New Music

Finally finished the score to Alpha Bossa. Let me stress again that this is written for a very beggining steel drum band. the link is this
http://www.tropicalshores.net/downloads/steeldrumcentral/alphabossa_score.pdf (this link will not be updated for a while, keep checking back)
free dowload, but only the score, parts will come later.

Still working on some warm ups, but i am bogging down with my marching band show, had to rewrite the drum feature and block the drill in. If that's not bad enough...I spent way to many hours watching the Olympics. Liked the closing ceremonies, but it's too bad that the Chinese dont treat their own people like they treated the Olympic spectators. Sorry, didn't mean to bloviate.

Hitting the middle of the fairway is better than hitting it 300 yds sometimes

I did okay in the first golf tournament. I played with 2 other experienced player in a scramble, where you always play the best ball. Although i hit several "duds", i was pleasantly surprised to see that 3 times, my ball was the best ball because theirs went out of bounds or something. I also sunk a putt for birdie, beginners luck im sure, since ive never putted before...Still i felt like I made some contributions that offset my obvious embarassment. Our team placed first, albeit by a tiebreaker, so each of us got a $50 gift card to carraballas italian resteraunt. Not bad for my first competition, just happy i was playing with those excellent golfers, i learned a lot.

Trying to finish "Alph Bossa" today and will post links to downlaod it if I do get it done. This tune is for very basic beginners...like 4-6th graders. Or even middle schoolers. I am still trying to put together a book of Christmas tunes (full arrangements). However with marching band in full bloom, I find myself charting shows instead of arranging tunes. I did finish "Jingle Bells" and will post soon as a free "gimme" tune. If you like it, please click on one of the google ads. (even the golf ones).

Still looking for any comments or questions. If you want send a golf tip to me (the pitching wedge is where i need some real help), please do.

Moment of truth is at hand

Tommorrow is my first golf tournament....heck it's my first time on a real golf course. I have been playing at the local course which doesn't even have real putting greens. The tournament is a benefit for a local church and is for a good cause, which is nice because I will need a miracle to save me from looking like a total tard. More on that after.

Busy week in the high school band scene, learning drill and music. It has relatively cool (85 degrees)...not complaining for august. One of the three pieces are done and marchable. good group of kids, one of the best Ive taught in 22 years.

One the still drum front, we have had several gigs lately ranging from programs to 3 hours pool parties. The Kansas State Fair is coming up in a couple of weeks and we play several days during the week.

Really need to finish some of the steel drum musical projects that i started but i have had many orders lately and I just have to make those a priority. Maybe this weekend after the golf tournament?

be well.

Even the rabbits laugh

The HS marching band is learning the opening part of the show quickly...it is a very solid group of kids, one of the best ive had in 25 years of teaching. The steel drum band at the High School is also very good at learning new stuff. There are mostly 2-3 vets in the class with 2 beginners in the group. Our first gig of the year is at Mount Hope fall fest (6 miles away) and we MAY play some songs from last year.

Still working on some new tunes and exercise but i have to admit, i have been on the golf course everyday this week for a round of 9 holes. There are sand greens so no putting yet...in fact, i do not own a putter or a sand wedge yet. It is interesting to me that the dozens of rabbits seem to take no notice of me when i hit the golf ball. They already seem to know that they are in no danger as long as they remain on the fairway. I am making progress but it is slow and frustrating.

It has been a few weeks since i started the blog...wondering if anyone reads besides the couple who have told me. How about a comment....any golf tips? Recipes for rabbit stew?
I will try to post more music stuff, just busy with uniform checkout and other mundane tasks now.

Hope you are all well....Florida: Keep your heads down!!

Regrouping

I need time to regroup. Gotta finish the marching show opener, finish some warm ups and a new piece for a customer. By the way, a friend of mine from florida is wishing to sell a lead and a set of double guitars...chromed i think. They are gill pans and are very nice, having only been used a couple of years. If you are interested, please comment or let me know.

Played a the wichita marriot last night. 2 1/2 hour gig by the pool.. it was not hot but kind of humid. very pleasant.

Practice makes perfect

I have been learning golf for a month under the guidance of my daughter;s boyfriend..(who is quite good). He and i are playing at a local private golf course in a couple weeks. I HAVE to learn how to hit the ball better ..can't get it to go straight. or up...or anything very consistently.
could be in for a very embarassing day.

Started steel drum band today in the High School class. 12 kids, 10 are vets. should be a good year and we should be able to play some hard stuff. It is not an audition group, just kids who sign up. Last year we played at the Kansas Music educator convention and also at disneyworld.

I guess we have a guest pet at our house recently. A medium garter snake fell in the window well and can't get out. We can see him from inside the house...sort of like a snake house at a zoo, only with an element of reality.

still working on the warm ups and the new tunes for steel drum band. If you have any suggestions, please comment. I will do what i can. when i can.

If you think that the USA will win teh basketball gold (mens), click on the google ad.

Brutal

First Day of school, very brutal. Had final band camp and parent meeting last night. Kids did well, it was the biggest parent meeting i've ever had...good sign.

