Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Dwight Calvin Watson Jr

Precious Lord, Take My Hand by Dwight Calvin Watson Jr

Ok folks. This is a run through to see if I can record my own music and post it on my blog. Let me know if you're able to hear it. It's not my most polished work, just a test piece.

Introducing... THE MARCHING RAVENS!!!

So... I passed my audition, and now am a Trombone Player with Baltimore's Marching Ravens! I feel that this is a really great opportunity to play and have fun at the same time. My first rehearsal started as soon as the audition was over, and I had a great time. My first performance with the band will be Sunday, August 5th at the Howard County Fair in Maryland. My first football game at M&T Bank Stadium will be on Friday, August 17th as the Ravens take on the Detroit Lions. I can't wait to get this marching season going! Look for me on TV!

I also have to say that I think it's really neat that I will be able to march in a marching band in high school, college, and the NFL. I would have never thought that back when I first picked up my trombone in 1994. Of course, the Ravens were the Cleveland Browns in 1994, and I had not heard of the Baltimore Colts Band, the forerunner to today's Marching Ravens, so I had no way of knowing that this would one day be a reality. Learn about the Baltimore Colts Band and it's history by checking out the ESPN 30 for 30 series episode entitled "The Band That Wouldn't Die."I downloaded a copy from iTunes, and watching that documentary led me to want to be a part of this organization's history. The band also has an exhibit in the Baltimore Sports Legends at Camden Yards Museum, which includes all of the band's uniforms from the first bands to the current day.

I'll be sure to keep you up to date on all these wonderful adventures. Check back the week after each Raven's home game to see how things are going. And as always, thanks for checking in!

The Shark is BACK!

Wow! It's been a long time since I have blogged. My life has changed quite a bit, and my music has well... sort of died off. However, I have found my way back into my blog, and, back into music. So... here's the latest.

Tomorrow I will be auditioning for a Marching Band. That's right; 11 years after marching with the Fire of the Carolinas, I'm crazy enough to try it again. If I make it, I'll give you the full details!

Another note: I have finally been able to visit the music store where we purchased Thunderbone II at: Bill's Music! What a music store. Probably the largest I have ever seen... and with tons of used trombones and other wind instruments. The story here is that we ordered the instrument sight unseen from a store in Baltimore, Maryland in 1996 at the suggestion of my second cousin, Pam, who still lives in the Charm City. At any rate, I found the store the other week, and I have to say it was a little sweet to finally see that place.

However, TBII won't be coming with me on this audition. The band has a sponsorship which includes all brass and percussion instruments. I just need to bring my mouthpiece and my music stand. Like I said, I;ll give you all the details after the event occurs! 

Country Roads... Take me home

So I met someone in church the other day who is a jazz trumpet player. Says he played in the Army band for a while, and though he is advanced in age, he still likes to play. This conversation started after I played in church for Palm Sunday. He invited me to play along with him and his group of musicians, consisting of one dentist, one doctor, and himself. So I thought to myself, why not? I haven't played jazz in a long while, so I should enjoy this. Well, I didn't even get a shot to unpack my horn!

I arrived early and sat there waiting for Lou, the guy from church to arrive. While waiting, a guy comes out from a room where it is obvious that someone is warming up to play, and he heads to my truck to see what on earth I'm doing there. "What are you doing here? Who invited you? Someone told you to come here and do what? Who did you say sent you?" After this interrogation, I was not inclined to stay. As I was leaving, Lou pulled in, but I missed him. Turns out he had no idea this had happened, and was pretty upset that it did. Word has it that he stopped going to that group. I hope I can find a way to play with him so he keeps playing.

The moral of the story is, some people play because they love to play, and they would share it with the world! Others for unknown reasons, and are mean about it too. I've experienced it from music majors at Elon, and now from a cranky dentist/doctor (don't know which one). Oh well.

Mixed Emotions

So we had our first community choir concert and I have to say I had a good time. The music selection was wonderful and I think we did well. Before the concert I received a boost of energy when a fellow choir member, Doris, told me about a conversation she had with the director while in the store the other day. Doris introduced me to the choir in the first place and the director was thanking her for that. According to Doris, the director said that I have a wonderful voice and am a very good musician, as well as a valuable addition to the choir. I have to say I was ticked to hear this. I always thought myself to be a good musician, but to hear it from someone else really makes me feel good.
So all of this, as well as my wife commenting on how well my ear is (I won a whistling contest with her) made me pull out my trombone (which I didn't sell by the way) and start to play. I had visions of being a great trombone player or a wonderful music teacher in my head again. I thought of winning scholarships to Shenandoah University and earning a degree in music and all the great concerts I would play and etc etc etc... Then I pulled out my music books from when I was taking private lessons. I could not believe what I had once done. I saw things checked off that I today have no idea how to even begin. Then, the regrets set in. I passed my audition with the National Guard. I could be in school right now on their dime. I could be getting ready for the 257 Army band's Christmas Concert right now... and I'm not. I know I shouldn't, but right now I'm living in the could have regrets that I hoped I would never have. Darn it all.

I'm doing WHAT?!?!

Ok, so I joined a community choir. I would of course prefer to be in a wind ensemble of some sort, but I'll take what I can get. Choir is a different beast I must say. Get three tenor trombones together and they sound alike. Get three tenor singers together, and well... it just doesn't work the same. I'm adjusting to it. Anyway...

I'm seriously thinking about selling my trombone. Times are tough everywhere and everyone could use a little extra cash right now. I was sitting in my room tonight cleaning my trombone up; general maintenance and what not. The memories came back to me while I was cleaning it: Rainy parades in high school, football games at Elon, auditioning for the 257th Army band. I have had Thunderbone II for 13 years, and I played regularly for six of those years in school. What good times I had.

I don't know. Maybe I will sell T-bone II and get a new horn after the economy looks up a bit. It's funny how I miss the days of playing, especially at Elon. On nights like tonight, where it's cold and rainy, I can't help but think back... going to rehearsal in the cold fall rain, gearing up for a concert. I still have that Christmas concert CD. I listen to it every year. That was almost 10 years ago. Hard to believe.

Sometimes, at Choir, we hit a chord that reminds me of the beauty of music. When the tone is pure, the pitch in tune, everyone listening to one another and making adjustments until it's just right. It really brings me back.

Moving boxes...

So, I recently moved to Berkeley Springs West Virginia. To update you, I
1. Didn't join the National Guard band
2. Stopped playing when my Dad died
3. Concentrated on my day to day living.
And now, I'm back, and at least blogging again. I played my trombone in public for the first time outside of a church since 2001 when I played at a talent show at work. I received compliments from both kids and adults, and it felt good, I won't lie. I also re-connected with my contact at the 257th Army Band via Facebook, and am seriously re-considering re-starting that career path. If I do restart this music deal again, at least this move to West Virginia will be of benefit... I would receive in state tuition at Shepherd University, and am only 26 miles away from Shenandoah University, where my former private teacher teaches. Opportunity is there. Will I accept?