Let’s face it: playing an instrument is really, really difficult. Even the “basics” that most people cover in their first year or so are a substantial challenge. Think about it: you have to master a new set of physical skills, including precise control of muscles you might not have even known were voluntary. You have to become […]

In my position at South Texas College, I conduct the large Symphonic Band, a medium-sized group called the Chamber Winds, and the small Brass Ensemble. I had done some conducting before, but never as such a large part of my daily activities. Prior to my appointment at the college, I was primarily a performer, with teaching a […]

Since I began preschool, I have spent only six years away from school. I took three years off between my master’s and my doctorate, and it took three years after I finished the doctorate to find a teaching job. But other than those six years, I have always been in school in some capacity. I […]

This past weekend, I presented at the South Texas Brass Symposium. Part of the event was a clinic for high school students preparing etudes for their All-State auditions. During this masterclass, I started thinking back to my high school experience, and what I was thinking about preparing for these kinds of auditions. The etudes were […]