#TROMBONE TRANSCRIPTIONS BALLAD HOW TO#
#TROMBONE TRANSCRIPTIONS BALLAD FULL#

I’ll never forget this moment for as long as I live, because this moment single-handedly kicked me in the ass. “Look at goody two shoes, mister studious who wants an ‘A’ in his stupid music”! When I became absorbed in composing and no longer available to party, I became the target of all the barbs and pranks of my former cohorts. To this day I don’t quite know how I did it! I sat at my desk, around the clock, for the next month and proceeded to write a three movement sonata for brass quintet. I hadn’t taken composition, so I had to trust my ear and instincts. So I knew that somehow I had to compose a musical piece. I would be a disappointment to myself, my parents, and my professors. Well, I didn’t know squat about the music of the Renaissance because I hadn’t been in class, besides there just wasn’t enough time to write twenty thousand words on ANYTHING! A failing grade would surely jeopardize my scholarship and I couldn’t allow that to happen. Write a 20K word composition about Renaissance music or write an original composition to be performed before a board of examiners. Music was my major and failing was not an option, so when final exams rolled around, I had to make a choice. Playing gigs at the local Elk’s Clubs, beer drinking and partying were at the top of my list in terms of activities, as opposed to an education, and my grades reflected it. I had it all figured out at the ripe old age of 18.Ībout the same time, after missing many morning music classes, because of too much partying, I was notified by the Dean that if I missed one more class, I would be failed for absences and risk losing my scholarship. I could earn a living and still be involved with music. I was a music education major and I wanted to teach.

#TROMBONE TRANSCRIPTIONS BALLAD FULL#

I thought the guy was full of shit at first. You don’t have the patience – and you’ve got IT” (the gift). An upper classman by the name of Randy Snyder, who was an incredible musician and composer himself, came up to me and said, “Hey Jim, don’t teach, play. Toward the end of my freshman year, something happened that helped to alter the course of my life. Together we would attempt every stupid Freshman prank that’s ever been done. I aspired to be a fuck-off and as fate would have it, I had the perfect dorm roommate with whom I could accomplish that questionable feat. It was my first taste of freedom and independence, living away from home. The approval of an audience was addictive and I couldn’t get enough! And I was getting paid to play music!Īfter high school, I auditioned for and received a full tuition scholarship to Quincy College in Quincy, Illinois, where I majored in Music Education. In fact, Count Basie and Quincy Jones actually came to our band practice and conducted us playing their charts – unforgettable!! During my Senior year, I formed my own combo called the Jivetet, got an agent, and began playing for dances and parties. Our band won the state stage band contest every year and were annual guests of honor at the Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival in South Bend.

#TROMBONE TRANSCRIPTIONS BALLAD HOW TO#

He could actually teach kids how to play jazz and really “swing”. George Wiskirchen was well-regarded as an authority on high school jazz band. Then came high school and my encounter with my next huge mentor. This vision lured me into practicing and ultimately developing an affinity for the horn and soon I was actually enjoying what I heard coming out of the bell- I was on my way! He would say, ”You hear that Jim? You could be playing like that”! He mentored me and encouraged me to create a vision. He would sit me down and play his entire music collection for me, take me to clubs to hear all the greats when they would come to Chicago. My dad became a huge factor in my sticking with the instrument. There was many a time that I wanted to quit. I was a little guy and my arms just weren’t long enough. I was out numbered, and my dad was quite a salesman. There were three of them, my two parents and the teacher, and only one little me. Maybe you should consider the trombone- less competition, hence more opportunities”. Sterm, said, “You know Jim, I’m a horn player and it has served me quite well. I said, “There’s no line because nobody wants to play that stupid thing! I’m not gonna look like a fool and play the trombone”. There were long lines for those instruments and my folks suggested I try the trombone- there was NOBODY in line for that!

Like any kid my age, I wanted to try the drums, guitar, or saxophone. They took me to Musical Instrument Sign Up Night at St. It was like I was possessed by this musical drive, and my folks figured, “We better channel this or he’s gonna drive us nuts.” The kind of kid that was constantly tapping on things. My career began one day when I was only ten years old.

Trombone transcriptions ballad