Chris Fenner's Senior Recital

Hey y'all, At Dr. Cox's suggestion, here is a reminder of my recital. Recital: Sunday, December 4, 3pm. Food to follow, of course, featuring a gourmet cheese platter from Pinconning and desserts made by my wonderful mother. Hopefully this will give everyone a nice break from finals studying (and even if not, Mark has requested that I remind you that it's required). Thanks, and see you at one or both events! -- Chris Fenner Central Michigan University Bachelor of Science - Music Kappa Kappa Psi - Lambda Tau Chapter

Masterclass cancellation

Studio, As you probably suspected, there will be no masterclass tonight. I plan on making up the missed ones sometime next semester. Thanks, Dr. Cox

Monday Lessons

I hope everybody has had a restful Thanksgiving and are ready to get back to the final two weeks of the semester! Lots to do with not too much time. As for me...rested...kind of. As some of you have been following on FB, Wednesday morning Sarah spiked a BIG fever and I had to rush her down to the Grand Rapids Children's Hospital E. R. We figured she would get the "normal" treatment, antibiotics, a few hours in the ER, and then sent home. Boy, was I wrong. It is now Saturday night and I have basically not left the hospital since then. She keeps spiking a fever about every 5-6 hours. Everything looks absolutely normal on paper, she is acting like her normal self throughout this whole event, but the thermometer says differently. Most of her spikes go up and over 103.0 f. Then she goes back down to a low-grade fever for a while, then spikes again. The doctors say it is nothing to worry about, but we just have to ride it out. She and I will definitely be here tomorrow (Sunday). If she can keep the fever at bay for 12-24 hours, they will let her out. It is 5:50 pm (Sat) and she just spiked another fever (taking a nap now that she has some Tylenol in her). So what does this mean about school. Well, unless something seriously goes wrong here, I will be driving in Monday morning from Grand Rapids for normal lesson times. From there, we will be hour by hour with her. If she gets out Monday, my parents will be there to get her. If not, then we (my parents and I, MJ still can't drive because of her cast) will keep working on solutions, but I am determined to keep as many "normal" lesson times as possible. As new news comes our way, I will try and keep you posted each evening as to developments. Once she gets home, then everything should return to "normal" (as normal as the Cox family can get these days). That's all for now. See you in a few short hours (40). Dr. Cox

Wednesday Lessons

Hello studio. Wednesday lessons - Sarah is spiking a fever tonight and I SHOULD be driving her to GR right now. I am way too tired to trust myself to stay awake on the way down and back (returning home usually around 3:00 am). Instead, we gave Sarah Tylenol and I will be heading to clinic first thing in the morning. Because it is the day before Thanksgiving, the clinic will most likely be on a skeleton staff and our wait will be long and tedious. With that, I will not be in tomorrow for lessons. I am truly sorry about this. And MJ can't take her for obvious reasons. Keera, will you let the people that you now in Brass Tech who were going to come to class tomorrow that class is cancelled. Thanks and everyone have a safe and restful weekend!!! Dr. Cox

Pianist for Nov. 20th recital

For those that had MJ as their accompanist, Dr. Tang has offered to step in and play the music for you. I will be getting the music to Dr. Tang tomorrow, so please stop by sometime today or tomorrow to set up a rehearsal time with her. I will (should) be in the office to teach tomorrow. I have a meeting at Shepherd Elem. at 8:00 am, and then will come to CMU. Monday and Tuesday lessons, please stop by and schedule a make-up lesson for later in the week. Dr. Cox PS - as of 2:15 pm, MJ went in for surgery. I am sitting in the waiting room at the hospital and will be here (at the hospital) for most of the evening.

