Drowning in the Annoyance of Chowder

Repetition: the very word what describes what most of us consider annoying. Think of how you acted when you were a kid. I was adventurous, red-necked, and slightly annoying. I explored the woods around my house all the time. From these adventures I found many things such as skulls from deer and other things that I considered to be amazing. I built club houses out of used varnish cans and even shaped a coke bottle to be the perfect urinal for the restroom. I only used it once. I was occasionally annoying, as every young kid is. When a kid is annoying it is mainly because he or she gets slight amusement out of others' reactions, however I feel that things are changing. Kids are not only finding amusement out of other people being annoyed, but they seem to strive on that feeling. Just as all the others speaking of changes in behavior, I can only find one thing to blame: the media. The following video is made by a person on Youtube who is a fan of a show on Cartoon Network known as Chowder. This show, I believe, will be the downfall of all intelligence and sanity of future mankind.I do not, in any way, expect you to watch the entire thing, because I could only watch the first two minutes and thirty seconds.



This video, at lease the first two minutes and thirty seconds of it, displays many traits that I'm sure you don't want your children to mimic. Among the many are stupidity and disrespect. There are many other television shows that are on that display traits such as these, however, this is the main one that I noticed, as I hear it on a lot while my brother watches it. I advise you, for the sake of a brighter, more intelligent tomorrow, block shows, such as Chowder, that shows how "cool" it is to act stupid.

Solstice Festivities in Fairbanks, Alaska Part 3: Midnight Sun Game

The Midnight Sun Baseball Game is held every year on or near the Summer Solstice in Fairbanks, Alaska. The interesting and unique thing about this game, however, is that it begins at 10:00 at night and plays through without turning on the lights. Below I have posted the last pitch of the game. I had box seats thanks to a friend of the family, Joe Usibelli. I personally believe that the last pitch was a ball though it was called a strike, but either way it was a very interesting game, and the incorrect call was in favor of my team.

Solstice Festivities in Fairbanks, Alaska Part 2: Solstice Festival

The solstice festival is held every year in Fairbanks, Alaska (and probably other places). It features many things such as foods, performances, artwork, and much more. There were many cotton candy stands, foreign food stands, and pizza stands. I even saw an extraordinarily over-priced southern food stand. I wouldn't pay seventeen dollars for a piece of fried chicken. Among the many art features at this event, one that really stood out was the chalk art. Two young ladies were given a picture and were re-creating that picture on the road. These two seemed to be fantastic artists. Their work looked really challenging (though, I'm not an artist, so I wouldn't know). Another thing that stood out was a car with a moose head sticking out of the top. It seemed to me to be quite colorful, and creative. There's not much left to say about the Solstice Festival in Fairbanks. It was a real treat to get to go, and I hope to go again next year.

Solstice Festivities in Fairbanks, Alaska Part 1: The Midnight Sun Run

Warm beads of perspiration emerge from your forehead as you open the door of your well air-conditioned home. The date is June 21st, and you don't care about the summer solstice for the fact that it's 100 degrees outside. A few thousand miles north, however, there are festivals celebrating this under-recognized day. All of Alaska is cheering for the summer solstice not only for the fact that there's no snow, and it's above freezing, but also because the sun never completely sets. On this amazing day, there is sunlight twenty four hours. Some people ask, "How could people sleep in such conditions?" Well, some close the blinds, or even tape trash bags over their windows. As for me, I love the light. It gives you that feeling that you're not actually sleeping for the night, you're having a relaxing afternoon nap.
One of the major events celebrating the summer solstice is the Midnight Sun Run. This run is six miles (10 kilometers) long and has more than 3,500 runners. Well, you can't actually call some of them runners. In the past years I've seen runners, walkers, joggers, skiers, electric skaters, and other forms of athletes. One of the major goals of mine this year is to finish the entire race before 11:30. Another interesting thing about this race are the costumes. There have been Jolly Green Giants, George Bushes, Salt and Pepper, and hundreds of other interesting designs. I haven't left yet, however when I get there, I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures.






