Skip to main content

Dream big and follow your heart

Today more than ever our school systems are at great risk of loosing precious opportunities in the arts. The majority of young people will not pursue arts as a career, but their exposure to be a part of arts creativity cannot be measured, and these opportunities should not be taken from the curriculum of any school. If music programs saw a small portion of the support that sports have we would not have anything to worry about.

I want my future children, if I have any, to have every possible option available, especially the great gift of expression through art of any type. Sports are important activities and possible careers, but so are music, painting, acting, dancing, etc...

Take a minute to check out this link: http://www.cso.org/main.taf?p=10,2,7,6
Chicago Symphony trumpeter, Tague Larsen from the Boston area followed his dream.

I grew up in a moderately poor family from the south. I had a great band program, but could not afford lessons. I practiced, practiced, and practiced some more. I'm following my dream, which is in no way lucrative, but I'm making it day by day. That piece of my heart that soars when I play the trumpet could never be replaced by my other academic type desires. I've tried to do other things, but that piece of my heart is too big. We all have a piece or our heart that must sing, whether for fun or for more, it must shine.

Our youth is stretched beyond belief with activities. Just make sure one of them allows expression through some form of art. You won't regret it.

Best,
Dan

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Life in the pit I spend many, many hours in pits performing shows.  While what you see in the seats of a show is quite different and exciting, most musicians get barely a glimpse of what's happening on stage, if at all.  Here is a video of me in cramped quarters playing a demanding show, Newsies, which is a terrific show to play with temps that are not ideal.  You barely take the horn off your face, as you can see in the video, going from loud, rhythmic playing to soft delicate entrances.  The quality of the recording isn't great as it's from my phone, as you can see, but it gives you an idea of what goes on in a pit.  Enjoy!

In the Heights

Just finished a 4 week run with 8-9 shows a week of In the Heights at Westport Country Playhouse.  This show was a blow, especially since I had to jump into the fray at the last minute with one rehearsal before the 1st show started.  This is what freelancing is all about and why it is more challenging and less stable than a full time teaching or orchestral job.  Freelancers are on the frontlines being challenged with every job they play, new people to perform at their best with for each job. This show was a great run with a stellar cast and top notch musicians.  I had not played the show before and being more a classical and commercial player than jazz this was a challenge.  Feet to the flames! In the Heights Westport Country Playhouse Video Promo Clip

Teaching Philosophy

I believe that the trumpet holds a unique set of challenges. Teaching a student that deep inhalation is the most important setup for a good beginning coupled with a mastery of tongue position, aids in overcoming these challenges. The art of diligent work on process, integrated with a Zen philosophy of letting go empowers my students to optimize their abilities. My teaching is designed to teach students how the mechanics of air flow and tongue position work together. Once understood and practiced with set drills, I implement a psychological method of re-training subconscious cues that are counterintuitive to produce optimum ease of play. For example, the "sense of sight" will lead the player to assume low notes require blowing down with less air, thus creating instability and tightness in the back of the throat, when in reality it is quite the opposite. Blowing up lowers the middle of the tongue which places the tongue more appropriately, with relaxation, than just us...