In one of the many rehearsals led by Dr. Speck at U of L, he observed that people who begin in Louisville tend to leave, but those that come here from other places tend to stay.
When I first moved to Louisville, I admit I didn't have much intention of staying. Chattanooga was my home. It was and is a city in the midst of huge expansion and revitalization efforts (VW, Amazon, EPB Fiber Optic Internet, etc.). But something happened...I saw something in Louisville that I haven't seen very many other places.
It started with U of L's trumpet studio. Were we competitive? Sure, but not cutthroat. I learned quickly that I was no longer the big trumpet star I thought I was in my undergrad. But in the grand scheme of it all, it was okay and actually a very good thing. It became clear to me that being a great musician is so much more than being a great player; you had to be a good person to really make it. I found a lot of great, supportive people here and they've pushed me to be both a better person and a better player.
Being a part of the Louisville music community has also helped me be a more honest musician. I know my strengths and weaknesses, but more importantly, I know when to ask for feedback. I've played for free, and quite a bit. Being involved put me in the position to meet the people that make up this city's professional music network. This has resulted in several paid gigs that I'm very grateful to have been offered. The musicians here are honest; firm but friendly. High quality musicianship is important to just about everyone I've worked with, but maintaining a positive and constructive atmosphere seems to be at the forefront of everything musical here in Louisville.
My obsession of the baroque trumpet is a direct result of the exposure and support Louisville and its musicians provided me. Entrepreneurs and business people know that a sure fire way to be successful is to fill a void in the market, even if the consumer doesn't know it wants your product. Early music and baroque trumpet performance is seeing an exciting revival overseas and has huge potential here in the States. Even though the course of early music performance in the US is uncertain, the support I've gotten to pursue this is exhilarating.
As I get ready to apply once more for a year of early music study in Germany, being able to reflect on my experiences here in Louisville will be very beneficial. Being honest with myself and to others but also friendly and constructive will help me build networks on a global scale. Creating audiences through interactive experiences over web, video and education will be the key to making work for myself and other musicians interested in early music. In preparation for this application, I'm planning a recital for September to highlight my experience in music through education and collaboration. Stay tuned for details!
When I first moved to Louisville, I admit I didn't have much intention of staying. Chattanooga was my home. It was and is a city in the midst of huge expansion and revitalization efforts (VW, Amazon, EPB Fiber Optic Internet, etc.). But something happened...I saw something in Louisville that I haven't seen very many other places.
It started with U of L's trumpet studio. Were we competitive? Sure, but not cutthroat. I learned quickly that I was no longer the big trumpet star I thought I was in my undergrad. But in the grand scheme of it all, it was okay and actually a very good thing. It became clear to me that being a great musician is so much more than being a great player; you had to be a good person to really make it. I found a lot of great, supportive people here and they've pushed me to be both a better person and a better player.
Being a part of the Louisville music community has also helped me be a more honest musician. I know my strengths and weaknesses, but more importantly, I know when to ask for feedback. I've played for free, and quite a bit. Being involved put me in the position to meet the people that make up this city's professional music network. This has resulted in several paid gigs that I'm very grateful to have been offered. The musicians here are honest; firm but friendly. High quality musicianship is important to just about everyone I've worked with, but maintaining a positive and constructive atmosphere seems to be at the forefront of everything musical here in Louisville.
My obsession of the baroque trumpet is a direct result of the exposure and support Louisville and its musicians provided me. Entrepreneurs and business people know that a sure fire way to be successful is to fill a void in the market, even if the consumer doesn't know it wants your product. Early music and baroque trumpet performance is seeing an exciting revival overseas and has huge potential here in the States. Even though the course of early music performance in the US is uncertain, the support I've gotten to pursue this is exhilarating.
As I get ready to apply once more for a year of early music study in Germany, being able to reflect on my experiences here in Louisville will be very beneficial. Being honest with myself and to others but also friendly and constructive will help me build networks on a global scale. Creating audiences through interactive experiences over web, video and education will be the key to making work for myself and other musicians interested in early music. In preparation for this application, I'm planning a recital for September to highlight my experience in music through education and collaboration. Stay tuned for details!
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