In Which Ryan Is Home For Several Minutes
August 2024 | 5:8
Koopa does not know why Goomba is yelling either.
What's Been Happening
I'm actually at home while writing this at the end of the month! But, I'm also predictably doing laundry before heading back out on the road, so.... baby steps. July has seen a lot of drum corps, a fun visit to Karl Hammond's shop with Rachel Spencer, and prepping for a busy fall of travelling, teaching, and some interesting different writing projects. All in all, the train is still moving and I'm still keeping up, so I hope you can say the same.
May your masks smell pleasant and your packages arrive without incident,
Ryan
Chart O' The Month
In honor of the Bluecoats tradition of Christmas in July, this is the Bluecoats Alumni Jazz Ensemble version of "Jingle Bells" featuring the aforementioned Rachel Spencer on flugelhorn. This was actually the very first chart I did for the project so there's some elements that... well, sound like it was the first attempt, but I'm still pretty happy with it.
BAJE has fallen a bit to the side as non-virtual projects have taken precedent and the Bluecoats Soundsport group has taken some of my bandwidth, but this also serves as a reminder to me to finish up our existing projects and get some more new ones on the docket.
Look, Nature!
This is a Dactylorhiza purpurella, also known as a Northern marsh orchid, that we found on a hike in Holyrood Park by Edinburgh. At this point I'm convinced that my wife can find an orchid within 10 miles of wherever we happen to be standing.
Education Notes
I was selected to present a clinic at the upcoming Jazz Education Network Conference in Atlanta this January, which is both really cool and pretty intimidating if I'm totally honest. The subject is how to use recording as a teaching tool in jazz, especially if you don't know what you are doing and don't want to spend money on equipment, so:
1) If you'll be there, please come see the clinic so I'm not talking to the walls. No comment on if I have practice at that specific activity.
2) Please reach out in advance if there are questions you want to see addressed or ideas you want to have presented, and I'll make sure I attribute them.
Look for an update and some resources as we get closer to the event and afterwards!