A prelude to the weekend...and an update on the end of the week

Friday, January 16th

While I just posted another update about an hour ago (written two days ago mind you), looking back on how long the past few blogs have been, I figured an update sooner rather than later would be a good idea. I have presented you all with a great deal to read, and figured I'd try to update more often so as to provide you snippets rather than essays to peruse. On that note, lets begin.

I left off having ended a great Wednesday as I conducted and fumbled my way through the percussion section and went into Thursday with high hopes for the evening of Jazz that was to come. I was not disappointed. The day in the classroom went well, as I again assisted the percussion sections, this time playing tympani, crash cymbals (which are not my strong suit to say the least...the results were quite laughable), suspended cymbals (much better), and mallets along with the bass drum I had "mastered" the previous day. I had a blast, as did the students as I proceeded to drop the drumsticks loudly, hitting a cymbal, while one of the secretaries was speaking to Tom and the class. I always have been the unintentional comic.

After school, Tom and I immediately left for Heidelberg, and arrived exactly at our 4:30 meeting time with Jennifer, a long time friend of Tom's who works for a music-education publishing company. A great connection to have let me tell you. She was nice as can be and the three of us headed to Leimen, a small town that really is basically an extended part of Heidelberg based on the seconds of driving it took to get there. We found the hall the concert would be in, found where we would park, and headed on to have dinner in a small German brewery nearby. Talk about authentic Germany. It was a quaint small place with house brews, one of which I sampled and enjoyed it well enough. The food was wonderful (German fries are much superior to American fries, and I think the name "pommes" is better too...its the same in French, but I still prefer it).

We then went to the concert at the Portland building (named for Portland cement across the street), and I met numerous of Tom's teaching comrades and cohorts in crime from his younger days : ) All wonderful players so he tells me and equally great instructors. The concert was wonderful, as we found ourselves having to remind one another they were high school students. They most certainly fit the definition of "creme of the crop." The jazz band director, Jiggs Whiggam, a legendary trombonist, who has played with ever famous jazz artist ever (truly, the question is who HASN'T he played with). He started his career being offered a spot from Count Basie in his orchestra, taking it once he graduated and, since the past trombonist left in a tizzy due to this new young player on the scene, played it all by memory! His resume includes Charlie Byrd, Cannonball Adderley, Ella Fitzgerald, Buddy De Franco, Benny Goodman, and the list goes one...for about another page. Truly impressive. I must say though, even more impressive than his list of credits, I was left in greater awe due to his way with the students on stage. He taught them an art form, pushed them hard, and left them completely in love with what they were doing. He rehearsed them to death, but instead of killing their drive, he ignited it with a passion and joy most teachers can only hope to light inside a few. I had never seen 29 students enjoying themselves while focusing and succeeding as well as this group of students did. Impressed doesn't even begin to cover what I saw there.

Tom and I then returned to his home, and it was everything Sandy and John had told me about and more. What a wonderful place. The next morning, due to my overestimation of how long I take to get ready (it took me 15 minutes), Tom decided we had time to go to his favorite breakfast place in Landstuhl. We enjoyed another early morning breakfast, I with my hot chocolate and crossaint, he with some funny sandwhich that is apparently a breakfast food over here, and had a nice conversation, all before the sun had even risen.

The school day was again a day of learning for me, as one of the 6th grade trumpetters who has been taking private lessons and is excelling at an alarming rate turned the tables and gave me a lesson. Jullianna taught me how to play the trumpet. She taught how to properly form an ombechure for the trumpet, how the hole I allowed the air to come out was supposed to change with the pitch I was playing, and even how I should be using my diaphram! Needless to say she was a wonderful teacher and before I knew it I was playing trumpet alongside the first year band students. It was fun to learn a new skill such as that. It had been a while. Later, I learned to play the snare drum, teaching myself flams, rolls, and paradittles as the other beginning band's lone percussionist was absent. It was the definition of learning on the job, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Tom and I finished the day playing some more jazz, swing, blues, and samba duets, and I believe I am finally letting a bit of my classical training go to the wayside for a bit and learning to swing the pieces as is neccessary. Tom is still doing his best to make me a band teacher, and I must say, while I can't imagine doing it full time, I am enjoying the training process.

Well, so much for a short update. Berevity is clearly not my strong point. Ah well, it is a curse, and unfortunately those of you reading are the only ones who suffer, for this doesn't hurt me a bit : ) I look forward to updating you soon with events in Munich and Dachau.

Until then,
Katie