Teens described their music teachers as encouraging, motivating and acting as both role models and friends that can be trusted for listening and giving advice.
When I was in high school and it came my turn to play lead trumpet in jazz band, I was like most high school students and began searching for a way to improve range and endurance. We all want to nail those high notes at the end of the show or the concert! How can we achieve this? Most students at that point get on the internet or go to a store and ask about mouthpieces to help them play higher. Enter the Bobby Shew Lead mouthpiece or the Schilke 14A4a. Too often have I seen students purchase these mouthpieces and after a couple weeks tell me that they aren’t working for them anymore and then ask me, “why not?” There are a number of reasons.
Now that school has been back in session for a few months it is a great time to talk about the benefits of an upgraded instrument. Manufacturers build student level instruments to be durable and easy to play. This is great for a new player but it can become a detriment as the individual progresses. Some of the benefits that you gain with an upgraded instrument can include: better tone, improved range, new features and even different materials that are used when making it.
Another great time about this time of year is that it is rebate season and the most popular one is Step Up to Yamaha! The Step Up to Yamaha rebate promotion provides great consumer offers on some of the finest quality instruments from one of the most recognizable brands in the music industry. This is an opportunity to get a great instrument and receive either a $50 or $100 rebate back from Yamaha. For more information, please follow the link above, or call us at 1-800-382-1099.
Students indicate that arts participation motivates them to stay in school, and that the arts create a supportive environment that promotes constructive acceptance of criticism and one in which it is safe to take risks.
On Monday, September 23, 2019 I was fortunate to visit the Conn-Selmer plant in Elkhart, IN. The point of this visit was to tour the facility, and to personally select professional instruments for the inventory at Paige’s Music. With the help of K. Blake Schlabach, we picked out a collection of Bach Stradivarius 42BOs as well as a King 3B and Bach Stradivarius 12. Through Conn-Selmer’s “Artist Select” program we are able to hand pick each instrument after play testing and inspection to ensure that only the very finest instruments are available to our customers.
In a world with more and more automation it is easy to forget that many of our goods rely on highly skilled craftsmen to complete very precise tasks. Touring the facility and meeting the craftsmen gave real insight into what it takes to make a professional level instrument. Below you will see pictures of some of the steps it takes to create a bell for a brass instrument.
The staff spotlight for September is a montage of past spotlights answering the question, “Why do you love what you do?” Three of our District Managers, Nate, Matt, and Mike, talk about why they enjoy visiting schools each week to support students and directors.
“When a child picks up a violin for the first time, she/he knows that playing Bach right away is not an option; however, when that child practices, learns the skills and techniques and doesn’t give up, that Bach concerto is that much closer. In an increasingly competitive world, where people are being asked to continually develop new skills, perseverance is essential to achieving success.”
Hello everyone, my name is Alex Carter and I am the new Trumpet specialist at Paige’s Music. Not originally being from Indiana, I only learned about the store six years ago after I had moved here to pursue graduate studies at Ball State University. Like most young musicians, I began band classes in 5thgrade and the reason I chose Trumpet is because that is what we had at our house! Lucky for me though, it worked out and I enjoyed playing it.
When time for university studies came I decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree for music education and performance. While I didn’t go on to become a band director, my passion for teaching was (and is) still alive so I continued to practice and learn about trumpet and ended up at the University of Michigan for a Master’s degree and began teaching lessons outside of school. Upon graduating I came to Indiana to continue studying how to teach trumpet and performing with the Da Camera Brass Quintet and several regional orchestras in the central Indiana area.
In the last three years I have been performing around Indianapolis, and subbing in the Louisville Orchestra and Fort Wayne Philharmonic. I have also continued teaching students as part of the faculty at Anderson University and Purdue University – Fort Wayne. I love talking all things trumpet and always enjoying trying new horns, mouthpieces, mutes… you name it! If you ever have any questions please feel free to contact me or come on in to the store. I look forward to meeting all of you and helping in any way I can.
Alex Carter
317-842-2102
317-382-1099
317-813-2465 (direct line)
acarter@paigesmusic.com
www.paigesmusic.com