Marching band trip

Well it's almost the end of the football season which for me means the end of marching band. But before we finish up for the semester we have one last big away game in Louiseville, KY. We are leaving Friday around noon and will be staying overnight at a hotel before the game on Saturday. We expect to arrive back in Memphis early Sunday morning. Honestly, I view this trip as a chore, but I still plan on having a fun time.

Music Website Review

Musicians constantly need new equipment, another instrument, to replace a mouthpiece, and other things to stay on top of their game, but where do they go to buy all these items? Large music stores are not as common as the local Wal-Mart so musicians usually go to the internet to find what they are looking for. Woodwind and Brasswind and Musician’s Friend are two popular websites online that sell all types of music equipment from instruments to accessories. Both are impressive websites that meet any musician’s needs, but both also have some distinct differences.

             Woodwind and Brasswind is an extremely useful site to find exactly what you are looking for. The website has a great design that makes it very easy for the user to find what they need. The homepage gives the user an excellent overview at the different selections and products the site has to offer. There is a toolbar near the top of the page that has all of the products categorized under a set of tabs that make it simple to find a certain type of instrument or different accessories for that instrument. You can also narrow the search for the product you need selecting the brand or by using a price range. If you are on a tight budget then the website has options for products that are used or are on sale. In addition there are a few ads near the top of the page but it is at least relevant to the content of the website. The website also has a Facebook page where you can keep up with the latest offers from the site and comment on the products.

            Musician’s Friend offers the same products as the previous site, but it falls short due to some key factors. The website is not as easy to navigate as with Woodwind and Brasswind; instead of all the types of products being displayed on a toolbar you have to find a tab and search for whatever it is that you need. Contrary to its name, Musician’s Friend is unfriendly to wind players. To find woodwind or brass instruments you have to search for the “brass and woodwinds” option under the search tab, and even then the user is given a small selection. The homepage itself only displays guitar and percussion instruments. In fact, under the search tab it mostly lists different types of guitars and percussion instruments.

            In conclusion, I strongly recommend Woodwind and Brasswind for its convenience and wide range selections. Musician’s Friend may be a good place to check out if you play guitar, keyboard, or percussion, but it is very inconvenient for wind players such as myself. For wind players looking for the things that they need, Woodwind and Brasswind is definitely the best place to go.

Chanson Et Passepied

Well the end of the semester is drawing near, which means that my saxophone jury is also approaching. A jury is a test in which a music student passes off repertoire for faculty and then graded based on the student's performance. I began working on my prepared piece in late August and has been the center of my daily practice. The title of the piece is Chanson Et Passepied composed by Jeanine Rueff. The piece begins with a slow, tranquil melody but then becomes a faster, playful song. The tempo and rhythm in the fast part has given me the most difficulty, but it has become better. My favorite part of the piece is in the slow beginning section. Overall i have put a lot of work into this piece and I hope I play it well at my jury.

(Here is a recording. I do not own it.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8crYOKrXUM8

George Washington Bridge

Alright so my next symphonic concert is coming up and I'm pretty excited. our theme for the concert is New York City. My favorite piece that we're playing is George Washington Bridge by William Shuman. Shuman wrote the piece as an aural representation of the structure of the bridge which he crossed nearly everyday to go to work. The piece gives the bridge an almost human personality; it is definately an awesome and well written piece of music.

Here is a recording:
www.youtube./watch?v=qnBKKXNXxRU&hd=1

Most challenging piece

So recently my sax studio received a piece that we have to be able to play together by March, 2014. The piece is Mendelsohnn's Presto Octet, and I have to say it is absolutely the hardest piece that I have ever played before. Although its an octet we have ten people playing: four altos, two sopranos, two baritone saxes, and two tenors. The piece fetures very challenging rythems and there even altissomo notes that I need to be able to play. Still, even though its a difficult piece I'm sure that I'll be able to learn it through lots of practice.

Teacher Profile

The following is a profile for my saxophone teacher, Allen Rippe:

Allen Rippe was born in Danville, Virginia. His father played violin and piano and it was he who had inspired Allen to become a musician. He originally wanted to play the sax, but his parents insisted that he learn how to play the clarinet because the clarinet was cheaper than many other types of instruments. Allen bought two clarinets: one to use for practice at home and another to use at school. Although he did enjoy playing the clarinet he desired to learn the saxophone. After several months the band director had encouraged Allen to take up the saxophone. The band director had told Allen’s parents that “he was a saxophonist playing the wrong instrument”.

            Allen could not yet afford to buy his own saxophone, so for several months he would borrow other people’s saxophone to go home and practice, but eventually he saved enough to buy his own. He made his first public appearance when he played a performance with the Junior Walkers and the All-stars at Motown, VA. He had played a piece entitled “Hot Cha”, the first piece he ever played onstage.

             In 1967 he began to attend Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and studied there until he graduated in 1971. Afterwards, he went on to attend Hartt College of Music at the University of Hartford at Hartford. While he was there he won the concerto contest to play a solo. As he performed he was noticed by a conductor for the Hartford Chamber Orchestra; Allen performed with them twice. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in Music Performance in 1974. Immediately after he went on to get his Masters in Music from the University of Michigan in 1976and was selected to be in their wind ensemble. From 1976 to 1978 he worked as a visiting artist in Statesville, North Carolina until he applied to work on staff at the University of Memphis. Allen has been at Memphis for thirty-five years( during his fourth year he went to go teach saxophone in Israel).

            Allen Rippe is a man dedicated to music and is very influential to those he teaches. Any of his students can agree that he is passionate about his instrument and strives for his students to succeed.

Brooklyn - Youngblood Brass Band

Hey everybody!

So I'm part of my university's marching band, and naturally one of the things we do is play pep tunes for the football games. We play a bunch of great songs but my favorite tune is Brooklyn by the Youngblood Brass Band. I really like Brooklyn because of its upbeat and jazzy sound and is a very fun piece to play. I particularly like the section with the syncopated rythem and echo. Brooklyn was recorded by Youngblood Brass in 2003.



Here is the link to a YouTube recording.

Disclaimer: I do not own the channel that uploaded this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxH9Dg1JLio



                                                                                                              (source: Google Images)