Change of venue for tonight

Studio,
There was a double-booking tonight for Staples, so we will start at 7:00 pm in Room 157. At 8:00 pm, we will move over to Staples to finish off the night. Please be READY TO GO at 7:00 pm, NOT walking in at that time!

Thank you and see you soon,
Dr. Cox

Lesson cancellation for 11/5/14 (Wed)

Studio,
After last night's concert I felt a significant tickle in my throat. And after being so run down over the last couple of weeks, I really can't afford to get sick with my recital a week away. Having said that, I am calling in a sick day and will not be at the office. If you need me, send me an email and I will get back to you (if I am not napping). Sorry. For those with lessons, please use the time to practice your Tuba/Euph ensemble music.

Thank you,
Dr. Cox

Dropbox and my solo music

Studio,

As some of you know, I've decided to try a new way of getting solo music out of my studio and into your hands. Since I am scanning most of my music for the ITEA S&E project, it dawned on me that this would be an easier(?) way of getting music to you. Here is what I trying:

- When you want music, come into my office and look through the music just as you did in the past.

- When you find the music you want, put the title/composer on a Post-It and give it to me.

- If the music is already scanned, then I will place it in your Dropbox folder (more on that in a minute). You can then access the folder on any device, any where. It will ONLY be the solo, no piano part (if applicable). You will have a few days to download and/or print the music. After several days of it residing in your folder, I will then remove it.

- I will also place permanent items in your Dropbox folder as well, including, scale sheets, scale checkoff sheets, fingering charts, possible excerpt, etc. These items can stay in the folder as long as you want. That way, when you lose one (or more) of these items, you can reprint or download them from the folder.

You will no longer need to sign them out and have me get upset for holding on to the music for months at a time. You WILL still need to sign out mouthpieces, the Zoom, visualizers, etc. on the old sheets.

Now, as to Dropbox. First of all, it is free!!! You will have two options to view items in your Dropbox folder:

1) you will be getting an email notification from them that something has been "shared" in your folder. You can look at these items with smartphone, tables and computers - but that is all you can do, one at time, using the link(s) that they sent you. You can't see anything else (at the same time) in the folder.

Next Option:

2) You will be getting a REFERRAL from Dropbox...from ME...asking to join and create an account with them for free. If you decide to do this option, then you can see everything (at the same time) in that folder. IF you decide to start a Dropbox account, PLEASE, PLEASE, use the referral that I sent. Each time one of you starts an account with my referral, I get ANOTHER 500MB of space for free. This, in turn, will allow me to put more and more (duets, trios, quartets, etc.) on the site for your access. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GET AN ACCOUNT, but it helps both you and me. If you don't understand how Dropbox works, I would be glad to give you a demonstration. I have had my account for several years and not used it. Now, I am doing a ton with it. One can store: photos, videos, PDF forms, MSWord and Excel documents. Then one can share these with other people.

Example: Let's say you have to submit a video of yourself for an audition (Master's level). The video is 50MB. NO EMAIL program will let you send that big of a file through them. You could put it on Youtube, but if the other person has to download the video, it is not an easy process. Dropbox allows the person whom you've shared the video to either: view the video on their browser, or, easily download the file WITH NO COMPRESSION.

OK, that should be enough for now. Look for my referral. If you want the free account, then sign up. If not, then just throw it away.

Thanks in advance,

Dr. Cox

Tuba and Euphonium Dress Rehearsal

Studio, after spending quite a bit of time with Dan Koefoed yesterday during studio rehearsal time, we managed to FINALLY find a time for our dress rehearsal. The hall was completely booked with very little time available. I know a couple of you will have conflicts, so if you can't get out of them, then please come and see me. The day/date for our dress will be: November 17th (Monday), 7-10 pm. You have almost a month to review work schedules, classes, etc., please start working on them now. Mark it in your calendar.

Thank you,
Dr. Cox

T/E Rehearsal cancelled

Studio,
Due to today's faculty meeting (and other things), I am canceling today's rehearsal (Thursday - 10/9/14). Please take this time to practice either your music for the ensemble or for the forthcoming studio recital.

Thanks,
Dr. Cox

Studio rehearsal schedule - 9/23/14

Good morning.

