Monroe, I hear you calling

Traveling to Monroe, LA Friday Nov 15 to do some playing with ULM Horn Prof. James Boldin. Funny guy, great player and new dad. Looking forward to working with my friends and colleagues in the ULM/NELA Horn Choir again next year in 2014.

ULM and hornist Dr. James Boldin's studio Feb. 2013

Friends and students dropping by for a chat before the Monroe Symphony rehearsals and concert, John Williams' Movie Music. What on earth is that pattern in the bell, James, that you are showing off to Kristin??

WILD

ULM - No, not what you think!

ULM's Horn prof. James Boldin

football not included

What do we have here???

ULM Friday, my weekly work routine 10-26-2012

the Hero

The Horn player

James Boldin

So, the hero . . . . . . . what . . . . . ?

Travelling to ULM with KDAQ and congrats to James Boldin

Friday noon found me travelling to Monroe again sharing my driving time with  KDAQ Public Radio, Shreveport. This past Friday's broadcast was from a fundraiser for River City Repertory Theatre. 

My favourite piece was "No More" from Broadway's The Good-bye Girl sung by a friend of my husband's from his dancing days with Ballet Lyrique, more recently re-named the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, then directed by his sister Marion Rogers Mills. Dina Bennett was one of his dance partners during these years when he was a danseur for the company. Dancing was an avocation for him and he had been dancing since he was a tot. He played the Nutcracker Prince in several of the Company's productions. In fact in his real vocation he owned H. D. Rogers & Sons, foreign automotive service (where our own sons also worked for several years) and he still is the best anywhere around at what he does which is repair classic and antique automobiles including our twin grandsons' Mustangs.

Thank you again, Kermit, for a delightful 1 1/2 hour drive. Not sure if it was just my car speakers, but I would liked to have heard more of the strings.

Horn player James Boldin and I spent this work session studying more excerpts and listening to some of the best horn players in the world on CD and DVD. I love the Siegfried Horn Call and the drama it evokes from the audience as he tries to awaken the dragon which is supposed to introduce him to fear, a feeling he has never known. In addition, the 3rd horn part from Brahms' Academic Overture is a really nasty one, but James can belt it out with gusto. The Tchai 5 1st horn solo in the slow movement is one I can relate to and enjoy playing - I played that same solo as an 8th grader at the Solo and Ensemble Band Festival in Natchitoches decades ago albeit in a different key. 

Hornist James Boldin

My sister and I just prior to leaving for the solo and ensemble festival

Lakeshore Jr. High Band uniforms

An old Conn 6-D horn.

Congratulations are in order for James Boldin, the new Fourth Horn for the SSO

Next week, more horn studies

ULM and etc. 14 and 21 September 2012

Wonderful day to spend time driving to and from ULM. And I believe there is a football game on campus this evening which is being televised on one of the ESPN stations. Glad I was able to boogie out of the area a little early this week. 

My thanks to Kermit Poling at KDAQ for providing "a little travelling music" for me to enjoy on my trip to Monroe during the lunch hour. Kermit was the guest artist for the final SSO concert of last season playing Samuel Barber's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, one of my very favorite pieces. On this same program was Hanson's Symphony No. 2, a virtual fiesta for Horn players, Bernstein's Overture to Candide and Peck's percussion piece, The Grandeur and the Glory played by Chandler Teague, Anthony Robinson and Douglas Parmelee. Thanks, for the entertainment, guys!

Today James Boldin and I worked with various mutes and then listened to some of the Bach Mass in b minor, rather the 10th section "Quonium" (bassaria) of 24 sections , the one part in the entire Mass which Bach wrote to include the Horn in the instrumentation. Heard three or four versions, one of which I enjoyed more than the others. Natural Horn sound best to me, but a valved horn version was decent as well. Yep, you guessed it. I am now working on that piece together with my trusty Lawson. Sorry, no Corno da Caccia. No descant horn either. Stay with me, mouthpiece. Exciting stuff.

Listening to the last section of the Peck percussion piece on KDAQ in the ULM Arts parking lot

James Boldin in his music studio

ULM and Dr. James Boldin - work studies - 9-7-2012

Today is my brother's BD. Happy Birthday, Frank, and many happy returns. Celebrating by sending you a card and gift and doing work study with my colleague, James Boldin at ULM in Monroe. Sharing my drive to Monroe today with my grandson Michael who will be visiting a friend who is a freshman at ULM this year. After listening to the beginning of the Friday 12 noon regional orchestra program (SSMF's classical concert of the summer), we turned off the radio and chatted about cars - BMW's, Ferraries, Bentleys, RR's, Lamborghinies, Maseraties and, of course, Mustangs. Oh, and the Shelby Cobra.

