How it All Began...

In the 1980's and early 90's, as the Dallas Brass established itself as a national and international touring ensemble, we experienced time and again the absence of kids at our concerts. It didn't make a difference whether it was a large city or a small town, the kids - including band students - even brass players - were nowhere to be found.

 

Even more disheartening was that often times, particularly in small towns, our concerts would take place at the high school auditorium.  We'd arrive during the day, often cross paths with the band directors and band kids, and figured that we'd see them at the show. Rarely did that happen.

 

In those days our schedule included 50 - 60 concerts a year in small towns in conjunction with Community Concerts, Inc., a division of our booking agency, Columbia Artists Management, Inc. out of New York City.

 

I approached Stewart Nall, the head of Community Concerts, and suggested the idea that each concert association that was hosting Dallas Brass offer free tickets to band students (most every hall we played had a least 100 empty seats). Stewart enthusiastically agreed and contacted each town.  They all bought into the idea!

 

That particular year we had a handful of students show up on two occasions.  That was it.

 

Not the type of person to easily give up, I came up with Plan B.  "Lets invite some band students to come up on stage and play a piece with us in the concert." 

 

It worked.  We typically had 10 - 20 kids on stage - all brass and percussion.  We sent them the music in advance; had a short rehearsal in the afternoon and performed a medley of "America The Beautiful" and Sousa's "Thunderer March".

 

Band directors started to show up, and then parents. I saw how proud they all were of their kids and I saw that they really enjoyed the concert.  But more importantly, I saw what a good time the kids had. We could tell they were pumped! They even wanted autographs.

 

The students also breathed new life into the audience.  Their youthful enthusiasm intensified the energy of the entire concert. It seemed that the audience - even those not related - had just as much fun seeing the kids getting into it.

     After several years, I felt the urge to get more kids involved, so I commissioned our arranger, John Wasson, to write a piece for Dallas Brass with full concert band.  He masterfully crafted "American Tableau", which we continue to play to this very day. 

 

Our average student band is approximately 100, although we have had as many as 300 kids on stage at one time (it was a gigantic stage at a convention center).

 

High school students are at a point where they may or may not see any future for continuing to play once they graduate.  We encourage them to continue on.  There are always opportunities to perform, whatever career path they take.

 

Our afternoons are spent presenting a clinic for the students in which we perform several pieces, introduce the players and give them a little insight as to how we got started and got motivated. 

 

We talk about practicing, breathing, tone production, taking lessons, listening to lots of different kinds of music, going to concerts and striving to be the best you can be.  We try to connect with the kids. 

 

No pedestals. We're "band kids", too.

 

Following the clinic is a student rehearsal for the evening performance.  Led by Dallas Brass members, the rehearsal is in and of itself another clinic as they see how we put something together in a short period of time. We present rehearsal and practice techniques that they can take with them.

 

They also see the kind of standards towards which we strive. We expect each of them to give us their best.  We are in search of excellence at whatever level they are on. You don't need to be a professional to have high standards.

 

At the end of the day, our motto is...

Music For Life!