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Member Name: |
Rod Ham |
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Year Joined
Community Band: |
Charter Member |
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Spouse / Sig
Other, Children: |
Wife; Diane, a true
supporter of my music. Two sons: Craig and Chris |
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Work / Profession
(if retired, former): |
Silicone polymer
chemist at Dow Corning Corp., Financial Planner at Kodak, Retired;
Substitute band director at HFLCS. |
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Personal Pursuits:
(such as:
sports/recreation, volunteer work, hobbies, crafts, family activities,
special accomplishments) |
Recreation: canoeing, kayaking and
boating. Ran two marathons in ’85.
Volunteer: Boy Scout Cubmaster,
Scoutmaster, and Council Nat’l Jamboree chairman; church treasurer, past
pres of HFCCB
Hobbies: deer hunting, fishing,
gardening. Crafts: woodworking, bird carving
Special Accomplishments: Eagle Scout, BSA
- Silver Beaver Award, |
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Music Background:
(such as: your
start, experience, education, mentor, inspiration, interesting or humorous
personal story, accomplishments) |
From strong encouragement from parents;
studied piano for five years and started trombone in 4th
grade. In high school band from 7th grade on; all state band
as freshman, solo-ensemble festivals throughout plus chorus. Our high
school band director created a strong environment for bands and a
significant number of us went on to college bands.
In college, although a chemistry major, I
was on a band scholarship and played in marching, concert and jazz bands.
I enjoyed the marching bands and traveling to Big Ten stadiums and doing
half time shows. Again, strong involvement from parents as they attended
most of my concerts and all the football game half-time shows.
Started trombone again in HF playing on
Music Booster’s float in ’80 or 81 Fall parade. (We were good for three
marches before chops were gone.)
Post retirement: music, music, music.
Took lessons from Mark Kellogg for five years which had a profound effect
on my trombone playing and my knowledge of music. Continued with jazz
improvisation classes and camps. Diane and I enjoy immensely the European
tours that we have taken every three years with the MSU Alumni Band
starting in ’95.
Accomplishments: Certificate in trombone
performance from Eastman’s CED program after retirement, (old dog, new
tricks), learning to improvise and enjoy subbing in the instrumental
department at HF-L. |
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Other Bands
Play(ed) With:
What you most enjoy, or find especially fulfilling, about being a part of
Community Band:
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Play(ed): Michigan State University:
marching, concert and jazz bands
Currently: MSU Alumni Bands, Penfield
Rotary Dance Band, Music Educators Jazz Ensemble, Lehigh Station Bones
tbone quintet, Black Diamond Express Dixieland band, Pittsford Fireman’s
Band, Scottville Clown Band and play musicals. Sub or been past member of
Avon Symphony, Greece Symphony, Greece Jazz Band, Greece Concert Band,
Penfield Symphony, Jack Allen Band, and Gate Swingers .
The band is unique in its social nature
with people enjoying time together and in addition digging into a wide
repertoire of music that is played at a consistently high level. |
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What you most
enjoy, or find especially fulfilling, about being a part of Community Band: |
I most enjoy seeing the increased
proficiency of many of our band members through their dedication to
practice and lessons. Band members are very busy with careers and family;
it is very heartening to see them choose music and their instruments as
one of their main focus of interest. It is very apparent in the
improvement over the years of the individual band members, the sections
and the community band as a whole. |
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Of the music we
play, is there a type or piece that is your favorite: |
Larger than life, bombastic brass pieces
that resonate throughout the concert hall for five minutes after the last
chord is triumphantly played: Wagner’s Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral. |
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