Some time later

Well, my short term goal wasn't quite achieved. I got into the finish line at around ll:49 PM. Either way, it was a great experience and I really enjoyed myself. My favorite thing about it this year was the costumes. There were less this year, however, they were much more creative. There were storm troopers and pirates from Samalia, however my favorite was Octo-Mom. Some costumes were even used as advertisements. Lulu's bakery,a local store in Fairbanks, sent out a man dressed as a bagel. Another one of my favorites was a mosquito. This is funny because Alaska is notorious for horrible mosquitoes. As promised, I took many pictures.

Music: Effectiveness of Expressions and Gestures

Music is music. That's what many think, and that, of course, makes sense according to algebraic rules. But, what if music was something else? What if music was a story; or what if music was a dance? Some musicians, such as myself, see it that way. Just as actors on stage in a performance use enormous gestures (to be seen in the back row) some musicians use these gestures and expressions to get their point across. Much of playing music is being stylistic. Much of being stylistic is having a good mindset. So once again, by algebraic rule, having a good mindset leads to playing good music. And finally, a way to achieve a good mindset is to act the part. It's understandable that you won't sway for a song that is vivacious or fast (vivace or allegro) but for those, do something else. When playing a part that is meant to be big and almost nasty (Phantom of the Opera) I tend to tense my face (EXCEPT MY MOUTH!!) and that helps give me a big and almost nasty mindset.
Another good thing to have when performing is a story. There is such thing as good acting (just as there is such thing as good music playing), but how would you like a play with no plot? Probably just as much as you would like music with no plot. When you think of a story in the style of that of the music, the style and interest is displayed in your playing. If you can't think of a story in the style of your music, make one up.
A common misconception for a lot of musicians is that, when you're not playing, all you need to do is count. That, of course being a misconception, is incorrect. What I typically do, is either sway to the beat or move my head to the beat while continuing the story in my head. This helps you keep the style of your song, so that when you come back in, you don't need any time to adjust.

Note: In the following video, you can hear the bass trombone much more than you can hear me(the tubist). Either way, I have the same as everything else you're hearing: Loud, big, and nasty melody.

Excerpt from The Phantom of the Opera

By Andrew Lloyd Weber

Apres un Reve

I performed today at 1:00. This performance taught me a lesson, that I will keep with me the rest of my life. ALWAYS ensure that your valves are oiled WELL, or you could be sorry in the middle of the song. This was the situation with my recent performance. I'd oiled, not an hour before my performance, however I guess I didn't do this well enough. When I was about twenty percent done with the song, my valves began to stick. I fiddled with the valves until they would come up, and finally, they did. It caused a minor set back in, the performance, however the show went on. I decided today that I dislike performing, but every performance is a learning experience, and quite necessary for every musician. Preparing a solo, not only disciplines one, but also helps in noticing small things, such as accents and small dynamics.

Apres un Reve by G. Faure

Charles Woodward, Tuba
Suzanne McBride, Piano

grammar: a thing of da past?

Do you know that when writing, you are supposed to use a comma after a prepositional phrase, but only if it's at the beginning of a sentence. Do you know that that is only true sometimes, depending on the person who wants you to write that prepositional phrase. Do you know what a prepositional phrase is? Rules like these, are driving more and more people away from those rules that make us sound more decent. Some people believe that you should only use a comma after two prepositional phrases. So why bother, if you are probably going to be wrong in the end anyway? Well, when I have to empty my bladder, I find a restroom. When I eat, I eat off of a plate. Not all beings do those things, however, those structured events are what set us apart from other species. I believe that, as humans, it is our duty to be as structured as possible. Those who don't even try to use correct grammar, might as well go and take a crap on the sidewalk or search for bugs on the person who sits in front of him/her in class.

