Well, its not exactly how people imagine it. Most musicians dream that their professional solo debut is at a place like Carnegie Hall or somewhere similar. Mine turned out to be a park. Yep, that’s right, outside in the elements, no roof. Not exactly the ideal place for most classical musicians. Luckily, I don’t care! […]
Well, summer is upon us. Here in Virginia, it is uncomfortably hot. I was always used to Colorado summers, hot, but DRY! Here it is the same temps (80s & 90s) but there is so much humidity to go along with it! I’ve been going out on runs before work (6am) and it still feels […]
Wow this week has been busy! I feel like I’m back in school…well, minus the homework. I started rehearsals again with the Virginia Wind Symphony, had craziness and gigs galore at work, and to top it all off I had my audition with the principal clarinetist of the Virginia Symphony, Patti Carlson. The highlight of […]
This week I whipped out my Hadcock book for the first time in…I don’t even know because its been that long! I have an opportunity to play for the principal clarinetist of the Virginia Symphony at the end of the month to possibly get on the sub list, so I need to brush up on […]
One thing that I’ve been playing with ever since I joined the Fleet Forces band and got my new Buffet Prestige Bb is the use of the extra Ab/Eb key. Everyone that I’ve met that has had a clarinet with the extra key says that it’s so hard to use that they don’t even bother […]
Exciting musical things are happening in my life! For the first time in a long time, I feel totally motivated about music and performing…hope it lasts! The first big thing is that I have the opportunity to play Mendelssohn’s Concertpiece No. 2 with the Fleet Forces Wind Ensemble this summer! I’m playing with another clarinetist […]
This past week I got promoted to 3rd class Petty Officer! Check out the pics: A very exciting moment in my new career. The next promotion won’t come for another couple years probably so I better enjoy it!
Ok, I really am going to try to make a better effort to blog. Even if its just a little update…I’ve just been too lazy! I guess that’s what happens when I have a job that takes so little work. Anyway, things have been pretty slow at the band. I am usually on only one […]
Lately I’ve kind of had “blogger’s block” with regards to writing about clarinet. My musical life just hasn’t been that interesting as of recently. I’ve been practicing scales and Rose etudes only and haven’t had any inspirations to do anything else. In fact, I took two weeks off of work and didn’t even touch my […]
I’m finally starting to feel settled in at the band (I’ve been there almost two months!) and things are going pretty well. I’m getting used to the routine of going on gigs, and I’ve been on quite a lot. I’m not complaining though, this is definitely what I signed up for! I just love playing […]
Sandy Herrera, Clarinet