The performance space at Bethel makes for a challenging experience as a soloist. Turner Recital Hall is still basically a multipurpose room with no acoustical treatment. In addition, there is no place for a performer to retire to during works (especially nice for a brass player to get the instrument off of the face for a moment). Basically I played the recital top to bottom with just enough lead time between works for instrument changes and other odds & ends (like placing a piece of wood on the floor to tap on during Elegy for Mippy II instead of the carpet!).

I would like to thank all of the students, faculty, and community members who attended last night. I greatly appreciate your support!

Construction has begun on the recording studio. I will be posting a photo gallery shortly with the various stages of the demolition and construction. While it makes for teaching classes this semester a challenge I am not going to complain, since it is going to be nice to finally have a facility that was supposed to be completed before I excepted the job at Bethel! For now, the rooms will be constructed and the school will still be using my equipment for the next year, but it has been stated that the studio will be equipped with University purchased gear sometime next year.

Proposed Floor Plan

I found out today that I need to move all of the studio gear ASAP since construction is set to begin on January 3rd. From my understanding the studio will be constructed in phases, with the physical space construction to be completed this spring. At that time the recording studio will still be utilizing my gear, but the planned phase for next year is the acquisition of studio equipment.

This is very exciting news, however I only have a few days to move all of my gear to the basement. Seems classes this spring will be in the “dungeon” which should make for a very cozy classroom environment.

Starting with the new year (2012) I am planning on creating a new audio series for the site. It will consist of Ska versions of jazz standards. Why Ska? Two reasons:

1. Its a genre near and dear to my heart
2. Its very easy to create Ska rhythm section parts in GarageBand on the iPad

I see this as a way to better familiarize myself with all of the technological wonders I have available to me, but have never had the time to truly learn. As I produce each cover I will outline the steps and tech utilized in the creating the product. For a test run I have started with the classic “All of Me” to give myself a time frame for the entire process. Hopefully sometime in January there will be another post with the finished tune!

“Nevertheless, ways were found some thirty years ago to degrade this instrument by limiting its use to the worthless and ridiculous doubling of the double-bass part.  Fortunately, this method has now been almost completely abandoned; but in many otherwise beautiful scores one can still find the basses almost continuously doubled in unison by a single trombone. I know nothing less harmonious or more vulgar than this manner of instrumentation.  The tone of the trombone is so characteristic that is should never be used except for special effects.  It cannot be its function merely to reinforce the double-basses, with whose timbre, moreover, it has no sympathy whatever.”