Motivations

Finally, the second part of my series, entitled motivations. This edition is sponsored by Yamaha musical instruments, the University of Maryland School of Music, and the Maryland National Guard. More on these wonderful sponsors later.
Motivations come in different forms and from different areas. If you love music as I do, or even in part, you must go see the movie August Rush. My wife and I saw it the weekend it came out and I must say that it is a moving movie, and will probably be right up there with Mr Holland's Opus as far as motivational musical movies go. One section in particular reminded me of a time when I really did not want to think of music at all.
It was September 12th 2001. The day before was beautiful... a wonderful opportunity to showcase our brand new marching band. We gathered in the band room and, in our band t-shirts, marched to the college coffee gathering at the fountain in front of Alamance, the primary building at Elon. A large crowd was there, and so was the football team, all using the opportunity as sort of a pep rally for our game that Saturday. We showed up, with everyone in high spirits, and announced our presence with our "band song" entitled "Carolina Moon." After this we played the fight song and began to play a cheerful piece like "School's Out" or "Gimmie some Lovin' " or something like that. Then, as we paused to listen to the coach speak to the crowd, we saw something different. Leo got up there instead and stopped the proceedings due to a "terrible accident" in New York. Party over. Life as we knew it, also over. The next day, we gathered during our normal time: 3pm, across the road from the Elon Fire Department. We still had a football game to prepare for. After all, the plaques on the new stadium were already up, and they said September 15th, not 22nd. Even though we were hurting and confused and mad and... everything else, we had a job to do. So we gathered. Dr. D addressed the group before we got going with practice. His words, I do not quite remember, but they went something like this: "I know that we are all hurting. And I don't know about anyone else here, but I'll tell you how I feel. There is no where else I would rather be than here, on this field, doing what we do. No matter what else may happen in this world, if times are good or times are bad, so long as I still have an opportunity to teach and play, I still have my soul. I can still pick up the pieces and carry on."
We didn't play that Saturday, the game was canceled... the last football game in America to be called off. But we were ready if it had been played. The point of the story echos a line in the movie: "Sometimes, when you feel low, music can set you free and make it all better." or something like that. It's a line said when the guy from the band meets the kid in the park and plays with him before the kid's concert, so if someone sees it and wishes to correct me, by all means please do so! But the point is, music speaks to my soul, and playing it makes me feel whole. There is nothing that makes me feel more alive than buzzing my lips together and making a great piece of music sound great when it comes out of the other end of the brass tubing of my instrument. Except perhaps conducting a great piece of music, and seeing the musicians produce a piece of music that speaks to the soul. And after discussing my musical opportunities with my wife, I have decided to pursue a degree in Music education. I can think of no greater motivation than working with young people and assisting them in accomplishing their musical goals, as well as watching them play and grow and learn. I still hope to play where I can, even with the bands I may direct and teach, make no mistake about it. But I am very excited about the possibility of directing and teaching a wind band in middle school, high school, or even on the college level. I can't wait!

Just for beginners!!!

So, I found a few items on the online trombone journal that will hopefully be useful in my practice time. These items are found under the "just for beginners" section. While I am by no means a beginner, I am rusty, and must re-learn to craw and walk before I run anywhere! One of these items included a motivational sheet which suggests playing in front of friends. With so many of you living so far away, I am thinking that I may try to record a piece or two for your listening pleasure. According to the information I have gathered, the Yamaha Silent Brass system will allow me to record what I play not only for my benefit, but for your enjoyment as well, all in MP3 format. So, here's hoping that I can acquire that technology soon.

I have contacted the principal trombonist from the Washington DC National Guard band. I am hoping that he will be a resource for me as well as the Chief. I can't help but think that a mentor in my instrument would be a great benefit, so I'm trying to contact anyone I can and maybe I'll find someone. Also, I hope to soon find a private instructor. Even a half hour or so a week would be a great benefit.

I'm practicing more frequently now, and greatly enjoying my time with the horn. That's all the news for now. As always, thanks for reading and comment as you like!

Finally!!!

I have finally opened my blog to the public, having announced it on facebook. I hope all my new readers will enjoy what I have here and will come back often. If this is your first time to the blog, leave me a note so I know you're here. Again, welcome!

Not much new to report. I met with the Chief and discussed musical options. I will go over these options in a future post and will place a poll to help me with my decision process. Every one's input will be greatly welcomed!

I have played every day this week and am finding it favorable, and very enjoyable. Even at work now, people are beginning to refer to me as "Dwight the trombone player"... I guess I've let it dominate my break table discussions lately. Zach asked me yesterday if I have had an audition yet and how my practicing was going. I'll tell you, to have people outside of my family see me as an aspiring musician, well, it makes me feel real happy.

Future posts are coming as I have more time. Until then, I'm off to work. Don't forget to leave a comment or two to let me know you're here, and again, thanks for stopping by!

Keep moving forward

That is the line from Disney's Meet the Robinsons movie that my wife and I bought the other day. While it seems very simple, nothing can be more true. I hope this will soon be a great source of strength for me as I continue on this journey. With that being said...

I read recently (where I can't remember... some good that is!) that practice is important to an aspiring musician like myself. (Sometimes the best wisdom, no matter how obvious, demands repeating.) The article suggests that a true professional will be practicing at least fifteen to twenty hours in a week. Of course my first reaction to this was to try and increase my practice time and opportunities. As I played, however, I soon realised that I am , well, let's just say that I am in need of come catch-up lessons. There are still good things about my playing, but I am discovering more bad things as I go. This I feel is a good thing of course. The problem comes when I practice with too many problems and not enough corrections. While practice may make you better, that improvement only comes through trial, error, recognition and correction. Practice makes permanent, and so, before I try to up my practice hours to twenty per week, I had best find a private teacher and address the issues I do have.

