Apr 24

Happy Easter everyone!!

I hope everyone is having a great holiday break and enjoying spending some quality time with family and friends. It’s a bit strange for me this year as my mum is away so we’re not having the usual Easter get together. Although my wife and I are spending lots of time together so that’s always good!!

So we’re in the last week or so of April and wanted to have at least post for this month. Might not get around to writing much in May as it’s going to be an extremely busy month. I am playing in 2 different shows, Chicago and Parade. Rehearsals for Chicago start next week and I am looking forward to getting into it. I have been booked for it for ages and am keen to get started. Unfortunately due to my commitment to Chicago I won’t be able to attend many rehearsals for Parade before the dress rehearsals. I’m playing several instruments for both shows and they will be something like piccolo, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone and baritone saxophone. I’m not playing all of those in both shows but will be playing all of them through the month.

Tomorrow is my first Anzac Day parade as a soldier. I will be playing clarinet which could be quite tiring but very good to develop my stamina on the instrument. I am a bit nervous about it all but I will be very proud to represent the Army and particularly the Light Horsemen in public.

Back to school on Thursday as well. I taught a private lesson today and will start more on Thursday as well. Two of my schools don’t start back until May 2 so it will be a quiet short week next week.

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Jun 06

My apologies. It’s been far too long between posts. No real excuses but have been caught up trying to get through the first semester of University for 2010. Only 2 assignments to go and I’m done!!!

I’ve been doing a bit of playing, but as always not as much as I would like. Did a gig in Sale this week just past playing the soundtrack live to a silent movie. Met some great new muso friends and will hopefully be talking about them on the blog over the coming weeks. Had fun playing that gig and have been doing some fill-in big band gigs as well.

Had done 4 rehearsals for Miss Saigon which is going to open next weekend at the Drum Theatre in Dandenong. I’m playing reed 3, alto saxophone, clarinet and flute and as I am the only reed player playing saxophone have all those saxophone solos that are mentioned in the lyrics of some of the well known songs. Rehearsals have been going well and the cast and orchestra sound awesome so it should go well. It’s playing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in June so that will keep me busy this month.

Apart from playing and teaching and uni stuff, I’m still working on building websites. Have had a few interesting issues there but I think that is mostly resolved. Looking forward to the school holidays coming up soon to devote more time to relaxing, playing, and maybe even getting some practice done. A novel concept I know, but it’s long overdue. Even thinking about getting some lessons again before too long.

I’ll do my best not to take so long to make another post. Hope you haven’t missed me too much. Feel free to make some comments and let me know what you think and that you are out there.

Take care

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Feb 07

Tomorrow I go for a job interview at a new school. Not a new school, but it’s new to me. I said I was going to cut down on the teaching this year but this job seems really great and it’s a full day of saxophone teaching with a saxophone ensemble to run. There are also several jazz bands in the school music program so it’s sounding pretty good!! I’m feeling confident and that it is the right move for me so am going in with a positive attitude.

Had an awesome gig last night at the Blue Diamond Club with the Solar Flares. Beautiful venue, funky tunes and just had a blast!! Sound was at a good level, not too loud, but I could hear my sax clearly which is something I always like.

Looking forward to this week. I start teaching again and have quite a few new students. Not sure what tomorrow will bring but will have to wait and see on that before I have to look at altering timetables or anything like that. Have a gig next weekend with a latin band and may have a couple during the rest of the month but still waiting on confirmation. Would love to play more this year and will living closer to the city it just makes it more convenient.

Check out my site at Used Alto Saxophone.com It’s got some awesome saxophone articles and resources.

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