MJ update - Monday night

Hello all. It looks like I fixed the bug with the email notification of this blog. So here is the update for MJ. We went to the ortho today and he said "you did quite a number on your ankle." He then told her that she needed surgery and that he would be doing it TOMORROW (Tuesday). She will need a plate and screws on one side of her ankle and just screws on the other. She will spend the night in the hospital and get out on Wednesday. The prognosis: no weight-beaing for 8 weeks. Several different types of casts. No driving for 8 weeks. So what does this mean. 1. No lessons tomorrow. I will be in the hospital with her for the day. I am planning on making up the lessons either on Friday (in between sessions with Instrumental Workshop) or on Saturday (and possibly Sunday). As I know more about how she is doing, I will then contact you individually (Monday and Tuesday lessons) and reschedule the lessons. 2. Wednesday night is Harvest Dinner at the Presby. Lots of turkey and great food. Free and open to anyone. Those older students who have gone to it, please offer rides to ones who can't get there, or, who have not experienced the feast. The food is free. If you want to make something and bring a plate to "pass," (buffet style) please feel free (again, you are not required to do it). - CF - you will be playing the second part of the night, around 6:35. The saxophones will be performing at the beginning. 3. Studio recital (20 Nov.) - MJ is not sure if she is going to be able to play for those that need her for the Sunday, 20 Nov. recital. If she can't, she (and I) will try to find a replacement for you. IF you have somebody you want to use, please feel free to GET THEM NOW. 4. There is a Miraphone M5000 Ambassador compensating euphonium for sale by a former student of mine. Mint condition. Cost $6,500, willing to sell it for $4,500-$5,000. If interested, please let me know. 5. Instrumental Workshop is Friday. Here is the schedule: -CMU Instrumental Workshop November 18, 2011 8:00 Registration - - Music Building Lobby Staples Family Concert Hall-Central Wails 8:30 Presentation for all instruments-“What is Music…really?” Staples Family Concert Hall 9:15 WW, Perc.- Staples Family Concert Hall Keyboard - room 218 Trumpets - room 156 Tuba/Euphonium - room 157 (you do not need your instruments. If you are free, please be here and help conduct a breathing seminar. You will each have 3-5 students to teach breathing to towards the end) Horns - room 217 Trombones - room 155 Violin - room 230 231 (viola), 119 (cello), 173 (basses) Viola - room 231 Cello - room 119 String Bass - room 173 10:30 Brass - Staples Family Concert Hall (T/E studio Not needed. But, come hear the first performance of the faculty brass quintet Keyboard - room 218 Flutes - Chamichian Recital Hall Clarinets - room 157 Oboes - room 230 Saxophones - room 156 Bassoons - room 231 Violins - room 217 Violas - room 236 Cello - room 119 String Basses - room 173 Percussion - room 155 11:45 LUNCH (on your own) Percussion - 156 1:00 Strings – Chamichian Recital Hall Flutes - Moore Kiva Oboes - lobby Clarinets - rooms 230 & 231, bass clarinets - room 218 Saxophones - room 156 Bassoons - lobby Trumpet - Staples Family Concert Hall Horn - room 217 Trombone – room 155 Tuba/Euphonium - room 157 (T/E Studio. Bring your horns to perform Christmas carols with the high school students. CF and I will also be performing at this slot). Percussion – TBA 2:15 Keyboard - Chamichian Recital Hall Strings - room 156 Winds & Percussion - CMU Symphonic Wind Ensemble Performance, Staples Family Concert Hall 3:00 Departure --------- I think that is about it for now. Keep MJ in your thoughts over the next few days. She is extremely frustrated that she can't play right now. If you need me tomorrow, and IT IS IMPORTANT, then give my cell phone a call. Most likely I will be at the hospital all day. That's it for now. Again, thanks for your patience. Dr. Cox PS - CF, don't forget you are also playing for the Honor Band concert on Sunday.