More than I thought

In the last day or so, several musical opportunities have revealed themselves to me. First, there is the Jazz band at Hagerstown CC, where I will more than likely be taking my musical course work to start out. Also, there is the Marching Ravens, the marching band of the Baltimore Ravens. While I can not pursue either opportunity this fall, I hope to be able to take advantage of them in the year to come. Sometime this week I am supposed to meet with a Chief to discuss other musical options and to explore the career further. I hope that after this meeting, I will have a clearer view of what it will take to get to where I want to be, and if that journey is one I wish to take. With that, my first poll is out. What kind of music would you like to hear me perform? Should I join a group that plays more marches, jazz, or classical pieces?

Back Again

A loyal reader mentioned to me yesterday that I had not blogged in a while. I sat down today, determined to make sure that I did not continue to disappoint. I received my audition packet from my dream job via e-mail the other day. I do not feel, however, that I will be ready for the audition. Instead, I will be using the information gained to better prepare myself for future auditions. I also hope to meet with a local musician soon so as to further explore this musical possibility.
A question nags at me though. Are we ever really good enough? I ponder this question at work often. Do I work hard enough? Do I do a good enough job? And the same can go for other situations, such as; Do I love my wife enough, or, Am I a good enough husband, or say, am I a good enough friend? Am I a good enough Christian? My inner Wesley is always striving towards perfection, but I am also frustrated when perfection is not quickly found. Perhaps, more inward evaluation is necessary...

Motivations, Frustrations, Complications

So my dream job has arrived; the position I want has become available. This is a great concern to me because I am no where near ready to audition for that position right now. However, if this news has done nothing else, it is assisting me in gaining a clearer picture as to where I am, where I need to be, and what it will take to get there. There are needs, such as a bass trombone. Well, let's face it, without a bass trombone, one can not audition for the position of bass trombone. There are also less than necessary tools that I think can aid greatly in my preparations, such as the Yamaha silent brass system: a mute and mini computer that allows me to listen to and record what I am playing all while reducing the horn volume that my loving wife has to put up with. The auditions come in late January, so I have time. I may not be expecting to win the part considering I am six years out of practice and have never played bass trombone before, but I believe that this challenge is a daunting one that will serve to demonstrate for me exactly where I am and help organize my efforts. The goal is no longer a hypothetical "what if" or "I could only dream". Now it is real, it has a set date and deadline. I feel that such a realization has led me to re-double my dedication to this career field. Sure, my normal cycle of career possibilities run through my head (Race car driver made a STRONG return today for some odd reason) but instead of shelving the music thing and going on the marry-go-round of career possibilities again, I find myself saying "Yeah, I could do that, but it wouldn't be as cool as being a bass trombonist." Or, I see myself beginning to adjust my fantasies around this career choice. For example, I'd now like to buy a new Shelby Mustang instead of taking the time to rebuild an old one. Why might you ask? Because rebuilding one would take too much time away from my music! It's scary... my wife says that she is sorta waiting for me to drop this and move on to the next one. Goodness knows, I understand... that's the only me she has ever known. The guy who can't make up his mind on a career field and doesn't know what he wants to do when he grows up. However... something is different with this one. Well, I suppose time will tell.

Everyone has to start somewhere...

I think that it is important, before going on such a journey, that one evaluates where they are at the start. My wife and I had a serious discussion concerning some of the issues that I will face, the hurdles if you will that I must overcome. I've seen a few issues to date, such as my lack of self discipline. This issue has plagued me for years in many arenas. For my wife, this is the most serious concern right now. Do I have the self discipline to practice every day? Can I create an organised practice schedule? I also have a problem of feeling as if I do not have the right equipment for the task ahead. As I mentioned in my first post, I have an OLD trombone. This comes from my days of being a NASCAR fan. I want the best equipment possible. Is being a professional in any arena half talent and half equipment? I'm heading to North Carolina (Home) for the weekend for my brother's wedding. There will be plenty of time to think and reflect then. I hope to return ready to take off on this journey. Until then, take care all!

Each Journey of 1000 miles begins with one step

Hello to anyone reading! This Thunderbone's Notes, my new blog. This blog is intended to chronicle my attempts to becoming a professional trombone player. Thunderbone is the name I have always given my trombones. It came from T-Bones, being the nickname of the trombone section at Dillard Jr. High. Since the Ford Thunderbird was also shortened T-Bird, I combined the two, and created a name that reflects my passion for both classic cars and music. I currently play Thunderbone II, Tigershark. It is a King Cleveland 605 with Nickel plating and F Attachment. It was built sometime between 1975 and 1980 according to the King Winds serial number registry,which means that the horn is older than I am! I have had it since 1996, when I became a trombone player in the Bartlett Yancey High School marching band. I played in the wind ensemble, the marching band, and the jazz band in High School, earning the John Philip Sousa award my senior year. I also played in the last Elon College Wind Ensemble, The Elon Pep Bands, and was a Charter Member of the Fire of the Carolinas, the Elon University Marching Band. However, after my fall 2001 semester, I put my trombone down after eight years of playing. After some soul searching, I have come to the conclusion that I want to pursue a career as a trombonist. So, after six years of on again off again playing in the privacy of my own home, I am trying a comeback. Time is of the essence in this quest, however. I have a seven year window of opportunity to land my "dream job." This is, however, one challenge I am willing to accept, one journey I do not wish to postpone, and one journey that I hope will bring me closer to wholeness in a choice of career. Won't you come along?