Ok.... Here's some publicity about a Saxophone Masterclass by Professor Vincent Gnojek. The pamphlet / application form can be downloaded from here
Here's some bio and info about him and his activities....
Professor Gnojek is currently the Professor of Saxophone and Woodwind Division Director at the University of Kansas, and is a clinician for the Selmar Company. His educational affiliations have included the University of Colorado, Boulder; Metropolitan State College, Denver; the University of Colorado, Denver; and Mannes College of Music in New York.
His saxophone quartet, the highly acclaimed Harvey Pittel Saxophone Quartet has performed in forty-two states and toured internationally. The Kansas University Saxophone quartet, which he coaches, has won its fifth Annual Student Music Award as Best Chamber Music Group in the United States and Canada.
In addition to teaching, Prof. Gnojek also performs regularly, and has recorded compact discs on Mark Custom Recording with the Harvey Pittel Saxophone Quartet, on the ECM label as a member of Steve Reich's Contemporary Music Ensemble, as the alto saxophonist with the Kansas Woodwinds, and on the Sea Breeze label as the lead alto saxophonist with the Kansas City Boulevard Big Band.
Vince Gnojek will be in Singapore from 13th November to 23rd November, and will be conducting a series of workshops and a masterclass. Workshops include 'How to plan an effective practice routine' and 'Saxophone Intonation'. He will also give private lessons to saxophone students and conduct sectionals. Details can be found in the attachment. Students and schools have discounted rates for the masterclass, workshops and sectionals.
Please feel free to make copies of the form and distribute to your students / friends
Do also forward the mail to all the band instructors you know, and saxophonists as well.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Time for one of those posts which make no sense whatsoever to everybody. Yea I know I don't have to put it up here, but putting it on paper / screen gives a better perspective. Why not write on paper? Uh... I still want to be able to read it next time. My handwriting's not all that good. Fine... its damn bad.
Well... how to start... I guess its for the best for it to remain this way. Most likely it will jeapodise everything if it ever comes out into the open. Some things are just like that... sometimes its because of time, sometimes distance, sometimes just plain luck. In any case it is really too soon, not that it will help if it happens a year later. Then again perhaps it will, not highly unlikely... I've experienced it enough to know that it will always be in the back of my head. It is all the 'what-ifs' that get to me. Just like an RPG game. I need a save function. Too bad huh... Not that I regret these 2 decisions, I think its fine and the best thing I can do, but how to stop that bitterness? Sometimes its bad being a musician... your heart gets the better of your head at times. No matter how much you rationalise it won't help your heart one bit.
There. I have the answer now.
Doesn't help my heart though.
PS. Free lunch to whoever guesses what I am talking about.
PPS. Free lunch limited to $10 tops.
Well... how to start... I guess its for the best for it to remain this way. Most likely it will jeapodise everything if it ever comes out into the open. Some things are just like that... sometimes its because of time, sometimes distance, sometimes just plain luck. In any case it is really too soon, not that it will help if it happens a year later. Then again perhaps it will, not highly unlikely... I've experienced it enough to know that it will always be in the back of my head. It is all the 'what-ifs' that get to me. Just like an RPG game. I need a save function. Too bad huh... Not that I regret these 2 decisions, I think its fine and the best thing I can do, but how to stop that bitterness? Sometimes its bad being a musician... your heart gets the better of your head at times. No matter how much you rationalise it won't help your heart one bit.
There. I have the answer now.
Doesn't help my heart though.
PS. Free lunch to whoever guesses what I am talking about.
PPS. Free lunch limited to $10 tops.
Monday, October 02, 2006
Well.... its been quite a long time since i last blogged... for good reason too. One of them is of course laziness and procrastination, but the main thing is.... well the main thing is that thing I suppose. Other factors include PS exams, portfolios, assignments, concerts and etc... That said... here goes
Not going to recap my life this past month or so.
Let's discuss some issues ya? First off... Take time to smell the roses. Now this is good advice indeed, even if you are rushing like mad trying to finish portfolios or compositions. Especially for composing, though I always say deadlines create miracles. Sometimes a break in the flow of composing can make the return much more fluid. Besides that, taking time allows for reflection, like what I am doing now. Certain things look silly from a gulf of 10 years, but some things remain the same, and of course certain things make you regret it all over again. (No I don't regret THAT decision for the handful who know what I'm saying). Times like this make you wish you are in a RPG game with lots of save files. Too bad it doesn't happen this way, so the best way is to explore every nook and cranny to discover all the secrets and secret characters in this one go. And don't pick fights with monsters too tough or go exploring where you are not supposed to yet.
