Graduate School Lookout

Hello All,
Even though I still have two more years of undergraduate work ahead of me, it's coming around that time to look at schools. Before I go on I do wanna say that when graduation ends in 2010 if I have a choice between an orchestra or graduate school, I would pick the orchestra. But I must be ready for the next step, if the Good Lord wills it. And I remember it was the summer before my junior year in HS that I began looking at schools. So I prepared a list of schools I would be interested in and emailed them all today when I literally had MASSIVE amounts of free time during a tech rehearsal today. Here is the list of schools and their teachers, and as of right now, it's only a partial, but thorough list(no particular order):

Juilliard (NYC)--Joseph Alessi, Per Brevig, James Markey
Manhattan School of Music (NYC)--Per Brevig, David Finlayson, David Taylor
Mannes College the New School for Music (NYC)--Per Brevig, James Markey, David Taylor
Northwestern University (Chicago)--Michael Mulcahy, Peter Ellefson, Charles Vernon
Chicago College of Performing Arts (Chicago)--Jay Friedman, Peter Ellefson
Indiana University (Bloomington)--Peter Ellefson, Carl Lenthe, M. Dee Stewart
Eastman School of Music (Rochester)--John Marcellus, Mark Kellogg
San Francisco Conservatory of Music --Mark Lawrence, Paul Welcomer, John Engelkes
NC School of the Arts (Winston-Salem)--James Miller

It's quite a list, but nothing compared to my undergraduate looking (info from 40 colleges, visited 12 of those). However, there is much that goes into finding the right school. Two men I respect quite highly have written articles on choosing a trombone studio and teacher/student expectations. It would be great to maybe get lessons with a few of these guys listed above before I actually audition at particular schools 'n all.
Like I said, I sent emails out today requesting info about some programs, and some schools already emailed me back. San Francisco had an actual admissions person email a detailed note about the trombone program and ways to get in touch with the faculty. So they get a couple points in my book. Wouldn't that be something--an East Coast boy, going to a Midwest college, ending up at a WEST coast graduate school. Whelp the Good Lord has done stranger things :)
But we'll see all that the Good Lord has for me in the very small beginnings of a new transition. Gracious me!!! I still have junior and senior recitals to get through!!! But heck, those will be loads of fun and I can't wait.
In the meantime, I'll keep ya posted on all that goes on with grad school and/or when that BIG gig comes.

From
J-man (Ps. 31:14-15)

Redemption and 50s Rock 'n Roll

Wow!! We had our first rehearsal today for the Buddy Holly musical, and the music is awesome awesome!! We're playing some great music, and it's fairly easy music, which makes it more fun to play and I can enjoy what I'm doing. The horn section is great. I'm standing next to this Doc in Jazz music who plays a mean tenor sax. And all the other musicians? Whewwweee. Comment was made we might have to get my dance shows on when we ain't playing. We gonna be putting a little groove in the Wagon Wheel Theatre, and boooooy it sure is gonna be a lot of fun!!

On a more 'redemptive' note, I received an email from the Symphony secretary telling us that a conference over in Fort Wayne were in need of some musicians. I emailed them and they are in need of a trombone player for their orchestra. It is for Redemption 08 which will be held in the Coliseum over at the Fort in October. Apparently, we're going to be playing were artists,Steve Green, Jimmy Wayne, and a few other Nashville artists. I can't wait to play in this orchestra!! The music already sounds great, and it reminds of my days of playing in the Rejoice Orchestra...except it has a beat haha

Here's the website and I think my picture will be on the website as well. http://www.redemption08.com/

From
J-man (Ps. 31:14-16)

My Week Off

This past week I took a week off from playing the 'ole trombone. Not substantial, but just some time to give the lips a little rest. Last sunday (8/3) I played in a close friend's wedding in Indianapolis not even 24-hours after a show in Warsaw. After playing for a half-hour straight, my lips felt like rubber, and I decided I would not play for a week since I would be off from the theater. It was a relaxing week, did some long biking and little running.
Today I got back into playing and grant it wasn't superb but playing the fundamentals felt really good. And actually purposely not playing last week got me more excited to start back up again. So I'm can not wait to get back into the thick of things with my playing :)

From
J-man (Ps. 31:14-16)

Wagon Wheel Theatre

Well my time at the Wheel is coming to a close for the summer. I have also enjoyed my time there. I don't really consider that my job; rather it is me enjoying what I love to do and getting paid for it :) I had a back-to-back show with Guys and Dolls and Unsinkable Molly Brown. Guys and Dolls definitely my favorite show so far. Molly Brown was a great show as well. The music was by the guy who wrote 76 Trombones, so you know there was some good bone stuff :) During this time, I was able to hang out with the company with skate nights and other things. They were a great group of people to work with, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them.
Kinda sad we won't all be together for the last show, but I've been looking forward to this one all summer. Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story is our last show, and I will actually be performing on stage!! This will be sooo much fun, and i've heard the music is not hard at all. I cannot wait til rehearsals start for that show
Summer is comin' to a close which means school is a coming. Getting excited to getting back :)

From J-man (Ps. 31:14-16)

Masterworks Festival

Well it has been a while since I have written on here, but my summer has been going great. Masterworks Festival was extremely motivating and rejuvenating. My first week we played Brahms Symphony One and that brought the house down. All my life I have listened to and loved that piece. I have known of the famous chorale for years, and never dreamed I would be able to play it at this age. What an experience to play first part.
The second week was double duty. We played Dvorak's 6th symphony which though I never knew the piece it was an experience unlike any other. I don't think I have ever played that loud in my life. We reach 90-100 decibels that night (that's loud!!) Then the following night we played a patriotic pops concert (July 4th) which was fun as well. All in all, thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to play with some great musicians and strong Christians. I definitely miss them all, and cannot wait to hopefully go back next year as a full-time student.
As a sidenote, musicians can be athletes and quite good. Over my two week period there, I played basketball with my orchestra conductor (how weird is that) and a member of the orchestra. He was quite shorter than me and beat me many times in One-on-One. And my buddy from Indiana University, he was good too (of course, he's from Indiana).
It was goooooood times, and I learned a lot about myself :)

From J-man (Ps. 31:14-16)