HSU Trumpets

...50 years and counting

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size
HSUTrumpets Home Laubach's Blog

Laubach's Blog



From Summer into Fall 2010

E-mail Print

To pick up where I left off, the last 3 weeks of band camp this summer seemed to fly by.  Between week 3 and 4, my wife and I traveled to New Orleans to visit some good friends and to see some of the sights.  Neither of us have been to New Orleans, so there were 2 good reasons to go and we both needed a little break.  Ok, 3 reasons. 

Joe Burgstaller's visit to Henderson's Sr Camp was everything I expected.  I heard Joe perform on 2 different occasions when I was in Colorado.  Visiting with Joe while he was here at camp gave me a shot in the arm.  The story of his trumpet playing life and the path he's followed is very inspirational. 

UAM Jazz Camp rounded out the summer.  I had some new and challenging experiences.  One of the new experiences was putting together a tryout scenario for the trumpet players.  I was told when I arrived that I would be judging trumpet tryouts and I needed to come up with the requirements.  Tryouts start in 45 minutes.  I heard a 14yo trumpeter play a 3 octave C scale.  That's right, she played up to double C and back down.  The first thing out of Jay Meachum's(another trumpet teacher and player helping me out) mouth was "don't get braces."  I heard wonderful progress across the board with all of the campers and their eagerness to learn about jazz and improvisation.

The Showband of Arkansas cranked up just after mid-August and I'm looking forward to hearing and seeing the band perform at halftime and in the stands.  Next up is teaching and recruiting...

Add new comment
 

Canadian Brass Trumpeter Featured at HSU Sr Camp

E-mail Print

Former Canadian Brass Trumpeter Joe Burgstaller is the guest soloist for Henderson's Sr Camp this year.  Check out Joe's website:  www.joeburgstaller.com

The concert is Wednesday, July 14 @ 7pm in Arkansas Hall.

Be there or be square!

Comments (1)
 

2 down, 3 to go

E-mail Print

Today's concerts mark the end of the first 2 of 5 weeks of band camp for me.  Last week was the UA-Monticello Jr camp.  The trumpet quartet we put together decided to perform 2 pieces for the campers on Thursday afternoon.  The pieces were Canzon by Samuel Scheidt and Four Pieces for Four Trumpets by Frank Mantooth.  Both were very well received by the audience and a lot of fun to perform.  The players were John Webb, Tom Clary, me(HSU alums) and Melanie Verette(Tech alum).  Tom performed the improvised sections of the Mantooth work and was outstanding as our resident jazzer.  Both pieces had some very challenging sections and, I think, played quite well by all members.

This week was HSU's Jr 1 camp.  It was my pleasure to coach the 3rd and 4th band trumpet sections.  We also had a trumpet quartet consisting of Dr Jim Buckner, Craig Ingram, Josh Jackson and me.  We played Three Renaissance Dances by Tilman Susato and The Rushin' Trumpeters by Don Gillis.  After 2 brief rehearsals we performed at 2 of the 3 mail call areas on Friday afternoon.  I thought both performances went well.  Extra kudos to HSU trumpet student Craig Ingram for his consistently great playing during rehearsals and performances.  He says he's been practicing 3 hours a day.  He played 1st part on the Susato.  The faculty jazz ensemble played for the campers last night and was a big hit.  Next week is HSU Jr II camp.  Week 3 of 5.  Yeeeeeeehhhaaaaaaaaaa!!!!

Add new comment
 

At Least It's Air-Conditioned In Here!

E-mail Print

The UA-Monticello band camp got off to a "roaring" start this week.  Due to a facilities conflict, I'm having the beginner trumpet sectional in a very small dressing room.  16 beginner trumpets, 13 chairs, 10 stands and me in a very small space.  No complaints because it's air-conditioned.  The heat is as bad as I felt since I started coming to Arkansas in the summer for band camp again 10 or 11 years ago.  My wife dropped me off Sunday afternoon and drove our only vehicle back to Arkadelphia.  That means exercise and suntanning through Thursday.

This afternoon John Webb, Tom Clary, me(HSU alums all) and Melanie Verette(Tech alum) gathered to read and pick out a trumpet quartet piece to prepare for performance for the campers.  This is what I call fun.  I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

Add new comment
 

Another Busy Weekend

E-mail Print

The Stardust Big Band will play a dance at The Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs tomorrow night.  This will be my debut as the band's announcer.  In addition, I'm filling in on Mike Copeland's book which has most of the lead parts.  HSU alums playing with Stardust are Mike Copeland and me, trumpet; Jon West and Mike Bryant, trombone; Gary Meggs; jazz tenor sax and retired HSU faculty Dr. Earl Hesse, lead alto sax. 

Saturday night, I'll be playing with Colt and the Old 45's in Branson for a private party.  On Sunday, I'm looking forward to teaching some young trumpet players at the first week of the UA-Monticello band camp.

Much more playing and teaching ahead this summer.  I'm very excited about the guest soloist for HSU Sr Camp in July.  Trumpeter, Joe Burgstaller will join the Sr High 1st band in concert on Wednesday night of that week.  More on Joe later...

Add new comment
 
More Articles...
  • «
  •  Start 
  •  Prev 
  •  1 
  •  2 
  •  Next 
  •  End 
  • »
Page 1 of 2