Second... Inner peace. How long has it been since any of you sat down and meditated / listened to a CD / read a book / relaxed? Don't think so. I do. This search for inner peace is something that I have been doing for the past month or so, except the reading part. For those who have heard my recent work Peace, you might have an inkling of what it is like. This yearning is a lifelong search, and for those who cannot bear to look for it by themselves, they turn to, forgive me this is my opinion, religion. Not that I don't encourage people to be religious, but what I feel is that religion is for people who need that extra bit of help. I have no doubt that if I had a church or temple or mosque to go to I might be a better person, but I cannot muster enough faith for such a community. Therefore the search is mine and mine alone. Arvo Part's music speaks to me in the exact same way... the searching for peace within. Listen to the Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten. The last four bars are rests. Hear it and tell me that those four bars are not what you most desire.
Thirdly... The applause. Ask yourself now. Why do you perform? Why do you stay up all night to touch up on a presentation? Why do you feel apprehensive about people tasting your food? Why do you wear that new dress / shoes / top? Its for the approval of others. Musicians and all other art practitioners will know what I am talking about. There is rarely anything more gratifying than the applause of the audience. Not the polite applause, but the thunderous applause which goes on forever. You feel good when your friends say your cookies are 'super yummy' and smile inwardly when they notice your new dress and rave about how pretty it is. You feel good too when your presentation get the nod of approval. We live for such moments, and when no one is there to give it, we do it ourselves. We congratulate ourselves for having written a nice piece of music, for trying out successfully a new recipe, for finally fitting into the 21 inch mini skirt. Since we want approval so much, why not give it to others? The next time someone does a good job, remember to compliment him. It will brighten up his day instantly.
Fourthly... Reflection is the key to life. That's all there is to it, and classic novelists like Dickens, Eliot, Conrad and many more are masters at reflection. Their observations cut to the core of human behaviour and act as mirrors to whoever opens their books. Read them.
Not going to recap my life this past month or so.
Let's discuss some issues ya? First off... Take time to smell the roses. Now this is good advice indeed, even if you are rushing like mad trying to finish portfolios or compositions. Especially for composing, though I always say deadlines create miracles. Sometimes a break in the flow of composing can make the return much more fluid. Besides that, taking time allows for reflection, like what I am doing now. Certain things look silly from a gulf of 10 years, but some things remain the same, and of course certain things make you regret it all over again. (No I don't regret THAT decision for the handful who know what I'm saying). Times like this make you wish you are in a RPG game with lots of save files. Too bad it doesn't happen this way, so the best way is to explore every nook and cranny to discover all the secrets and secret characters in this one go. And don't pick fights with monsters too tough or go exploring where you are not supposed to yet.
Second... Inner peace. How long has it been since any of you sat down and meditated / listened to a CD / read a book / relaxed? Don't think so. I do. This search for inner peace is something that I have been doing for the past month or so, except the reading part. For those who have heard my recent work Peace, you might have an inkling of what it is like. This yearning is a lifelong search, and for those who cannot bear to look for it by themselves, they turn to, forgive me this is my opinion, religion. Not that I don't encourage people to be religious, but what I feel is that religion is for people who need that extra bit of help. I have no doubt that if I had a church or temple or mosque to go to I might be a better person, but I cannot muster enough faith for such a community. Therefore the search is mine and mine alone. Arvo Part's music speaks to me in the exact same way... the searching for peace within. Listen to the Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten. The last four bars are rests. Hear it and tell me that those four bars are not what you most desire.
Thirdly... The applause. Ask yourself now. Why do you perform? Why do you stay up all night to touch up on a presentation? Why do you feel apprehensive about people tasting your food? Why do you wear that new dress / shoes / top? Its for the approval of others. Musicians and all other art practitioners will know what I am talking about. There is rarely anything more gratifying than the applause of the audience. Not the polite applause, but the thunderous applause which goes on forever. You feel good when your friends say your cookies are 'super yummy' and smile inwardly when they notice your new dress and rave about how pretty it is. You feel good too when your presentation get the nod of approval. We live for such moments, and when no one is there to give it, we do it ourselves. We congratulate ourselves for having written a nice piece of music, for trying out successfully a new recipe, for finally fitting into the 21 inch mini skirt. Since we want approval so much, why not give it to others? The next time someone does a good job, remember to compliment him. It will brighten up his day instantly.
Fourthly... Reflection is the key to life. That's all there is to it, and classic novelists like Dickens, Eliot, Conrad and many more are masters at reflection. Their observations cut to the core of human behaviour and act as mirrors to whoever opens their books. Read them.
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