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Random music, things and thoughts

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  • MusicThis is where you might find recording or general information about music and brass playing.
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  • ThoughtsThis category gives my personal point of view.
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    • Teaching
  • Teaching Orchestra and Band in a Digital Space: Day 1

    It’s hard to imagine how someone could remotely teach an interactive music class like an orchestra or band, but given the current situation, with Seattle being the epicenter of the Coronavirus, this is now my new reality as an instrumental music instructor. This week starts our three-week (or until further notice) experience teaching and learning…

    Ed Castro

    March 9, 2020
    Methods, Music, Teaching, Things, Thoughts
    artist, chamber music, classical music, Coronavirus, COVID19, Digital, education, educator, High School Students, independent school, jazz, Kirkland, Microsoft Teams, middle school students, music, music education, musician, performer, practice routine, school, stress, Teaching, Teaching Remotely, Virtual, Virtual Band, Virtual Orchestra, WA, Washington
  • A Composer Puts Her Life in Music, Beyond Labels – The New York Times

    My new favorite composer and the article about her.

    Ed Castro

    February 19, 2020
    Music, Thoughts
    Caribbean, classical music, Composition
  • My Old Notebooks

    I usually carry a notebook in my backpack. It’s become a habit for me to just pull it out and jot down what’s on my mind or notes from a meeting, chord progressions, tone rows…anything I need to put on paper.  Sometimes I may even take a moment to review a notebook from its first…

    Ed Castro

    February 6, 2020
    Thoughts
    Balance, Dad, Family, father, grieve
  • Tips from Trumpeter Allen Vizzutti – YEB

    Still learning from Mr. Vizzutti. This is a great blog post practical tip for any artist. Making connections is key for musical success, according to trumpet master, Allen Vizzutti. Source: Tips from Trumpeter Allen Vizzutti – YEB

    Ed Castro

    January 14, 2020
    Music
    Brass players, trumpet
  • My Experience With Classical Music This December

    As a trumpeter within the symphonic musical sphere, I don’t always get to look into the audience and notice the demographics of the patrons. A few years ago I started to take stock of the audiences I get the opportunity to perform in front of in December. I wrote about this in a post called…

    Ed Castro

    December 29, 2019
    Music, Thoughts
    artist, chamber music, classical music, December, music, Thoughts, trumpet
  • In Performance | Ruthie Ann Miles – Video – NYTimes.com

    Just ran across this and…wow!

    Ed Castro

    November 20, 2019
    Music
  • How Trumpeter Sean Jones Gets Respect – YEB

    Thank you to the Yamaha Educators Suite for this article. This is a great article for anyone who is interested in Sean Jones and or how leading by example is an effective way to teach young musicians. Source: How Trumpeter Sean Jones Gets Respect – YEB

    Ed Castro

    November 12, 2019
    Music
    music education, Sean Jones, Teaching, trumpet
  • Surprising to me still

    When I think about things that upset me, I’m often surprised about the things that get me amped up and blood boiling. There are the usual thing like humans mistreating one another or lack of empathy toward suffering. You know…war, famine, wastefulness, bigotry, bullying, unnecessary shaming, miss using bacon to make other foods taste good,…

    Ed Castro

    October 31, 2019
    Music, Thoughts
    bacon, Balance, music education, performer, Performing Arts, Students, Surprising, teacher, Teaching, upsetting
  • This might work out

    I recently changed the curriculum of one of my classes to be a more project-based class. My want and desires are to give students an opportunity to dig deeper into a musical subject. As to not make my classes all about performance. It seems as if the only context given for learning about the history…

    Ed Castro

    October 23, 2019
    Music, Thoughts
    art, artist, Balance, education, performer, teacher, Teaching
  • Class Activity

    I don’t usually past about class activities, however, I am making this exception because I’m enjoying the fruit of the activity. On the first day of school, I asked my students to create a playlist of tune to represent how they would like their school year to go. As I tend to do, I put…

    Ed Castro

    September 15, 2019
    Music, Thoughts
    education, educator, Hip Hop, independent school, jazz, playlist, self-doubt, Students, teacher
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