(This is getting reposted for the 2nd time. It seems that the blog has not beens sending out emails. I hope I have this fixed. I did not receive a copy of my own email, like I always do. If you received it last two times, then please just ignore it. Thank you). OK, everyone (originally sent Sunday night). The Cox adventure continues. As some of you heard Friday night at the studio party, my wife called and said she was being taken to the Reed City (look it up on a map) E. R. because she fell and hurt her ankle. Sarah and MJ were at Springfield Camp for the weekend. They had just gotten there a few hours earlier. While at a concert, MJ stepped on a stair and directly onto someone's shoes. When she fell, she said her ankle sounded like a big branch breaking. I arrived at the ER at 10:40 pm. They X-rayed her right ankle and found that she had fractured it in three different spots. After much debate, a second set of X-rays, they decided not to send her via ambulance to Grand Rapids, but let her go home in a temporary cast. I went to the camp and picked up Sarah (1:00 am) and went back to the ER to get MJ. By the time they us out of there, we did not get home until 4:00 am!!! So, to say the least, things have once again drastically changed around our house. For the time being, MJ can't: drive, play piano, cook, teach, etc. So here is what I need from you all (mostly a little patience as we work our way through this next week). 1a. MJ has an orthopedic appointment SOMETIME tomorrow. We do not have a time, yet. We will call first thing in the morning to find out when. Once I know the time, I will need to contact those who have lessons and move them around. Since I missed last week lessons because I was sick, I don't want to postpone tomorrow to another day. Instead, I want to find a time TOMORROW to teach your lesson. This is going to take A LOT of arranging on my part. Tomorrow is also PART 4 Playing/Written exam for Brass Tech!!! I will have my GA (Jeff Crabtree) give the entire exam. That opens a lot of time for me. Again, I will not know when the appointment is until tomorrow in the a. m. 1b. As I get to know the schedule for tomorrow, lessons may either be at their normal times; taught in the early afternoon, or in the late afternoon (depending on YOUR schedule). 1c. Drew and Sammy - would you send me your cell phone number so I can contact you. Dan W., I already have yours. 2. Tomorrow night I will have to cancel the masterclass. MJ can't be left alone for now. She is not great with the crutches and has almost fallen a couple of times. And with the kids around...you can imagine. 3. After the orhto appointment tomorrow morning, we will know a WHOLE LOT more of what MJ can/can't do. We are not sure whether she will have to have surgery or not! So, if you have her as an accompanist for the studio recital on the 20th, and want to find another pianist, that is fine. She totally understands. The ortho might tell her she can't play piano for an extended amount of time. OR, he might let her play after she has a permanent cast on. More by the afternoon. I will send out a message once I know. 4. Tuesday lessons should be fine, as far as I can tell. The trombone ensemble concert is still required, but I won't be able to be there. Again, MJ can't be left alone with the kids. (She can't get up and down well, let alone get up and down the stairs). Again, I am once again asking for you patience over the next few days. More later. Thanks, Dr. Cox

Studio. Though I am not in my office today, we WILL be having the dress rehearsal TONIGHT as planned. Please be in your seat ready to play by 8:00 pm. As to me, my family have all been sick and I have been trying to avoid it at all cost. Unfortunately, last night I started to get a soar throat, which has only gotten worse today (along with other minor symptoms). By staying home today, I am hoping it does not get a hold of me as it did my wife. See you tonight at 8:00 pm. Dr. Cox

Good morning all. For those in the marching band, great job at homecoming...you did us proud! IAnd, for anybody interested, I just received this email from SSG Lafosse about the 2012 National Collegiate Solo Competition: "Classification: UNCLASSIFIED The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” is pleased to announce the call for entries for the 2012 National Collegiate Solo Competition! The winner of this competition will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, DC, to be the featured soloist with The U.S. Army Concert Band in two live performances on June 8 and 9, 2012 as part of its Summer Concert Series. Requirements: * Open to woodwind, brass, and percussion instrumentalists currently enrolled in a college, university, or conservatory in the United States. * Must be age 27 or under as of January 1, 2012. * Repertoire selected by applicant must exist as a published band arrangement. * Application packet with CD must be postmarked by March 16, 2012. Application Procedures: * Submit a CD recording of applicant performing up to two movements of musical selection with piano accompaniment. * Completed and signed application with CD must be postmarked by Friday, March 16, 2012. For additional information, please visit our website (www.usarmyband.com) or contact me at aubrey.lafosse@us.army.mil. Best wishes, SSG Lafosse Classification: UNCLASSIFIED" If you are interested in applying, please let me know. Have a great Sunday...get some rest! Dr. Cox

