May 2014 – Ed Castro's Blog

Bing Trumpet Method: Book Review

When looking for supplemental material to enhance your practice routines, the internet can easily become an unforgiving maze of information. Recently I discovered The Bing Book for trumpet and all brass instruments by William Bing, and am very glad I did.

After looking through Mr. Bing’s website, I came across a free PDF of his book. I clicked the link then found myself running to my trumpet to play some of his exercises. He’s put together well crafted routines with variations for all levels of brass musicians

Day Job

It’s not a secret that most working artist have day jobs. However the reasons vary for person to person. I know artist who are mechanics, information technology personnel, are involved in sales of all kinds, painters of homes; interiors & exteriors, and of course many of us are in education.

I often think about the balancing act artist have to contend with in order to stay a working artist. The need to keep up with your craft and stay hungry for knowledge about what you’re passionate about. The flip-side of that is when you get into your day job, you need to be good at your day job.

Call it the competitive nature of artist to challenge themselves, or just a plain need pay bill and support your family. Once you are passionate about your work (as an artist or your day job) it’s difficult to un-ring that bell. Your only option is to keep things interesting.

My Green Thumb

Now and again my kid does something that makes me glad to me a parent. At my kids school, students are learning about gardening, which means we are learning about gardening.

I may be at fault for planting the seed for gardening in my kids heart. (Pun totally intended) Last summer we had the opportunity to grow basil at our home. We planned activities around watering our basil. Go food shopping then water the basil. And if you didn’t know, watering a plant with a 4 year old is serious business.

Given all that has been good about the experience, I must confess… it’s getting a little out of hand. We got more stuff than I know what to do with in our town home. Herbs, lettuces, peas, corn…if they have seeds for it in her classroom, we got it at home. Guess we will just need to eat more, learn more about urban gardening and become better cooks.

Pictures taken at the Soundview School