I'm finding it more difficult to sleep with every night that passes. I'm not exactly sure why, but I have thousands of thoughts running through my mind and they seem to be taking control of my brain and how it functions from day to day.
I guess there really is a lot on my plate. Trying to work two jobs, trying to support my family, trying to be there for my friends, and still trying to find time to compose music...it is a lot for me to handle. I guess its true when they say you can't please everyone.
Oklahoma is just days away....I can't hide my excitement for this trip. It's not just hearing my music performed that I'm finding very thrilling. Its the ability to have to work with another band director...the opportunities to work with a hundred bright students who have been exposed to my music. The opportunity to experience a band competition outside of my home state....it just all seems very exciting. I don't know that I'll ever feel ready for this trip though. It feels as though there is so much to do yet, and my brother and I are needing to get things together fast.
I'm sure the trip will be one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I'm going to do everything I can to make it spectacular.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Hail to Chief
I have not known him a very long time, but already I feel like Martin Andraszek should be one of the most admirable directors the music industry has to offer. I just read his most recent blog at blogspot.com and was very impressed by what he had said.
In order to understand the respect I have for this man, you need to understand that the Harrah Marching band does not have a trophy case filled with big shiny awards saying how great they are. They do not have a long line of musical excellence dating back to the early part of the century. They don't win countless competitions year after year.....but that doesn't seem to bother Martin. From reading his blogs, it really sounds like that he loves these kids like they are his own, and doesn't care how successful they may be on the score charts....as long as they pour their heart into every performance and do the best they can do, he's happy. There are not enough band director's like that....many of them consider winning to be the most important thing.
I never felt that way about my band director's, however. Despite Lafayette's wonderful achievements, Chuck Smith was unique in that he let us know his honest opinion before we even knew what the results were. He cared more about execution then he did what some random biased judges thought....and I think that's helped me become a much better musician over these years. I base my music on what I hear, not what other's hear...and I think that's very important as a musician, no matter what field you may be in. If Martin is pleased with his student's performance, he lets them know and doesn't care what the judges think....and that's a personality trait that so often lost in this world.
I guess Chuck Smith and Martin Andraszek, despite their completely different band programs, are very similar in that respect. And I guess its musicians like them that make musicians like me even better.
In order to understand the respect I have for this man, you need to understand that the Harrah Marching band does not have a trophy case filled with big shiny awards saying how great they are. They do not have a long line of musical excellence dating back to the early part of the century. They don't win countless competitions year after year.....but that doesn't seem to bother Martin. From reading his blogs, it really sounds like that he loves these kids like they are his own, and doesn't care how successful they may be on the score charts....as long as they pour their heart into every performance and do the best they can do, he's happy. There are not enough band director's like that....many of them consider winning to be the most important thing.
I never felt that way about my band director's, however. Despite Lafayette's wonderful achievements, Chuck Smith was unique in that he let us know his honest opinion before we even knew what the results were. He cared more about execution then he did what some random biased judges thought....and I think that's helped me become a much better musician over these years. I base my music on what I hear, not what other's hear...and I think that's very important as a musician, no matter what field you may be in. If Martin is pleased with his student's performance, he lets them know and doesn't care what the judges think....and that's a personality trait that so often lost in this world.
I guess Chuck Smith and Martin Andraszek, despite their completely different band programs, are very similar in that respect. And I guess its musicians like them that make musicians like me even better.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Dreams Start in Oklahoma
In just one week and a day I will be flying to oklahoma for probably the one of the most successful opportunities I've had in my entire compositional career. I will be seeing my marching band Suite, "The Elements of Time" performed by the Harrah High School Marching Band. My mind is serving a variety of different emotions due to this upcoming event, and I'm uncertain as to which one I should be following the most.
When I received the initial e-mail from Harrah director Martin Andraszek I was placed into a state of shock. He had expressed interest in my musical idiom and explained to me how he was wanting to have me write the show music for his marching band. Having experienced four years with the Lafayette Marching Band of Lexington, Ky....14 time state champion, and nationally recognized for its excellence in music....I immediately processed memories of the amount of difficult and experienced show music that I spent hours upon hours practicing. Two things went through my mind....."This guys nuts!" and "He really has no idea who he's asking to do this."
