Bypass Music School

So, this is the future! We need an electronic euphonium now!

Back in the saddle - so to speak

I know that one of my resolutions for 2008 was to update my blog more, so I will just say that I am beginning this resolution NOW. I'll spare you the apologies and ranting about how busy I am - and just get to typing!

It's been a great semester so far here in PHX. I find after living in the UK, and traveling so much - I begin to use airport codes for everything. Like, I'm going to visit my parents in EVV, or flying back to MCI for a gig or my favorite - going on spring break to OGG. I never got that airport abbreviation. OGG, hmm... well, OGG was great. Mary and I met up with my parents, and my aunt and uncle in Maui for spring break - it was pretty much Mary and I's first vacation away from this place together since we moved out here.

It was great getting to see my mom and dad, and aunt/uncle for a week - and get to relax in the sun as well! I did have to bring along my euphonium for some warming up each day because I had to play my first DMA recital at Arizona State this past week. And - how did it go you ask??!? I think it went pretty well. I think that performing definitely gets easier the more that you do it - just like anything (except typing in your blog... I know... I know...) and this was the case here. I was pretty happy with my degree recital at the RNCM last year, but this felt more natural. Sometimes people ask me what England did for me as a player. I think it gave me a year to mature - put simply. I went over a euphonium player, and came back a musician. I was able to dive into facets of my playing that I didn't know existed. I got to spend close 1-on-1 time with the 'godfather of the instrument', and I guess some of it stuck - even in someone as thick as me.

Right now it's April Fools Day - and I'm going to go ahead and sign off. There is much more I could write, but this will give me more inspiration to write to you all later this week. Have a great day! And for all of you in the midwest with hail, rain, tornadoes and all of that bad stuff - it's 80 degrees and sunny here. Yeah, I'd hate me too.

I remember why I moved to the Southwest...

Right now I'm in Washington DC for the annual U.S. Army Band Tuba-Euphonium Conference. I had to do some things for Just For Brass, and also got to spend some time with old friends - and make some new ones. Definitely a great time, although the weather COULD be better. I really appreciate the weather in Phoenix right now, because it's about 30 degrees and raining right now in DC.

Last week Mary and I ventured into North Scottsdale and took a tour of Taliesin West which was the winter home of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the head of the design school where he supervised young architects. It was really cool seeing the design of the various wings of the buildings, and how he incorporated the surroundings into all aspects of the design.

If you are ever in the Phoenix-area, I highly suggest going to take a tour.

Next week is the first week for my new tuba-euphonium ensemble. It's under the Sonic Arts umbrella, which is an established youth-oriented ensemble (one brass band, and one wind band) and it'll be called Sonic Boom. We're looking to really change the way younger people approach the tuba and euphonium and hopefully to get them on the right track (mentally and physically) before they develop too many bad habits.

It's been a great couple of weeks. I performed the Jan Bach 'Concert Variations' for the Accompanying Department at ASU annual recital where they pair student instrumentalist soloists with student accompanists. The pianist did a great job - and the performance was one of my finer of that piece.

I return to Phoenix tomorrow, and then it's back to the grindstone. Hope everyone has had a great month, and I'll update more soon!

new semester... new things...

Our new semester at ASU begins in a little over 10 hours... geez... seems like yesterday I was sitting in juries - now we get to do it all over again. Oh well, nothing like more school. It's been a great break though.

Mary and I headed out to Missouri to visit her family for Christmas, then we went over to Indiana to visit my family for the new year. It was really nice seeing everyone over the holiday spending some time away from the euphonium... yes, everyone needs a break now-and-then.

We got back to Tempe a week ago and caught up on everything that we needed to. This semester is going to be great, there is a lot happening. First, Mary and I are planning a new addition to our family... no, not a child - better. We're getting a puppy. We thought we'd start small before we decide to bring any children into the mix. I'm kind of a "softy" as Mary puts it, so she'll have to put the iron fist to the dog because I'll just cave when it comes to discipline. Mary says that I'll have to keep my wits about me when it comes time to "say no" to the dog, because she doesn't want to be the one that the dog "hates" all the time.

Something interesting the other day. I was browsing a few Apple-geek websites, and I saw an add for Just For Fun on it from Amazon. I know that your cookies determine the adds that you see, but I had to take a picture of it. Here's a screen shot:


I know it's dorky, but that disc is like a child. I talked with Steven Mead the other day, and he speaks of his discs in the same manner. If people knew how much work those take, they would definitely think twice about doing it before they began... ;)

On the CD front Potenza Music is about to release the Droste remastered disc, which has been in the works for WAY too long. I've had the thing forever it seems like - and the artwork has been done as well. With getting Just For Brass off the ground in late-07, it kinda took the back burner as well. You can preorder or check out the content on the disc by clicking here.

Stepping Stones for Tuba, vol.1 from Scott Watson will be arriving in probably late-Feb if I had to put my finger on it. We're rolling on the artwork, but it's still a little early to set a release date. I just received the pre-edit from Brent Philips who is doing Stepping Stones for Trombone, vol.1 and it's incredible! It has about 8 standard trombone solos plus a live recording of him playing Blue Bells with "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Band. Pretty cool - - - the Marine Band on a Potenza Music recording...