James Boldin and his Holton F/ Bflat descant horn.

James and I read through the Brandenburg today along with more duets and other studies that have become a familiar routine with us every Friday. An enjoyable hour of playing, a learning experience and worth every mile of the 200 mile round trip drive. 

Someone in recent weeks queried me, "How do you practice intonation"? "What," I said? You see, I rather have a problem with that question, so my answer to this person (twice, I might add) was, I believe, appropriate - "You either hear it or you don't". Such a simple statement, yet so true. All the exercises in the world won't cure the problem if you can't hear that there is a problem. Or you can hear the inconsistency of pitch and/or the harmony but can't decide what to do with it. Is it sharp? Is it flat? And to whom? Is someone else sharp or flat and to whom? To you? To someone in your section? In the orchestra or ensemble? Now in that case I was speaking of professional musicians. With younger students, a different approach is certainly in order. I used a particular method many years ago when I still taught private lessons.

More later!

Michael Rogers

SJWR - leaving Monroe for home to watch tennis

ULM - On the road again 8-17-2012

Ahhhhhh, "You're getting to be a habit with me".  I'll have to research the composer who wrote that song, but I feel as though I could have written it myself. No, I don't think my sisters and I ever sang that one as we never travelled to Monroe when we all lived here although 2 of us did travel to Natchitoches for the orchestra/band ensemble festivals (on a school bus). Loved to play horn duets, trios and quartets. And we always made a "Superior" rating for solos and ensembles. Judy Causey was in our horn group at Lakeshore Jr. High and later Fair Park H.S.

This time on my weekly trip to Monroe, I certainly wasn't bored. No music this time, but two lanes of east bound traffic suddenly came to a screeching stop when a very large 18 wheeler threw what was left of a tire all over the road right in front of us. Thank you, hubby, for replacing my break pads recently. My Volvo stopped on a dime only inches from the auto in front of me. Whewwwwwwwww! Last week, driving back home, I ran over what appeared to be a huge chunk of scrap metal which I couldn't avoid and heard it whap and clang underneath the car as it worked its way out from under the back bumper. Kept checking the gauges all the way to Shreveport for any signs of a problem, leakages, etc. Harold checked as well a few days later and said I hit it just right - in the middle of the undercarriage. I don't even want to repeat what he said could have been damaged or torn off. Several thousand dollars of car parts!! Plus all the labor,  his labor, of course.

James Boldin and I worked on some excerpts and went through our usual duet routine switching off parts. So, now I have the Brandenburg Concerto No. 1, 2nd Horn part and am reminded of my previous efforts many years ago. It's been about 30 years since I have played it, and I had forgotten what a bugger it is. I remember being on stage some years ago at the Civic Theatre and playing the 1st part to the last movement for some show. Now that was exciting!!!! Or should I say painful? I love those high "c's" . . . . . . . uh . . . . . . I'm speechless. They just go on and on if you are playing ad libitum.


Dr. James Boldin - excerpts

protein bar, green tea, my "bag" and this time, my Lawson,

although I dearly love my Rauch

Passing the time buzzing

An old friend from the past greets me with a "hello" again and a "how are you   playing 
this week?" 

ULM driving time from Shreveport? Depends on the RV's, trucks, day of the week and your choice of music

For me, driving to Monroe to work with ULM's James Boldin once a week has not been that much of a hassle. Now, driving west toward Dallas from Shreveport for the same distance is sometimes a wall to wall nightmare, especially since I-20 West speed limit is now 75 MPH. Yes, that's what I said, for those of you who haven't ventured into East Texas in the past few months. So, now instead of driving 80, motorists, truckers and RVers  are now driving 85. Now that's scary!

So, my trip this week wasn't monotonous, but I decided to listen to the radio. Turned it onto Public Radio, KDAQ, and there I was listening to the "Beatles". I looked again. Did I plug in the wrong station? Where was my Tchaikovsky and Brahms, Chopin and Mozart? It was Regional Orchestra time!! No, It's right where I always have it, my number 1 on the Hit Parade! It wasn't the wrong station. What then? Had to wait for for some commentary, and lo and behold, I was listening to a South Arkansas Symphony concert from last season, 'The Beatles, Magical Mystery Tour". OOOh! "Hey Jude', I was in my younger days singing along, a time when my boys were growing up and everyone was protesting something. Made me feel younger just thinking about those times. Since I have a birthday arriving on Wednesday this week, I tearted myself to an early BD present.