I have decided to write an arrangment of "black magic woman" because i think it would be a great steel drum band song. If you think so too, do click on one of the google ads on this page to show support.

Still working on teh other arrangments, maybe posting later today.

Another School Year Facing Me

Another school year starts tommorrow. The marching show is not even charted yet. I have 2 of the 3 tunes playable but not the percussion feature. Got a lot to do before tommorrow.

Still Working on warm ups and the ew tune (alpha bossa) in the mean time. Hopefully i can use them for my school steel drum bands.

A wet hamburger is more important than a wet bass guitar

Have you ever played a gig where they set you up outside in an obvious rainy situation...and you knew it was foolish? This happened at the gig last night in Wichita. we were set up outside but "under cover"..well the rain came and the wind blew the rain up on us. Then we moved inside DURING our scheduled break which is never popular with the troops as it is our rest time. Of course, by the time we get relocated, it is time to play and also we should have eaten by this point. Makes me wish i had put "extra fee for each move" on the contract so that we would have at least been compensated for the extra effort. The worst part is that the traffic was circling around the food table which was, you guessed it, right in our moving path. I think they were scared that their burgers would get damp. People just didn't understand that we were attempting to move expenseive WET equipment right where they were grazing. Then we took a lot of time to maticulously dry off every micron of our stuff.
I know you have been there so this story (and other like it) is for you, brothers in gigdom.

On a brighter note, I have a customer in FL that has a very young elementary band situation and would like warm ups for them. I will post some samples when i get it done today. Gotta help Jaimie load up to go back to college today. This is probably ( and , I guess hopefully) the last time she will ever live at home with us as a "kid". Not being mean, I only mean that i hope she will be successful and not NEED to live with us here at the Tropical Ranch. Im sure she will, but i will miss her like crazy.

Edit: here are some links to some pdf files, one is to the unfinished warmups and the other to a new unfinished tune called "Alpha bossa" (for elementary or middle school steel drum bands)

http://www.tropicalshores.net/downloads/steeldrumcentral/alphabossa_score.pdf

http://www.tropicalshores.net/downloads/steeldrumcentral/warmups.pdf

help yourself

jaimies tune

Here is jaimie's tune. she is a music major at KSU in manhattan. this is only page one. just wanted you to get the idea. if you want it e mail me at brad@tropicalshores.net

no charge

also below is the link to view the whole score of "enchilada". My son and i are working on how to get fully downloadable files for free music. bear with us please.

http://www.tropicalshores.net/downloads/steeldrumcentral/enchilada.pdf

New ideas

I had a customer ask if there are warmups for steel drum bands and it got me thinking about writing some scales and chordal etudes. I never thought about it before, but the steeldrum band is just like a regular band and it seems logical that they could benefit from scale practices and such.

I have a four hour gig tonight in Wichita. Ouch. dont usually play 4 hour gigs anymore but we had nothing else scheduled so i took it cause the $ was decent. But it is raingin and is supposed to rain heavy tonight.

I have a new chart written by Jaimie (oldest daughter). It is written for Pan and piano and has a classical flavor to it. Will post.

Hot August Day

First day of band camp yesterday...it really sets the idea of starting school for real in your mind. Kids did a great job of learning the two pieces for the show that i have so far. Need to rewrite drum parts.

On teh pan front, I have started a new arrangement of Brazil, hoping to finish it by Augusts end.
But August is a busy month for me, preparing for my real job of teaching band.

Seriously

I really have get down to business with a lot of music projects. Finishing cadences and drum features for clients, finishing my own marching show....recording some songs. Just need to sit down and get it done.

I have working on putting together a collection of tunes for a christmas book (full arrangments). but so far i only have 4 done. I need 10. A lot of people ask for this book. Any suggestions on songs?

Also have been working on a collection of "classical pan" solos scored for lead pan and piano. Have 1 done and 9 to go. Jaimie has finished the first one, and it is very nice. Will post soon.

The Goodland gig was very nice. Nice and cool with the weather dipping to 65 after a rain storm.

To the ends of the earth edit

here is the pic of the score to whole enchilada

To the ends of the earth

Gotta gig in Goodland KS tonight. Playing at the Northwest County Free Fair. This being my home town, I always enjoyed playing here, just don't like the drive (4hours). Starting working on "The Whole Enchilada" today, a song which i wrote at the Fort Hays Band camp for the steel drum class. Will post a pdf of the score if i figure out how to.

Very warm gig at the south hutch mennonite church last night, our home church. It was a block party and seemed very successful with many new faces showing up. 105 degrees when we arrived but cooled to 85 when we left.

www.tropicalshores.net

First Contact

Aug. 3rd

This is my first day with the new blog. I hope that this blog can be an interactive meeting place for steel drum enthusiast of all kinds. (hobby players, pros, schools, etc.) I encourage people to introduce themselves, share ideas and ask questions.

Today our family band, Tropical Shores, performs for our church block party which should be fun except it will be about 100 degrees. It is a good chance for our church family to see us play.