Masterclass for 9/26 cancelled

Studio, I am sorry to say that I must cancel the masterclass for tonight (9/26/11). I have another commitment that has arisen over the weekend. So, we will move this masterclass (Warm-ups, etc.) to next week. I am really enjoying these classes and feel bad about having to do this. I am hoping that this is the only on I have to cancel for the semester. Thank you for your understanding. Dr. Cox

Studio Recitals

Studio, The studio recital sign-up sheets are now on the bulletin board outside my office. Please stop by ASAP and sign up for a date (Nov. 6 and 20). You will need: 1) Title of work 2) Composer 3) Composer's birth and death dates 4) Arranger 5) Movement titles (use tempo markings if there are no titles) 6) Accompanist 7) Total time of work There are seven (7) slots available for each recital. There is NO room for an eighth person on either recital, so please do NOT add onto the list. Thanks, Dr. Cox

Grant writing session

Studio, I hope this email finds you having a restful and relaxing weekend! As a reminder, there is a grant writing session tonight at 8:00 pm in room 230 for those who will be applying for competitions this year. All are welcome, even If you are not applying for a competition but want to see how a grant is written. See you in a few hours. Dr. Cox

Monday night masterclasses

Studio,
Don't forget, the first Monday Night Masterclass starts tonight. It is NOT mandatory, but I would love it if many of you came.

Time: 7-9
Room: 230
Topic: Introduction to Proper Breathing
Things needed: nothing for tonight

Hopefully I will see you there.
Dr. Cox

PS - invite any of your friends to come to these classes as well.

CF Auditions

Congrats to the newest members of Central Foundation: Will Thompson (euph) and Danielle Van Tuinen (euph). Great auditions!

Studio party

Can anyone give Blake a ride out to the party? His number is: 989.400.5146.
Many Thanks,
Dr. Cox

Classes begin tomorrow (Tuesday)

Hello all.
Classes will back in session tomorrow (Tuesday, 23 August 2011). Studio class SHOULD be for everyone BUT freshmen (freshmen should have orientation). For everyone else, meet at my office (no studio hours are up yet - still a work in progress). No instruments. As to the rest of the week:

- Tuesday - Lesson are normal
- Thursday - All School of Music Convocation
-Thursday evening, starting at/around 6:00 pm - studio party at my house
- Friday - C. F. Auditions (time - TBA) for euphoniums (sorry, no tuba openings right now)

That is all for now. See you soon,

Dr. Cox

Fall 2011 Studio Information

Hello all!!!

I hope you are having as great a summer as I am. After the craziest year of my life, things are starting to get back to normal. My family and I recently travelled to northeast for a three week vacation in Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Maine and New Hampshire. Stats for the vacation: 4,300 miles in the Insight, 7 ferries, 1 whale watching tour, 9 hotels, 5 lobster rolls, 1 hardshell lobster, 1 HAGAS (look it up), and more than 4,000 photos for the trek. We are now back at home and will be here until Falcone week (August 12-15).

Sarah, as of last Friday, just celebrated 1 year of remission from her Leukemia. That means, as long as she stays in remission, there will only be a single trip per month for chemo treatment until September, 2012. Much better than the 14,000+ miles and 37 days in the hospital that she and I had to do last year.

With that, I am so looking forward to getting back to my office and teaching. New things for me: I have OFFICIALLY stepped down as Advertising Coordinator for ITEA last week. I sent in my resignation and even had to write the job description for the group. This means that the only external group that I will be working with this year is Falcone as the Music Coordinator (I gave up my job as web designer last year with them).

This can be seen as both good and bad for you guys (more work for you=more knowledge). I will be focusing a lot of energy at the studio. Here is what I have in mind:
- Monday nights: non-required masterclasses discussing the basics - breathing, tonguing, mouthpiece buzzing, excerpts, etc. Open to all.
- Projects - I used to make the studio do a major project each semester, but somehow this faded away a couple of years ago. I will be starting this back up for the fall semester. Topics in the past: major teachers and their locations; pedagogy topics; recordings; composing a work for the T/E ensemble, etc.
- C. F. more local outings for the group. If you are interested in playing with C. F., please let me know by mid-August (via my cox1ms@cmich.edu account).

