Recital: Gene Pokorny

Yesterday I had the opportunity to travel to Salt Lake City to hear Mr. Gene Pokorny, Principal Tuba for the Chicago Symphony, give a recital at the Libby Gardener Concert Hall, University of Utah. After the lesson and master class I had with him last week it was a wonderful opportunity to see his techniques in action. He started of the concert with a wonderful transcription of a movement of a Bach violin concerto, which sounded absolutely spectacular on his F tuba. He also played Monument, a piece dedicated to the memory of Tommy Johnson, a beautiful elegy for a wonderful tuba player. I found it amusing that he also included an excerpt "Jabba the Hut" from Star Wars' "Return of the Jedi" which came off as a pretty good solo piece.

I was also very impressed with his ability to fill the hall. It was really just a wash of wonderful tuba sound. His technique and tone are absolutely inspiring. His execution of Anthony Plog's Nocturne and Sonata for Tuba were phenomenal.

I think that the thing that impressed me most of all was his respect for the memory of Maurice Abravanel. When he came out for his encore, he spoke briefly of his experiences with the Utah Symphony in the early 80's; it was evident by the emotion in his voice that it was a very special time in his life. I was impressed with the amount of respect he had for those who had played before and with him in that ensemble, and the fact that he dedicated the first of his encore pieces to these retired members of the Utah Symphony. All I can say is that it was a wonderful evening of music from one of the greatest musicians I have ever personally met.

Every Instrument is Important

For the past couple of months I have been involved in discussions on a Facebook group dedicated to music education. There are a lot of differing opinions about things, and it is interesting to see how people have formed different opinions based on their level of involvement in music education. One common thread throughout the discussions, however, is the sense of the importance of advocacy for all types of music education and the arts.

Earlier this month in a discussion I noticed a young woman who's orchestra teacher had made the decision to remove her and her fellow violists from the orchestra class at their school. Knowing that you can't remove students from a class like that without bad behavior or other legitimate cause, I offered to try to help them secure their place in the orchestra by writing a form letter that they could sign and give to their principal or district administrators. The were able to use the letter to save their places in the class and draw the attention of district officials to their situation.

Music education advocacy is something that is really important to me, and I am always ready and willing to help in any way I can.

Lesson and Master Class

Earlier this week I had the chance to have a private tuba lesson with Gene Pokorny of the Chicago Symphony. It was possibly the most amazing musical experience I've ever had. I mean, we're talking about a guy who had lessons with Arnold Jacobs and Tommy Johnson. If you play tuba and don't know Arnold Jacobs, got online and do some research. Tommy Johnson, well, if you've ever watched movie then you've heard him play...

Anyway, aside from improving my playing hand and foot within a day, Gene had some really interesting things to say about music education. He of course is not a music educator, at least not full time, but he values music education. At the end of a two hour masterclass he took a minute to talk to us, and he told us, "You music education majors are on holy ground." He explained to us that the reason he went into music in the first place was that he had been in a high school program of only 25 kids, a measly one percent of his school participated in band! As he progressed in his education he eventually decided to become a performer instead, but he holds educators in high regards, and gives master classes and guest lectures when possible, as his way of giving back.

I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to have a lesson and master class with such an experienced, talented, and humble performer as Gene Pokorny.

Starting from the Top

Life has a lot of twists thrown in to make it interesting, I think. I have always been a music lover, I started piano at the age of six, and this after at least a year of teacher hunting. So you could say that I was born with a desire to make music. I have made all kinds of music over the years, but I never expected that I would end up emphasizing in tuba. I never even imagined playing the tuba until I was in high school, and then only as a way to march in the band ( I wasn't much of a drummer at the time). I thought that surely I would emphasize in percussion. But, like I said, life twists, and here I am, a music major emphasizing in band education, and tuba. I attend Utah State University, and love it. I have had so many opportunities, in the marching band, wind ensemble, and jazz band, to really expand my horizons musically speaking, that I feel it important to show people just what kinds of things they can do with music in their lives.

In the preface of his book, "Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain" Oliver Sacks said "for virtually all of us, music has great power, whether or not we seek it out, or think of ourselves as particularly "musical." This propensity to music -- this "musicophilia" -- shows itself in infancy, is manifest and central in every culture, and probably goes back to the very beginnings of our species. It may be developed or shaped by the cultures we live in, by the circumstances of life, or by the particular gifts or weaknesses we have as individuals -- but it lies so deep in human nature that one is tempted to think of it as innate..." I think that too many people overlook this essential part of our nature. Society's perception of music has changed in recent years, and many now think it frivolous. It is viewed as an expendable elective, something that can be dropped when the budget gets tight. I would like to share my positive experiences with music, and other's experiences with advocacy for music programs.