Anyway, I hope that everyone had a great holiday, and I am doing my best to update my blog more regularly. I know that people read it, and I'm sorry for those that think I need to "get on the stick" about the blog. I'm a bit busy, but I'm trying... have a great day everyone!

Happy New Year

So, since I'm getting married this year, I thought I'd post this montage of 'geek' weddings - fit for a euphonium player, I know. I hope that everyone has a Happy New Year!

- Pat

T-minus 5 SEMESTERS...

It's been a crazy first semester out here in Tempe. First, I must say that I don't think I have improved on my instrument enough, but the REAL LIFE application of everything is really worth not improving that much. I have learned so much this semester about teaching and actually running a studio - mainly because sometimes I have to! ;)

We just finished first semester juries here at ASU. As a doctoral TA, I have to sit in on brass juries, and even grade undergraduate juries. I'm not afraid to say that the first time I gave someone a C- I felt a little awkward - like I was somehow crushing them... you know?!? I guess I'll have to get over it. Oh well...

Just For Brass occupied so much of my life for almost the entire month of November. We have been online for 6 week, we've had 108,000 visitors - and things are going great. I'm glad that it isn't taking up too much of my life right now, things are good.

I am almost done with all of the commissions for the new Wind Band disc - now, I'm running into problems finding an accompanying ensemble. Maybe I'm being too picky... Nah - I want this to sound AWESOME, and I need a good band. If I have to wait 10 years - - - that's ok, I'm fine with that... No need to half-ass anything, right?!?

I have finally set my program for my first doctoral recital, and it's shaping up quite well. Here it is:

Auld Lang Syne - Mantia/arr. Meechan
Concert Variations - Jan Bach
Slavische Fantasie - Hohne
Concerto for Euphonium - James Woodward (ASU composer premiere)
Diversive Elements - David Gillingham (with Patrick Sheridan, tuba)

Should be a good show, but I think I might want to add one more piece... anyway, more on that later - I guess...

Well, I hate to make this brief, but I have to get going. I'm here in Tempe until December 21, then Mary and I fly back to the midwest for the holidays. A brief 2 weeks there and then we're back to PHX.

Hope everyone has a great holiday, and an even happier new year! BTW - Just For Brass is running a sale now through January 1 - 5% off orders over $100 (or the foreign currency equivalent) - use coupon code: EUPHONIUM

Happy Holidays!

- Pat

Time to catch up!

It's Tuesday here in Phoenix, and although some of you might be getting darn-right-cold by now, it is a sunny 70 degrees. Today is one of my work days, but I am taking a break to talk with all of you. I am trying to fulfill my promise to update my blog more than once a month. Sometimes, you just run out of things to say, you know?!?

The store, Just For Brass, is taking a lot of my time right now. We are almost done getting all of the products into the online store. I think about 95% of them are in there right now - definitely all of the 'big sellers'. Business is good. We are shipping everyday to the far reaches of the globe. Although I am getting a bit tired of telling people that I can't guarantee their packages arriving unless they paid for guaranteed service! Geez! You pay for 1st class mail, and that's what you get! ;)

Anyway, ASU had their OcTUBAfest a few weeks ago, which went well. We had 5 recitals over the course of a week, and I played an entire second-half to myself. It went pretty well, I think. Later that week I was in the finals for the Concerto competition at school. I played the 3rd mvt. of Martin Ellerby's Euphonium Concerto, which for those that have played it is one of the toughest slow-movements to play well. It is extremely taxing and long, but definitely worth the work. They chose one person in my category, and I finished second to him. Didn't win, but came close - I applaud the person who won though, he played a great piece - and nailed it to the wall. It was his day, definitely. But, I think I'm gonna steal the piece he played....see something good did come out of this!

I found some new music the other day that I think will work well on the euphonium. In 1730, Handel was in Mexico and wrote a series of Recorder Sonatas. These are great pieces - full of life and energy, and I think they would work EXCEEDINGLY well on my instrument... Now, just have to find a copy.

Salt River Brass had their 2nd concert of the season on Sunday - Veteran's Day celebration-type Patriotic Concert. Had a GREAT crowd, and we played pretty well. These concerts are great. This one wasn't too taxing on me, unlike the Circus Concert that we did before this one, but the concert was a lot of LOUD playing, which is difficult in itself.

So, I'm painting my house right now, and I have had my first run-in with the HOA. For those that don't live under an HOA (Home Owners Association) - consider yourself lucky. You would not believe how hard it was for me to get permission to paint MY house. First, I had to submit paint colors... fine, no problem - here you go. Oh, wait - you mean that I don't have enough colors? My house was 3 colors, and it has to stay 3 colors. Ok, so I just have to submit the extra one, right? What do you mean I have to resubmit everything and wait another 2 weeks. But my painter is coming in 5 days! UGH! Well, finally everything did work out, but not after I got EXTREMELY frustrated with the nice lady on the end of the phone. These people will probably come hang a scarlet letter on my mailbox to warn people about the 'jerk from the midwest' who lives there... ;)

Mary has a recital with her quintet this week, so I've been hearing a lot of bassoon chamber music exiting her studio recently. It's nice to hear other instruments other than my own. Hmm. Oh well.

Plans for the wedding are coming along. It really seems like a lot of work. My vote is for Vegas. Definitely Vegas, save $ - less work. Right... my parents would be pissed. ;)

Back to work. Have a great day!