More things in the works that I is not ready for public consumption. So as you can see, my engines are charged, body rested, and ready to go. If you have any questions, you know how to find me. Stay cool and see you in just a few short weeks,

Dr. Cox

Falcone Festival 2011

A HUGE congrats to Dan Wilhelm for being selected as one of the ten semi-finalists for the 2011 Tuba Artist Division of the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival. Dan will have a lot of work ahead of him preparing for the competition (early August). If you have the time, please lend Dan an ear, an opinion, or support over the next couple of months.

All the best, Dan.

Dr. Cox

Studio Party - Friday Night (Tomorrow)

Hello all.

I have been checking around this afternoon (after I got home from G. R. with Sarah) for bowling options. The best option looks like the SAC. They won't take reservations until 3:00 pm tomorrow (for tomorrow night, Friday). With that said, we should have no problems reserving the lanes. I will call at that time and reserve three lanes for 4:30 pm. I will pick up the cost of bowling. After we get bored with bowling, then the party will move to Freddie's for dinner and darts. Mary Jo will be coming along as well. If you can't make the bowling, then just call someone in the studio to see which location we are at if/when you decide to join us at Freddie's. If you do not know where Freddie's is, again, just ask one of the older students for directions. If you have any questions, please call me at home tonight and I will try to answer them for you. Hope to see all of you there!

Dr. Cox and Dr. Cox

Wednesday and Sarah

Hello all.
Since Scott is not in this week, and all goes well, I believe I will be in the office for part of the day. If you need me, please stop and knock (or just stop by and say 'hi.'). I will be working on MWRTEC (what a surprise).

The second reason for this email, is to let you in on the latest developments with Sarah. She is fine, just a lot of big changes in her chemo therapy. We went to the hospital yesterday and came up with a number of surprises. I wrote a long diatribe on Facebook last night for friends and family and received a lot of interesting (and positive) comments from them. After thinking about it today, I thought I would cut and paste the comments that i wrote in FB last night for you to read. This should give you some insight on what we have been going through over the last seven months. What you are about to read is nothing new. We often ran into problems like this, just not so many all in one day. No comments are necessary. Just thought all would be interested.

The opening of the post is responding to a couple of previous comments from friends.

See some of you tomorrow.
M.

Facebook post (1/25/11):

"As to Sarah getting better, yes --whatever it takes! However, today was the worst possible day to throw this major curveball at us.

We had been up since 4:45 am to drive two+ hours on snow-covered roads. We walked into clinic, everybody was "a buzz" that Sarah was FINALLY at the maintenance mode. Got the tour of the new hospital. Sarah had a spinal tap and had one of her hardest times "waking up" from the Propofol. She was queasy and needed Zophran to calm her stomach. Vinchristine (chemo) was given through her port and she was deaccessed. The medicines were ordered at the pharmacy and ready to be picked up. We were minutes away from fighting the icy roads back home (only this time in daylight) when the PA came in and said the doctor needed to talk to us. When the doctor came in and sat down to talk to me "eye-to-eye", I knew something was wrong.

The two (fairly new) studies that were going on had sent a notice this morning to the hospital saying that the studies were closed and they had ALREADY come to their conclusion. The kids on Sarah's study, the normal way to treat A.L.L., needed to be switched to the new method. And with that, Sarah's group needed to "catch-up" with the other group, thus, they needed high doses of Methotrexate administered to them. She will need to have four, four-day (minimum) hospital stays over the next 2 months. She will have the drug (as well as several others, including more spinal taps) and stay in the hospital until it has exited her body. We decided that the best way to do it is go in at 8:00 am on Thursday for the spinal tap and not leave until Sunday (at the earliest).

MJ and I have moved "heaven and earth" to get us to this point, and the doctor agreed to let us start this on Thursday, 10 February. This allows us to be free for both the conference that I am putting on (MWRTEC), and, more importantly, Sarah singing in La Boheme. The other three dates for her stay are: Feb 24th, March 10th and March 24th.

