Post by romey1 on Oct 22, 2003 10:17:52 GMT -5
After reading Manny Laureano’s post “Just Wanted to Share a Moment of Inspiration.”
trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=13544&forum=10&5
It reminded me of my experience with Wynton this past summer at Ravinia. One of my students’ families gave me a ticket.
First of all a little background on my student. Danny is a highly motivated 8th grader who was going through a slight embouchure change – his mouthpiece had been slipping down because of his braces. He was playing “in the red.” The week before the concert, I was teaching Danny and telling him how important it is to fix this. He agreed but was a little reluctant. I told him, “Well if you want a second opinion, we’ll talk to Wynton about it after the concert.” Danny replied, “No way, we won’t get to talk him!” “We’ll see,” I said, knowing that I’ve met him after concerts before. “Bring your mouthpiece,” I told him.
The concert Friday night was fantastic. Wynton was with his combo - a treat, since most of the tunes featured him. Danny’s Mom and sister went home, and since I drove separately, I agreed to bring Danny home. After the show, Danny and I waited around near the stage door. Since we didn’t have a backstage pass, we had to hang out for a while – over an hour. Countless students with passes went backstage to talk to Wynton. It wasn’t looking good – security was being a pain.
Finally Wynton came out, and we approached him in the parking lot. I re-introduced myself, not knowing if he would remember me. I then introduced Danny telling him, “We’re going thru an embouchure change, and although Danny knew he has to do it, I thought it would be a little more convicting to hear it from you.” Wynton replied “Show me what you’re doing.” Danny took his mouthpiece out of his pocket and showed him his old “set up” and his new “set-up.” Wynton then proceeded to give us a mini-lecture on the embouchure, the obiculos-oris, the importance of not playing “in the red” etc. Danny just stood there “wide-eyed.”
“You waited out here over an hour to talk to me about this,” said Wynton. “Yeah,” I replied. Wynton then said, “You’ve got a great teacher- listen to him. Trust me – he’s got much better sh#t to be doing with his time than this.” I thanked Wynton, telling him that when I was Danny’s age it was Wynton’s recordings of the Haydn and Hummel that I listened to and emulated.
Let’s just say Danny was pretty convicted after that.
Wynton Marsalis is a “class act.”
romey
trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?topic=13544&forum=10&5
It reminded me of my experience with Wynton this past summer at Ravinia. One of my students’ families gave me a ticket.
First of all a little background on my student. Danny is a highly motivated 8th grader who was going through a slight embouchure change – his mouthpiece had been slipping down because of his braces. He was playing “in the red.” The week before the concert, I was teaching Danny and telling him how important it is to fix this. He agreed but was a little reluctant. I told him, “Well if you want a second opinion, we’ll talk to Wynton about it after the concert.” Danny replied, “No way, we won’t get to talk him!” “We’ll see,” I said, knowing that I’ve met him after concerts before. “Bring your mouthpiece,” I told him.
The concert Friday night was fantastic. Wynton was with his combo - a treat, since most of the tunes featured him. Danny’s Mom and sister went home, and since I drove separately, I agreed to bring Danny home. After the show, Danny and I waited around near the stage door. Since we didn’t have a backstage pass, we had to hang out for a while – over an hour. Countless students with passes went backstage to talk to Wynton. It wasn’t looking good – security was being a pain.
Finally Wynton came out, and we approached him in the parking lot. I re-introduced myself, not knowing if he would remember me. I then introduced Danny telling him, “We’re going thru an embouchure change, and although Danny knew he has to do it, I thought it would be a little more convicting to hear it from you.” Wynton replied “Show me what you’re doing.” Danny took his mouthpiece out of his pocket and showed him his old “set up” and his new “set-up.” Wynton then proceeded to give us a mini-lecture on the embouchure, the obiculos-oris, the importance of not playing “in the red” etc. Danny just stood there “wide-eyed.”
“You waited out here over an hour to talk to me about this,” said Wynton. “Yeah,” I replied. Wynton then said, “You’ve got a great teacher- listen to him. Trust me – he’s got much better sh#t to be doing with his time than this.” I thanked Wynton, telling him that when I was Danny’s age it was Wynton’s recordings of the Haydn and Hummel that I listened to and emulated.
Let’s just say Danny was pretty convicted after that.
Wynton Marsalis is a “class act.”
romey
