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

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

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.