As for clinic, they are convening ALL the children's oncologists and bone marrow specialists this Wednesday to discuss the results of the study. In the middle of their discussion is Sarah! She is on the crack of the study's results, so they need to brainstorm to see if this is truly the correct way to go (though our oncologist is fairly sure that they will go down this avenue). The bigger picture is, this changes a LOT of how they will treat all new A.L.L. patients. The biggest question, "how come the study came to a close so soon." I believe the doctors expected the study to go quite a bit longer.

The one interesting thing from this is, the overall time frame is still the same. Sarah will finish with ALL medicines on:
23 September 2012. Yes, they have a definite date for us (which I just found out today).

PS - the last time she was subjected to a lower dose of oral Methotrexate, she got sick and lost all of her hair. This time it will be given at even higher doses, thus the hospital stays."

Room for 2 needed

Hello all from Grand Rapids!
Today is Sarah's LAST DAY of hardcore chemo. We have a short break and then go into "Maintenance." This is a WHOLE lot easier for all of us. Sarah will have to take oral chemo for two years and have spinal taps once a month. BUT THAT'S IT!!

Anyway, the real reason for this email. We have two people coming to visit, check us out, and audition for CMU. One is looking for a grad school for this coming year, the other for the year after that. Does anyone have space to put the two up? They need housing for this Monday and Tuesday nights. One is Andrea Miller. She is a tuba player who is graduating from Univ. of Wisconsin, Eau Claire. If accepted (and she decided to come), she would be our grad assist for the next two years. The other person traveling with her is another member of the Eau CLair studio. I am drawing a blank on his name right now (yes, a guy), but he is a junior looking for grad school for the fall of 2012.

If you have the room, please respond "Reply All" when answering this email. Also, I will need someone to "look after them." I am asking one of Mary Jo's grad students to take them around to classes, but they will have down times and need a tour of the university.

Thanks and hope the semester started off great.

Dr. Cox

News on Dan Turchyn

Studio,
After an email from the Chair of the Department at Oakland University, I just found out tonight "officially" that Dan Turchyn has transferred to Oakland University. I know some of you had heard rumors about this last month, but the first I heard about this was only a couple of days ago, and unfortunately, from a couple of your colleagues and not from Dan, himself. This leaves us in a couple of awkward situations. Central Foundation is in need of a new player. The group is supposed to be performing at MWRTEC on a 1/2 concert. I will let you know VERY soon what my decision will be about this group. The Brass Band will also be in need of a new player. I would be willing to move people around (ex: baritone to euphonium) and/or add another person into the group. Let me know if you want to join or change instruments. I told Professor Williamson about this possibility yesterday. He will make his own decisions as what to do about seating arrangements in the major ensembles.

It is unfortunate that I found out about Dan leaving this way. I would hope, with all of you, if you were not to return to CMU, you would do me the courtesy of informing me when/if you were to make that decision. I never want a student to stay with me, or at CMU, if they are unhappy. I would not be upset --saddened, probably...but not upset. I obviously want to work with all of you, because I invited you to join me in the studio here at CMU. I know last semester was unfortunate and odd with Sarah being diagnosed with cancer (and with all my trips to Grand Rapids because of that). It was not the best semester of teaching that I have ever done. Obviously the health of my daughter trumped many things. I will say that when I come back in the fall, I will be refreshed and look forward to a great semester working with all of you.

Thank you and I hope you have a wonderful semester.
Dr. Cox

Spring Lesson Schedule

FYI from Scott Hanson -
The sign up sheet for Spring 2011 lessons is now hanging in its normal spot. His teaching hours will be:

Tuesday (he will get here for studio class) - 12:00-5:00 pm (ending at 5:00)
Wednesday - 8:00-5:00 pm with a lunch break from 1:00-2:00 pm
Thursday - 8:00-11:00 am (he will leave after studio class)

Central Foundation will schedule a coaching time with him sometime during the first week of classes.

Thank you,

Dr. Cox (for Mr. Hanson)