know what he can say…)

8D WELL BYE BYEEE

On Monday, November 16, 2009, The Lesson Studio (TLS) will begin its Winter/Spring Semester registration!

The dates for our Winter/Spring Semester 2010 are: January 9 – May 21, 2010

TLS has instructors for guitar, piano, voice, drums, bass, violin, viola, saxophone, clarinet, trombone, trumpet, tuba, euphonium, ukelele, oboe, cello, flute, mandolin and banjo! We also offer music therapy, a free workshop series, and summer music camp. We have an in-store drop-off/pickup for instrument repair. Included with your semester tuition are weekly instruction with the teacher of your choice; supplies including weekly goal sheets, staff paper, CDs, and music charts; assistance from three administrative staff people; free Wi-Fi in the reception area; 10% off coupon for a local music store; and best of all, an end-of-semester recital! Our Fall recital is held at the Old Main Chapel at CU and our Spring recital is held ON STAGE at the Boulder Creek Festival!

If you are a current student, be sure to let our staff know if you prefer the same day/time or a new time slot for your music lesson. If you are new to The Lesson Studio, please call 303-543-3777 for your FREE CONSULTATION today!

As always, please visit http://www.thelessonstudio.com for more information.

A capital paranaense ganha pelo segundo ano consecutivo uma celebração
do jazz legitimamente brasileiro. O Festival Jazz Brasil reunirá,
no Bar Curityba, grandes nomes nacionais e locais do ritmo,
para sete shows durante os meses de novembro e dezembro,
sempre às quartas-feiras. No palco da casa, o saxofonista paranaense
Paulo Branco e sua banda Sotak formarão a base para, a cada edição,
receber novos convidados. Na noite de abertura, dia 11/11,
entraram em cena o Sotak mais o baixista curitibano Cris Julian
e Arthur Maia, do Rio de Janeiro, no baixo elétrico e fretless.

LEIA MAIS NOS SITES
:: SORTIMENTOS.COM >> http://www.sortimentos.net/?p=3942
:: GEBBEG >> http://gebbeg.com.br/?p=7252

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…with a sultry voice that soothes just about any soul,Florida native Saunders Sermons is not only a Jazz Singer but, can play a mean tune on the trombone as well..

..not familiar with his work, voice or trombone skills? Well, he’s worked with Jay-Z on Vh1 specials and is also featured on Jay-Z’s ‘The Roc Boys’. Other features include his work done with Diddy, Fantasia and Mary J. Blige & Jill Scott…

…though he’s currently on tour with Maxwell, Sermons’ album Classic Delights dropped earlier this year…

Check out his joint “Sentimental Mood” which seems like a contemporary tribute to Ellington & Coltrane’s masterpiece…

You get it?  Circle… tuba… tubas are round?  No?  Oh well, it was worth a try.

This past weekend, it was homecoming for my alma mater, The University of Hawaii at Manoa.  Like every year, alumni of the marching band are invited to come back and play the pregame show, as well as some pep band tunes during the football game.  It’s been 10 years since my last active season with the band so I decided to go back to see some familiar faces before I dawn the shackles of being a parent.  Not that I’m not looking forward to being a parent, but I figured I’d do some socializing so that people know I’m still alive before I disappear into a world of dirty diapers and soccer games.

When I got to Aloha Stadium, I was pointed over towards the available tubas.  Actually, let me technically correct myself.  They were actually sousaphones… tubas that were designed for marching.  Majority of the cases were already emptied out by some other eager alumni that probably got to the stadium 8 hours earlier to be sure they could show off their bald spots to the current 19 yr old girls in the band.  What was left was an old, black busted up case that said “Pearl City High School” on it.  What you probably don’t know is that I played sousaphone for the Pearl City High School “Charger” Marching Band from 1994-1996.

In my head, I had told myself, “no freakin’ way.”  Could it be my old high school band sousaphone?  The wood of the inner workings of the instrument case were almost fully exposed, having the outer leather layer dangling off.  Sort of like what the dead skin of a moose looks like when it’s dangling from it’s antlers after it’s fully grown.  Look at that, you just learned a moose fact in a blog about a tuba, who would’ve guessed.  You’re welcome.

Anyway, I opened up that bad boy and sure enough, it was my old sousaphone.  I was eager to assemble it until I began to remember how heavy that son of a bitch was.  Then I remembered how much it smelled because majority of the lacquer had been worn off, leaving that lovely stench of exposed brass.  Then I noticed a new feature on this sousaphone.  The first valve was stuck, which left me in a position of marching around with a sousaphone that was abnormally older and heavier than the other sousaphones on the field and not even being able to play it.

What was interesting about this sour experience was that I initially intended to reach back to my college days, when in fact, I unexpectedly reached farther back to my high school days.  While standing with that heavy hunk of junk on my shoulder in the hot Hawaiian sun, I reflected on what was important to me back then.  You know, when that heavy piece of crap was still playable.  Back then, my dream was to play sousaphone/tuba for UH.  That meant the world to me.  Geeky I know, but nothing made me happier and I never thought I’d be as comfortable on any other instrument.

Funny how things change.  Up until a couple years ago, nothing meant more to me than making it big with PIMPBOT.  Plus my comfort level on the tuba has considerably changed.  I can rock the basics on the trombone in my sleep, while the odds of me hitting the right note on the tuba are like the [insert crappy sports team] winning the [insert championship].

And now, just a couple years later, things have changed for me again.  What means the most is my new budding family.  The wife and the kid.  I still love my band to death but if we don’t make it big… I’m gonna live.  Performing makes me happy and I don’t have to be living in a tour van to do it.  I’m still comfortable on the trombone but what floats my boat the most is being on the microphone.  Not just singing but I love interacting with audiences.  Lively ones, lame ones, it doesn’t matter.  There’s an organic give and take that I experience that doesn’t compare to my delivery on any other instrument.

The thing is, sometimes we don’t see our growth until we take a step back.  This past weekend, my old, heavy, smelly, broken sousaphone was not an instrument of music… but rather, an instrument of reflection.

How was that?  Pretty freakin’ deep eh?

Thanks be to dennisovich for documenting the performance!