Author: Benford

I’m a little behind on my blogging. In fact, off the top of my head, I can’t remember the last real thing I blogged about before the iPod breaking, feeling tired and feeling better (and Connie, a little dose of vitamins does do wonders, doesn’t it?). A lot has happened recently, too. I guess the way I’m remembering how long back it’s been since I’ve blogged is to look on my camera to see what’s still on the memory. I have pictures from Super Bowl Sunday on there! So, it’s been about a month? Wow. Okay, enough about my not blogging…let me get to actually blogging.

TMEA was very productive and fun. I didn’t party at all – didn’t feel the need, really – but I went to some good clinics and met up with some fun people. I even got to meet Jonathan Newman! At first, it was without John Mackey but then, I got to hang in line for the All State Symphonic Band Concert with the both of them!!! So very exciting.

The more the days pass, the more I want the iPhone to come out. I’m really excited about the possibilities.

My physical therapy has been going well. Did I mention before that I’m going? I finally got fed up with my knees being inconsistent with the pain so I went to see Dr. Bosquez at Round Rock Orthopedic and he prescribed physical therapy for me. I’ve been going to Round Rock Rehab for about a month now and I can definitely tell a difference. I’m not as consistent as I’d (and my therapist) would like to be but I do get them done as often as I can at home. Dr. Bosquez says he can see muscle development already! YAY for knees with less pain without surgery!!!

The Wind Ensemble is going to the Band of America National Concert Band Festival in a few weeks and while there, I get to conduct a piece called Pacem by Robert Spittal. It’s a beautiful piece and I’ve started a blog about what the music has gotten to mean to me. It envokes so much emotion that I have to write this blog entry in stages. This concert is quite an honor for our band and this ensemble and for the program, we had to submit our bios and a formal picture. In case you didn’t see my picture on my MySpace (*cough*devil*cough*) or Facebook, you can see the picture here. Amy Weison is the photographer and she’s amazing! I’ve taken a lot of pictures (both snapshots and professional) over the years and I don’t think I’ve ever looked this good.

Tonight, I went to the Tx State Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band concert at Jackson Auditorium on the TLU campus in Seguin. Mr. Daniel Montoya, Jr. accompanied me and we had a good time. Frank Ticheli, composer, and John Whitwell, Professor Emeritus Michigan State, was there to perform and conduct several Frank Ticheli pieces so it was a real treat. My band is playing Amazing Grace, a setting by Frank Ticheli, commissioned by John Whitwell, and of course, with both of them there, they performed that piece. (Am I using too many commas – and in the wrong way – in that sentence?) I had a meeting/lesson with Dr. Ticheli on Amazing Grace yesterday and I have such a new perspective on the piece. And to have Professor Whitwell conduct it today with Dr. Ticheli there…wow! All that AND being accompanied by Mr. Daniel Montoya, Jr. …what a great night!!! Stay tuned to Daniel’s blog for some fun updates from today. Oh, Daniel, Fortress IS a Ticheli piece!

Well, I guess I’m almost blogged up for now. I’ll post pictures as soon as I get the pictures off the camera. Hope you all have a good week!