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Music Background:
(such as: your start, experience, education,
mentor, inspiration, interesting or humorous personal story,
accomplishments) |
My music playing
started in 3rd grade on one of those fine plastic Yamaha
recorders. In 4th grade my mom’s plan was that I would play
clarinet, but the band director convinced me to play the bassoon instead.
The first week my practice consisted of putting the instrument together
and playing one note. I was a diligent student and those practice sessions
must have seemed incredibly long to my parents – especially since we lived
in a little trailer at the time!
Playing bassoon gave
me the “opportunity” to take on other instruments during marching season,
and I recall playing the tri-toms, tenor drum, cymbals, and tenor sax for
parades. Since I had a crush on a cute little tuba player I learned to
play that a little, too, and in high school I started marching with the
sousaphone.
In 7th
grade I wanted to join the jazz band, but couldn’t convince the director
that a bassoon would fit in. He gave me a school trombone, showed me the
slide positions, and soon I was playing the bass trombone parts on that
little tenor peashooter. My band teachers quickly figured out that the way
to keep me out of trouble was to keep me busy, so they encouraged me to
participate in the all-county solo competitions and play in small
ensembles.
By the end of 10th
grade the high school band developed a need for a tuba player who could
remember to come to rehearsals and concerts. I believe we were playing
Marriage of Figaro that concert, and it didn’t take a lot to convince me
to move from bassoon to tuba!
I received a
scholarship for music camp at Mansfield State College (now Mansfield
University) the summer before 11th grade. The bassoon teacher
at the camp didn’t truly appreciate the creative fingerings I used in the
upper register, but the tuba instructor, Don Stanley, took an interest in
me. I started focusing my attention on playing the tuba and during my
junior and senior years in high school I drove to Mansfield for lessons
with him.
By the end of my
junior year in high school I had decided to go to college for music
instead of medical school. I can’t say that this was well received at
home, but what’s a parent to do? I started as a tuba and trombone major at
Mansfield University and after 2 years transferred to SUNY Fredonia as a
music major in the sound recording program. I spent most of my time there
repairing the recording equipment and that ultimately convinced me to
transfer to SUNY University at Buffalo where I graduated with an
electrical engineering degree. Some people see this change as extreme, but
for me there is a clear connection between music and engineering.
I never completed my
music degree, but I have continued to play in various ensembles. A few
years ago I took trumpet lessons for a few months so that I could play
with a Dixie band. I move between
trombone and trumpet for marching band gigs, but these days I avoid
carrying the sousaphone!
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Other Bands Play(ed) With: |
East Rochester and
Rush Fireman’s bands, Bassically Treblemakers Community Band, Bassically
Dixie, sub for Greece Community Concert Band, and sit in with other bands
and ensembles as time and need allow.
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