My Bands
Salem Elementary School Band:
It started in fourth grade when I got my
first
horn, a student model King trumpet. I loved making music,
although I am not sure you could call the sounds I made back then
"music".
Berwick Middle School Band:
I started homeschooling during this time, but
there is not too much to say about middle school band. I did
begin marching during this time, so that is noteworthy.
Berwick High School Band.
I didn't get good until I made it to high
school band,
That is when my playing skills finally caught up to the junky student
trumpet I played. I began a quest to get a better horn, and I
finally did, some old antiquers, they played with a much nicer tone,
and now I am in love with the sound of an old cornet.
Occasionally I still make guest appearances in the high school band, on
special occasions like graduations, and soldier homecomings.
Columbia County Band:
I participated in county band two years (I
didn't make it to districts
because there were a lot of trumpets in my home town!). My first
year I got 7th chair, and my second year I got 9th chair (I did not
become a worse player, I worked out in the cold all week before hand,
and my lip was crap).
The Catawissa Military Band:
The Catawissa Military Band is a
community band in Catawissa, I joined them at the request of my friend
and trumpet instructor George. We play an assortment of music,
for local audiences. My sight reading took off exponentially when
I joined them, as occasionally I had to sight read concerts! (yes
you do get over that). We commonly play parades, carnivals,
nursing homes, and public concerts. It was also my first
experience with playing more than 3 concerts a year, and often the
music was different from one concert to the next.
A Touch of Brass:
I joined A Touch of Brass at the
request of George as well, it is my favorite band. It is a small
brass group with 8 members, 2-5 trumpets, 1 baritone, 1 trombone, 1
tuba, 1 drummer, and occasionally a French horn. We play a lot of
nursing homes, churches, ceremonies (I played a wedding
once with these guys), and other random concerts. We play a
variety of music, but our favorite types are polkas, religious pieces,
show tunes, marches, classical pieces, and other stuff.
The Danville Community Band:
The Danville Community Band is a
lot like Catawissa, but some of the players are not as skilled. I
still greatly enjoy playing though.
The Mid-Penn Band:
The Mid Penn Band is a once a year thing, all
of the Pennsylvanian bands send members, and we play a concert at
Knobles Grove Amusement Resort, in Pa. It is a lot of fun.