Scott's Journal

I originally planned on using this blog to post only things related to my own composing and arranging efforts. But I thought it would also be alright to comment on events that are a result of my role as a military musician. By virtue of my position, I get to do some pretty cool things! Exhibit one: Yesterday, the US Army Europe Band & Chorus participated in World Bowl XV by playing the anthems and a terrific halftime show. In the game, the Hamburg Sea Devils defeated the hometown and critical favorites, the Frankfurt Galaxy something-to-something. Never mind that, we reached an audience of 48,000, plus whoever watched on the NFL channel! First, a field's-eye view of the band in place: Here's a couple shots of me conducting the American anthem: ..and here's me conducting the German anthem (please keep in mind that when you're on a Jumbotron screen the camera adds 800 pounds): ...and a few shots of the band and chorus during the halftime show. On the other side of the...

Yesterday I did something that I said I would do a while ago, but finally got around to it. I wrote a short piano piece for my son. It is the first of what I hope will be a series of pieces for both he and my daughter (if she decides she wants to play). I don't think this will blossom into anything like Bartok's Microcosmos (in scope, quality, or significance), but it sure was fun! It's nice to just step back and write something short and simple without having to work out a large form or mess with orchestration. Of course, writing for just piano (and a relative beginner, at that) is challenging enough without adding further restrictions. The working title for the compilation: Daddy's Book of Kid Tunage