....that may have been what went through my mind, but that is certainly not what I wrote in his e-mail. I guess you could say I reluctantly accepted the offer and began working on the piece within the following two weeks.
I never have considered myself a great composer, and I am blind to the talent so many have accused me of having. And often times I have even had meltdown's due to frusteration because my music was not achieving the perfection that I wanted. I still consider myself an amateur, though some say because of my success with sales through sibeliusmusic.com, I have reached the level of professionalism others can only dream of. That being said, there has not been a composition I have written that has ever challenged me nearly as much as "The Elements of Time" has. Writing for a Marching Band was a field I once dreaded ever pursuing, and the fact that this complete stranger...only being exposed to compostions in midi format, and a few less than perfect mp3 performances...wanted me to write his show music to be heard by thousands of people all around the state of oklahoma?? And about halfway through, even I felt like I was in over my head! The most difficult thing for me was to ignore what I've heard the 230 member Lafayette Band produce and write music that could be performed by less than 100 musicians. Probably one of the most challenging feats in my entire life.
But the most important thing - i did it. I put all negative images and self-confidence challenges aside and wrote the entire piece. And I listen to it several times a week - they say an artist should really know his own work, and I make sure i am familiar with every note that sounds.
While the piece is not perfect, will probably not sounds as great as I would like because of the challenging nature, and I still spend countless hours critiquing the work - I can't help but feel a little proud for the accomplishment. And the fact that I will be making it down to Oklahoma in a little over a week to hear it performed - I believe the emotion I should most follow is the excitement I have for this trip.
This is a huge step for me to have the future I desire. How appropriate that this is my first blog, as this represents a huge turning point in what nearly became a lost passion for me.
Still, I have always felt that you can give up on a hobby, but you'll never lose a passion.
When I received the initial e-mail from Harrah director Martin Andraszek I was placed into a state of shock. He had expressed interest in my musical idiom and explained to me how he was wanting to have me write the show music for his marching band. Having experienced four years with the Lafayette Marching Band of Lexington, Ky....14 time state champion, and nationally recognized for its excellence in music....I immediately processed memories of the amount of difficult and experienced show music that I spent hours upon hours practicing. Two things went through my mind....."This guys nuts!" and "He really has no idea who he's asking to do this."
....that may have been what went through my mind, but that is certainly not what I wrote in his e-mail. I guess you could say I reluctantly accepted the offer and began working on the piece within the following two weeks.
I never have considered myself a great composer, and I am blind to the talent so many have accused me of having. And often times I have even had meltdown's due to frusteration because my music was not achieving the perfection that I wanted. I still consider myself an amateur, though some say because of my success with sales through sibeliusmusic.com, I have reached the level of professionalism others can only dream of. That being said, there has not been a composition I have written that has ever challenged me nearly as much as "The Elements of Time" has. Writing for a Marching Band was a field I once dreaded ever pursuing, and the fact that this complete stranger...only being exposed to compostions in midi format, and a few less than perfect mp3 performances...wanted me to write his show music to be heard by thousands of people all around the state of oklahoma?? And about halfway through, even I felt like I was in over my head! The most difficult thing for me was to ignore what I've heard the 230 member Lafayette Band produce and write music that could be performed by less than 100 musicians. Probably one of the most challenging feats in my entire life.
But the most important thing - i did it. I put all negative images and self-confidence challenges aside and wrote the entire piece. And I listen to it several times a week - they say an artist should really know his own work, and I make sure i am familiar with every note that sounds.
While the piece is not perfect, will probably not sounds as great as I would like because of the challenging nature, and I still spend countless hours critiquing the work - I can't help but feel a little proud for the accomplishment. And the fact that I will be making it down to Oklahoma in a little over a week to hear it performed - I believe the emotion I should most follow is the excitement I have for this trip.
This is a huge step for me to have the future I desire. How appropriate that this is my first blog, as this represents a huge turning point in what nearly became a lost passion for me.
Still, I have always felt that you can give up on a hobby, but you'll never lose a passion.
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