Jazz!
Yeah okay, it's been a while.
Tonight was the Jazz I Christmas concert at UMass. For four years when I was attending the concert, it would always makr the start of the Christmas season for me, but in a weird way I couldn't enjoy it as much being in it. I definitely enjoyed it in a totally different way, don't get me wrong. Maybe the Jazz Ensemble party at Jeff's on the 15th will put me in the right mood.
So back to tonight. First I'd like to vent that I played the third movement of the Nutcracker pretty bad tonight. Or more accurately not at all in the last two pages, because my chops kinda gave out on me. It was frustrating because I was really good at that stuff, and had played it better than ever earlier today without feeling any fatigue. But fatigue came out of nowhere tonight. Kinda scary.
But the rest of the concert on the whole was good for me. Keeping in mind that I played the dress rehearsal last night, normal rehearsal this afternoon, and really a 3rd dress rehearsal right before the house doors opened, the fact that I was able to get through the concert with some respectable high notes is a BIG accomplishment for me. I wouldn't have been capable of that coming into the semester. Turns out practicing DOES help.
Highlights: I played all the E's in mvt. 6 (after I had flopped the Eb's at the end of mvt. 3), I got 85% or more of the exposed high notes in the Kenton stuff, I played 95% or more of Blue Christmas just perfect (missed the last high E), I fucking TAGGED the high F at the end of 12 Days, and I could still play the last lick of Auld Lang Syne. If you don't play lead trumpet this probably seems silly, but every note I play and don't play makes the recording, so I keep tally as I go.
When I get the recording, if I decide it's good enough to share I'll make you a copy. Goodnight!
Tonight was the Jazz I Christmas concert at UMass. For four years when I was attending the concert, it would always makr the start of the Christmas season for me, but in a weird way I couldn't enjoy it as much being in it. I definitely enjoyed it in a totally different way, don't get me wrong. Maybe the Jazz Ensemble party at Jeff's on the 15th will put me in the right mood.
So back to tonight. First I'd like to vent that I played the third movement of the Nutcracker pretty bad tonight. Or more accurately not at all in the last two pages, because my chops kinda gave out on me. It was frustrating because I was really good at that stuff, and had played it better than ever earlier today without feeling any fatigue. But fatigue came out of nowhere tonight. Kinda scary.
But the rest of the concert on the whole was good for me. Keeping in mind that I played the dress rehearsal last night, normal rehearsal this afternoon, and really a 3rd dress rehearsal right before the house doors opened, the fact that I was able to get through the concert with some respectable high notes is a BIG accomplishment for me. I wouldn't have been capable of that coming into the semester. Turns out practicing DOES help.
Highlights: I played all the E's in mvt. 6 (after I had flopped the Eb's at the end of mvt. 3), I got 85% or more of the exposed high notes in the Kenton stuff, I played 95% or more of Blue Christmas just perfect (missed the last high E), I fucking TAGGED the high F at the end of 12 Days, and I could still play the last lick of Auld Lang Syne. If you don't play lead trumpet this probably seems silly, but every note I play and don't play makes the recording, so I keep tally as I go.
When I get the recording, if I decide it's good enough to share I'll make you a copy. Goodnight!