new video

here is a new video about minor keys and the scales that are used.

new pan

keep forgetting to mention that i received a new pan from dave beery at smarty pans music. it is a very rich sounding lead and i really enjoy the tone of the entire range. dave does a fantastic job of building and tuning. he is also very easy to work with and his customer service is unbeatable.

Christmas time

Since our school break started on the 17th, i was able to get some extra arranging time in and did, "Hallelujah Chorus", "Again I say", and some other stuff done.

I am looking to start putting together Pan Tunes book number 6 pretty soon. I have a pretty wide selection of tunes and am anxious to get it done.

Nice to have the kids home for a while.

more new stuff

Recently got busy writing again...did arrangements of "silver bells", "I can see clearly now" and "jammin". my days have been filled with school but i manage to get some writing done at night...if i can stay awake.

marching band is over now and seems like life is a little easier...not writing the drum book every night and such.

I have plans to get book 6 started soon, maybe over Christmas break. i have several tunes done but have a lot to do yet.

updates soon

milestones

linda turns 50 today. i turn 50 on sept 21...it used to seem so old. i guess it just seems more natural the older you get.

wrote an arrangment of "proud mary" for a marching percussion line for a neighoring school.

played a great gig yesterday for a wedding in newton. nice people, good food...good times.

i plan to crank out more christmas arrangments before it gets too late, but i am working hard on writing parts for my marching band doing a journey show.

school starting

Well, in service for the next 3 days, then school starts for real on the 18th of aug. Marching band camp starts today and I think it should be a great group of kids. The steel drum band has been selected to perform at the kansas music educators convention in feb of 2011. problem is that i have several newbies and it will be a difficult task to get them ready.

Tommy Bahamas

I have been teaching at a school in KC to help a friend out with his drum line camp. Most every night after the camp, i having been playing at the local Tommy Bahamas island clothing store.

It never ceases to amaze me about the cool people you meet and the interest that the steel drum generates. Perfect strangers are more than happy to engage in conversation concerning the pan. it is very cool.

One more day today and then home to haven to dive into the sea of orders that came in the previous week. It was a good week with more than $900 worth of sales. I guess school really is starting soon.

Band camp for my school is the 13th and I need to really buckle down cause my room is a shambles.

Still have a lot of backing tracks to knock out.

Progress

I have managed to finish several backing tracks and actually sold a few on the web site, seems that people are in need of them.

Also have been able to knock out a couple new full steel drum band arrangements like: jammin, no woman no cry, and such.

Now for the bad news: im already thinking about this school year and all the projects that will be due. Marching, steel drum and jazz band...whatever.

backing tracks

seems like the older my kids get (they are my band), the harder it is for them to schedule in gigs with us. Linda and I have decided to do more "backing tracks" gigs which are slightly offensive to us since we have spent so many years with a live band. but it seems like it is worth it because we could be slightly cheaper and more marketable.

what this would entail is me building "extended" tracks (not like the ones in my books, as they are too short)...to every tune that we currently play. I would also need to upgrade my PA system to be more professional.

kind of excited about the new venture but it is a LONG time before i could get them all done. probably try to market them on the website.

Great weekend in my home town area of Goodland, KS. played for the libraries in colby and goodland and got to catch up with my little bro.

Video lessons

I have decided to make a series of video lessons that can be downloaded. That will be a pretty huge project for the summer, but i think i can get it done. If you have any topics, please don't hesitate to write.

Doing a few new arrangements and a few new singles including Jamming and Trini 2 Da Bone.

Summer is a great time to get some stuff done.

Easter Weekend

I have been inspired to write many new arrangements to add to the website, including a couple of original tunes. Received a commission from a church steel drum band in WV for a piece honoring their senior class of 2011. Might even go to WV to do a clinic for them if the date works out.

Hoping to shoot a new video over this weekend concerning improvisation which seems to be a hot topic with pan players.

I will be attending the "carnival of steel" in dallas over the april 16 weekend. andy narrell and david rudder will be there and i would like to see them.

Happy Easter

new stuff

I have done several new pieces which are posted on my site. i also am working on a new original tune..."Spin Cycle" which is mainly for younger bands.

Also working on a new marching band piece called "Sound Barrier" for my 5-6 band for an upcoming parade.

Today I am at my brother's house in Corona, CA for spring break...traveling with my son and his buddy from school.

Lots going on in the next few weeks, contests, band trips, etc.

Mary ann in C major

recently did a recording of maryann only in C major.

New Year

Well it is already the middle of January and I have been busy writing some arrangements
for steel drum bands...namely church steel drum bands. I had a few requests for some
arrangements.

I am now working on an arrangement of "I Shot the Sheriff" for a school. Then maybe "stir it up".

more later