So over the last month I was hired to record and edit video and audio of members of the Skagit Community Band based out of the town of Anacortes (also Mount Vernon). They didn't play together, but rather in small groups. I even played in one. I played with the horn section. Here's our performance:
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So here's the deal: I really only get practice time at night right now. If I'm lucky, I'll get a little time during the day. But, it's just not normal. And at night I am tired, and have other things that gotta get done (projects, etc.) so I don't play for probably more than an hour. I hate it immensely, but I realized this weekend that there's really nothing I can do about it right now. The amount of time isn't going to be what I want, so I'm deciding not to get all worked up about it. What matters more is what I accomplish, and the fact that I get any time at all. I will still make sure I play every day for at least an hour, but how I use that hour will be important.
So, in order to put more stock into what I accomplish in my practice time rather than how much time I spend, I'm taking my own advice (as well as from the Practicopedia book) and starting a practice journal. It in, I basically will just write down what I played. In addition, I'll have a more systematic approach to what I practice. I'm basically going to go through all of my etude books in order. I mean, what else am I going to do? That way, accomplishment will alway be a priority. This will also help some tension issues I've been having these last couple months, mainly when I haven't had any goals and I haven't been working towards much. It made me think too much and not relax. I hate that feeling. So, thinking forward helps. I have to always remember that. I had a fun opportunity a couple of weeks ago. I got to do a Zoom meeting with Jeff Fair, the principal horn of the Seattle Symphony, as well as the professor of horn at the University of Washington. I scheduled a meet with him because I'm considering getting a doctorate, and he was the first person I thought to ask. I don't know if I'd necessarily get a doctorate in horn, just because I think getting it in conducting or theory would make me more versatile on paper, and thus more marketable. I'm definitely among the more versatile musicians, since I play horn well and can teach it, and am proficient on all brass and can teach them. Plus, I can conduct well and rehearse, and compose and make arrangements. So if I get a degree highlighting something I can do well besides horn, I think that will look good when I consider applying for jobs at a university. That would be the life, for sure! But anyways, after chatting with Jeff about the doctorate program, I played for him and got a little lesson. I played pretty well, I was really pleased with myself. And I got some great compliments from him and amazing feedback. I'm happy to at least gotten on his radar...hopefully. But it was a fun meet and hopefully I'll get to do lessons with him sometime. I can take them with him if I can my doctorate, now matter what my field of study is. Take care and value music. |
Sean A. BrownAn up-to-date overview of my music career Archives
February 2024
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