So I've got my songs picked out. I've got arrangements figured out. I have a road map created. It gets really, really fun at this point. If you read this blog much, you'll see that I reference Lari Goss quite a bunch. I've said it before a bunch, but if you're new here...I moved to [...]
Clinton Roemer, Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser, Judy Green Sheet Music That's my 'upbringing'. For a pretty large collection of folks, those words probably don't mean anything. But, for a good number of folks (maybe age 40 and older), this is how you began. A yellow legal pad. This idea represents so many things [...]
I love watching 'behind the scenes' videos for movies. If there are 'DVD Extras', I am watching them. And as a composer and arranger, WHENEVER there is a behind the scenes on the making of movie music, I WILL WATCH IT! (Here's John Williams recording Star Wars - Episode 1 behind the scenes) While I [...]
I sat down in a church orchestra for the first time when I was in 8th grade (about 32 years ago). I had just started playing trumpet the year before that in 7th grade. I sat down next to some college trumpet players and some guys that were out of college. In the orchestra [...]
There is an amazingly powerful choral anthem called 'Psalm 24' arranged by a friend of mine, Bradley Knight, for Prism Music. I remember the first time I looked at it with my choir. They're looking at the sheet music and we're listening to the demo recording. There's an epic intro, a great groove gets [...]
That sounds really cool! I love that record! I love those arrangements! And then sometimes I hear..."I don't know if my folks can play that." I believe in elephants. But I don't believe they should sit on the sofa in the living room without someone at least saying "Hi. How are you [...]
One of the most difficult drives to make late at night is not winding curves or steep mountain grades. But rather, an 8 hour drive on flat terrain on the interstate where you set the cruise on 70 and just go. There is a huge potential of 'zoning out' once you get used to the [...]
Well known actors are cast in movies. Well known personalities are in commercials. How many times have you heard, "From the creators of..." or "From the people who brought you..."? Why does Hollywood do that? Familiarity Hollywood knows that by utilizing actors you have seen before, you could be more comfortable watching the movie [...]
After <many> months of planning, writing, recording, mixing, editing and uploading, I am thrilled to announce that Retro Hymns 2 is now HERE! The last 6 months have been a fun journey of me playing my horn (trumpet) a whole lot. What began as me doing an arrangement of God Bless the USA for Lee [...]
According to Scholastic (www.scholastic.com), here are a couple of benefits to Summer Reading: • Children who read 4 or more books over the summer fare better on reading-comprehension tests in the fall • Teachers typically spend 4-6 weeks re-teaching material students have forgotten over the summer • Reading as a leisure activity is the [...]