Telemann, anyone?

Holton Descant

Gunther Schuller studies last Friday (plus others, of course) and long tones and duets. I've owned the Schuller studies for many years, but their faint calling to me has been missing over the years and so I am reacquainting myself now with the vigor and vitality they deserve. Did I say that?

James Boldin and his refreshing techniques for Horn study - summer 2012

Some solo work, some etudes and flexibility exercises, listening to famous Horn solo orchestral passages from his shelves of recordings and ending with duos and harmony all around us. Today was my third time to work with Hornist James Boldin who teaches at ULM in Monroe.

Last week I tried and took home one of James' mouthpieces, a Hauser. My very own should arrive later this week. It feels really great and I am impressed - stainless steel cup and rim with the rim coated in a special finish, smooth to the lips and easy on the eye. The performance is outstanding - excellent tone quality, note centering, a fine edge to the sound and easy flexibility, equal facility in all ranges and a tonality of warm sound that runs from loud to soft with the ease of an opera singer's breath. My Rauch loves it and this week I will determine if my Lawson medium - large feels the same way. Our schedules will interfere with immediate follow-ups, but that will work in my favor giving me time to reflect on many things including the future. We will be working together again soon and I promise to keep all of you updated.

More comments to come plus a few photos.

James in his ULM office

real LP's

More work with James Boldin at ULM and thoughts on the beauty of music

I am having the time of my life working with a colleague of mine, James Boldin, at ULM in Monroe. Yes, it's a long drive, but a relatively easy one when you compare it to traveling West the same distance on I-20.

We've compared horns, mouthpieces, study books, solos and duets and ensembles, some of which he has edited himself for his students. If I had had time to teach over the years, I would certainly have done something quite similar. There's more to playing and teaching an instrument than playing loud or fast and furious with little regard for your neighbors. Harmony is everything in more ways than one.

When I was in high school and both of my sisters were playing horn (my brother played as well later when he was in junior high) I used to write and edit songs for us to play as a trio of horns - harmony parts, to get more of a feel for the melodic line and to enhance the chord structure. By the time I was 9 years old (I am the oldest) we could already sing anything in three part harmony, church music, gospel music and popular songs of the times.  We spent several years singing on local television (TV was in its infancy here) and talent shows with TV hosts Hub Brandao and Bob Griffin. We even sang on the local country western shows.  It was a natural part of our lives and it seemed natural for us all to play horn. We three had taken piano lessons (our mom was a pianist and could listen to music and make up her own accompaniment for us) and I know that was one of the reasons our band directors had suggested horn for all of us. It's an extremely difficult instrument to play and much easier to work with if you don't have to think about finding the notes and learning how to read music at the same time.  I could listen to and write down anything I heard which proved to be a god-send when I decided later to major in music.

James copying and pasting - interesting and challenging studies for me 

I will be working with James and others this coming year to try to recapture how truly enjoyable it can be playing the Horn, an instrument I have always been fascinated with even when I did not know what it was called. Radio days will do that to you when there is no TV. No visuals. Just your EAR. Teachers can make or break your spirit - all the more important to respect each other's differences and likeness'es.  

NOTE - for the person who used my search box looking for a trombone mouthpiece, try Bill Causey's Band House in Shreve City, Shreveport/Barksdale Hwy




More comments in future posts -

Working with horn player James Boldin

Today I drove to ULM in Monroe, LA to work a little with a friend and colleague of mine, horn player Dr. James Boldin. I have admired his playing for some time and we managed to go through a few warm up duets and exercises after chatting a while about his recent trip to Thailand to teach lessons to some very energetic and dedicated students who have a passion for the everything HORN. If I can manage to copy some photos that he took while there, I will post them on this blog soon.

Next week we will look at some solos and other duets. It's great to be playing again and I love my Rauch. Anyone need a Lawson medium - large bore? Not much going on for me this summer in the way of music so far. The summer musical I always play with FUMC Shreveport (this year it is "Music Man") apparently is not orchestrated for Horns. 

My husband and I will be flying to Idaho at some point this summer along with my sister to visit another sister, my brother and my mom, another family reunion of sorts. Gorgeous place, nice weather and lots to do. Can't take my horn as I did last year when we drove, only my mouthpiece. No, I don't plan to serenade the passengers. 

You can catch up with James and his tips on horn playing and teaching Horn on his blog:

https://hornworld.wordpress.com/

Photos provided by James Boldin

Alex Noppe, James Boldin, Micah Everett - ULM Faculty Brass

James with Thai students

sightseeing in Thailand

Royal Thai Navy Band workshop