Aspect of Life: Music

Aspects of Life: Music

Click around, enjoy! Aspects of Life: Work Aspects of Life: School Aspects of Life: Music Aspects of Life: Sports Aspects of Life: Tattoos Aspects of Life: Heroes and Friends Home contact me	Music has been one of the most important things in my life. I grew up in a musical and theatrical family. There was always some form of music playing in the background as well some show that was about to be performed. I personally play the trumpet, flugelhorn, and guitar on a regular basis.I've been playing trumpet for about 13 or so years now, and just got into the flugelhorn about 3 years ago. I have many musical idols, and I listen to various different forms of music. I have an open mind to music and I'll give anything a good listening.	Take a look at my instruments!
Trumpet/Flugelhorn: A journey in Brass! I was 9 years old when the Paul Effman school of music came into my catholic elementary school and showed the shiny instruments that we could play. My friend and I decided to take up trumpet...we liked the sound... and I wanted company. However, she didn't end going through, but I did. Early in my music education path, I advance quickly, staying in beginner band for 4 months, before switching into advanced band. I fell in love with the trumpet, the smell, the feel, the sound, the power. I was at the time, the ONLY female trumpet player, and one of the few in the school later on, and in the Long Island Honor Band. This was an obstacle, I often received jeers, and insults..."the trumpet is a man's instrument." I work hard in my 8th grade year, I practiced hard to get into my high school of choice: Holy Trinity. I was impressed by the nature of performing arts there, and I wanted to be under the direction of Mr. Tyrone Jones. I dedicated long hours in the morning, during school, and after to get in. I made it into Holy Trinity, and even in the Advanced Band, but due to scheduling conflicts I had to play in the Intermediate Band, my only prize was moving up to 1st trumpet quickly. I made it into the Jazz Band my first year and stayed with it for my entire HS career. I took courses on jazz improvisation, stayed in Band, securing the first chair in my Senior year, and securing 1st trumpet in Junior and Senior year in Jazz Band. I got picked to represent the school on outside gigs with the jazz combo. I got into the flugelhorn after receiving an invitation to play in the pit for "Into the Woods". The conductor wanetd us to play flugel instead of searching for a french horn section. He was supposed to transposed the entire score for us but he did not, therefore leaving me out of the pit. I did receive a flugelhorn in the process. I rented an Amati flugelhorn and then bought it later on. During college, I went into a musical identity crisis. I got depressed in the program I was in, dropped out and reconsider the life of music. I didn't play for months. After enrolling into Adelphi, I met my current trumpet professor who talked with me and listened to my struggle. I agreed to take lessons, to possibly think of a minor in music. The day my first semester ended...I was in a car accident that left me with a bruised jaw bone and TMJ syndrome. This impacted how I played greatly; my jaw would swell after practice I would get wicked headaches. It felt horrible. However, I played on. I became part of the Adelphi Jazz Ensemble, did a solo piece at a student recital, tackled the Haydn Trumpet Concerto, and the Hindemith Trumpet Sonata, and will be taking on the Hummel Trumpet Concerto during the summer... all of this in a year after nearly losing the ablility to play. I commerated my dedication, and memories in a tattoo...you can see it on the t attoo page. It was an emotional tattoo, but it represents my drive and dedication to my love of music. Hit the getzen, and go to my favorite site for trumpets and orchestral materials For a more general outline of trumpets, check out this powerpoint! Trumpet Powerpoint	Who Inspires Me? Miles Davis Charlie Parker Joan Jett Melissa Etheridge Dizzy Gillespie What do I listen to? Rock, Jazz, Blues, Classical, anything Rock: AFI Aerosmith Alanis Morissette The Beatles Bon Jovi Bret Michaels Carly Simon Guns N Roses Hinder Janis Joplin Jill Sobule Jimi Hendrix Joan Jett KISS Lynyrd Skynyrd Melanie Doane Melissa Etheridge Nirvana Pink Floyd Pogues Poison Puddle of Mudd Queen Red Hot Chili Peppers The Runaways Velvet Revolver Jazz: Charlie Haden Charlie Parker Herbie Hancock Horace Silver John Coltrane Louis Armstrong Miles Davis Ornette Coleman Sam Taylor Stan Getz Sonny Rollins Folk: Indigo Girls Pop: ABBA Avril Lavigne Erasure Gretchen Phillips Kelly Clarkson Madonna Mamas and the Papas Two Nice Girls Classical: Bach Franz Josef Haydn Paul Hindemith Handel Holtz Mozart	Gutiar Hero! Ok..not really! I always wanted to play guitar. My parents played guitar for years, and my family always said it would pretty cool to see me play it. I started my love affair with the guitar in High School. My first attempt didn't go so well...I was playing on my mom's Yamaha classical guitar, and I just couldn't get the fingering down. I stopped my attempt and forgot about it. I got back into it after my sophmore year after I had my heart broken again. I decided to learn it, and maybe find a song to win back love! The first songs I learned were traditional irish folk songs, Hoobastank's "The Reason" and Melissa Etheridge's "Come to my window". I got better and better, but wanted a guitar of my own. Christmas of my Junior year, my grandparents got me a starter pack from Washburn, and I had a brand spanking new black electric guitar. I started to teach myself tabs online, got more comfortable with the narrower neck of an electric guitar. I did end up winning my love back and we would play on our guitars all the time. My mom had a 12 string down in the basement, and after pining away at Melissa Etheridge's 12 string Adamas, she relented and helped teach me how to play it. I thought it would be hard with the extra strings, but it's the same as playing a regular 6 string. After the accident (look over in the trumpet section), I started writing more music, and wanted an acoustic guitar for myself. I had the money, so I ended up buying an acoustic/electric guitar made by Ibanez. It is my pride and joy becuase it is my first instrument that I bought on my own. I plan on buying a backpack guitar made by Martin just because it's an interesting little thing, and I would love to be able to take a guitar anywhere I go... so click here and head on over to my favorite store for guitars and basses!
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