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A Brief Biography of Adriano Banchieri

What do you think of when you hear music? Many people think of the pitches, many think of the tone of the instrument, however there is an element that many do not notice, unless trained to notice it. Without this element, one could dislike, almost detest a song, but not know why. This element is dynamics. There was a time, however, when dynamics were just a twinkle in the musician's eye.
Tommaso Banchieri was born on September 3, 1568. In 1590 he became a monk and changed his name to Adriano. He lived in Italy where he studied the organ and composition with his teacher, Gioseffo Guami, at the monastery. In 1596 Banchieri published the piece "La Organistina Bella" for the organ. This was the piece of music that brought the unknown element that made music more beautiful, and hence appreciated. This was the first piece to ever include dynamics. Over his lifetime, Adriano Banchieri composed many more pieces, that were unexpected, yet loved by his audiences. Banchieri died in 1634.
Many musicians, if you can call them that, dislike dynamics because they are difficult to master. Others, like myself, find them challenging, yet enthralling. Dynamics are what give the audience the feeling that they want more. It could also, if played incorrectly, give the audience the feeling that what they've been given is far too much. It could even be the element of music that makes irresistible and almost addictive. Dynamics could be the most powerful part of all music.

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriano_Banchieri http://www.hoasm.org/VA/Banchieri.html http://www.karadar.com/Dictionary/banchieri.html http://www.naxos.com/composerinfo/Adriano_Banchieri/25963.htm

Two Fantasies By Adriano Banchieri

Jon Kaplan, Trumpet
Jane Aspnes, French Horn
Benjamin Cepeda, Trombone
Charles Woodward, Tuba

Job Well Done!

I am currently studying at the University of Alaska Fairbanks with the players from the Borealis Brass (Borealis Brass Website). I am enrolled at their summer music academy. This academy includes two weeks of non-stop music studying. You begin on weekdays at 8:30 am and don't leave until 5:00 pm. While this is long and strenuous, it has helped me tremendously! A few months (about seven) ago, I decided that I would like to take up the euphonium to continue reaching toward my goal as a low brass professional. I have notice a huge improvement, showing that this academy has done it's job. At this academy, there is a concert every day. Well, today a quintet that I have recently joined performed at that concert, and we got tremendous feedback! I hope that you enjoy the video!

Welcome to Well-Rounded

Yesterday, I was asked exactly why I don't have a blog. To this I replied, "Why would I?" and we left it at that. At that point I began to ask myself what I would write about if I had a blog and what kind of audience would I like to appeal to. This past year, I took a course allowing me to study the fine art of creative writing. I will be taking another writing course in a few months, and I figure what better way to practice writing than to write a blog. This blog is entitled "Well Rounded" because it will follow my interests, which I must say, cover a broad range of topics. I probably will write quite a bit of things about my computer, and tutorials on exactly how to do things. I will also write quite a bit about music. Most of these things will be about the tuba, seeing how it is my instrument. I will also write about my life, which happens to be really interesting right now. I will write about poetry, because it is my second art. Finally, I will write about certain gadgets which I own or have used. With this in mind, I begin my first blog:

Hello, my name is Charles Woodward. I live in Aiken, South Carolina and am loving life right now mainly because I am in Alaska. I come up here every summer to attend a music academy known as the University of Alaska Fairbanks Summer Music Academy. At this academy I play tuba and euphonium. I have been playing tuba for about five years. I have been playing the euphonium for about seven months. I am currently typing on a piece of junk that I've fallen in love with, or rather the things it can do. My current operating system is Ubuntu 9.04. The gadgets that I may blog about are: Zune, Samsung Glyde, Canon Powershot A1000 IS, and more. I will probably do book reviews, and speak of what's happening in the world from the point of view of a highschooler. That's Right! I am currently a junior in high school. I may even share some of my poetry with you, which you may or may not enjoy. I must leave now, but don't forget to check back for something you may or may not find interesting.