Today's t/e rehearsal schedule is as follows:

11:00-11:20 - Keera Allen's piece
11:20-11:35 - Katie Wiley's piece
11:35-11:50 - Aurther Kimmon's piece

Please stay close by if you have some down time (not playing on a piece). If you do not play on any of these pieces, then you have the hour "free" (go practice). Rehearsal is in room 230. I will not be at today's rehearsal. And yes, I do know that there is a trumpet masterclass today, but we will not be attending it.

Speaking of trumpets, Dr. Mueller's recital is tonight and it is mandatory attendance. Aurther will be taking roll FOR ALL OF THE BRASS FACULTY tonight! He will be by the 097 people, so please sign in before the concert.

And as far as I can tell, we are still having the CF auditions tonight at 6:30 pm. Please meet at my studio. I don't have a room yet (the new process is quite cumbersome) and will hopefully have one by tonight. Worse case scenario, we hold the auditions in my office.

Thanks and have a great morning.

Dr. Cox

Wessex Tubas

Good morning all.

Nothing like being at your desk at 5:30 am! Anyway, I received an email from Andy Loree from Wessex tubas. Here is what he has to say:

"Hello Mark,

Thank you for your interest in Wessex Tubas! I have visited Phil Sinder's and Paul Carlson's studios in past years. I recently received a shipment from which I am still filling backorders, and am making travel arrangements to visit China in October to inspect instruments at the factory prior to our shipment. Wessex instruments are made to our own specifications, and I believe Wessex is the only importer inspecting instruments at the factory before they are shipped.

You're probably aware that Wessex participated in a spring 2013 study at Tim Olt's Miami University of Ohio studio? In the blind play-testing, every player preferred Wessex compensating euphoniums to the Yamaha 642 tested, and the Wessex Mahler CC tuba was thought very comparable to a Miraphone 186CC.

There is a link to the tuba portion of Miami of Ohio study .pdf file on this page (look for blue type):
http://www.wessex-tubas.com/cc-rotary-tuba/

I would like to schedule a time for your students and friends to try Wessex low brass, but that may have to wait until after my next shipment arrives in November. A couple of our most popular tubas are nearly "sold out" at this time. Wessex US focus is primarily low brass; many "high brass" items shown on the website ship to customers directly from Wessex UK. At present I do have all the available finishes of compensating euphoniums available, but only one Mahler CC tuba (unlacquered). One school recently purchased all the other CC's I had in stock.

I do have a few Brahms and Strauss F tubas in stock, but am receiving frequent inquiries about them. The Brahms I have differs from the website pictures; mine are 5-rotary valve with thumb-operated 5th instead of the 4+2 arrangement preferred in Europe. The Brahms tuba is not the old design plagued with intonation problems, and is a popular seller for our distributor in Germany.

I will phone or email you when my stock of instruments is in greater supply!

Best wishes,
Andy Loree"

So, it looks like we will have to wait a little to get our hands one these. Let's talk about it in studio at 11:00. And don't forget, the studio party is at my house tomorrow night starting around 5:00 pm. I'll give you maps to my house at studio.

See you soon,

Dr. Cox

Marine Recruiter on Campus

Studio,
With me having an Area meeting today (which we will be discussing the shortage of pianists in the area - a very important topic) and a Marine recruiter here in Room 155 at studio time, I thought best to cancel studio for the morning. If you are even remotely thinking about making the military a part of your life (something I am sure Chris Fenner never thought of before his senior year), you should stop by Room 155 and talk their representative.

Thanks,
Dr. Cox

Gateway Brass Performance on campus

Studio,
I just got this email from Dr. Lindahl today. The brass talked about this a couple months ago, but I thought nothing had come from it. Imagine my surprise yesterday when I found out this group was coming to CMU. Here is the email from Dr. Lindahl:

"Brass Guys,

As we discussed quite a while ago in Brass Quintet, we’re having the community brass ensemble from Clare come and perform here in room 156 on April 28.  We have several CMU students and alumni who play with this group. It will be a combination performance/clinic/discussion for our students and Michael has asked that the brass profs provide some comments immediately after the Gateway Brass performance for the group.  So here is the plan

Monday April 28 – Room 156

7:30 - Gateway Brass Performs about 30 min.

8:00 - CMU Brass Faculty feedback re the performance

8:15 - Michael Wright Q/A (he will talk briefly about being an educator for a public school and participating in community music organizations, then answer any questions)

8:30 - massed brass piece or two (he want one of us to do the conducting – maybe we can find two pieces to play at the end)

Can you inform your studios about this? ...

Thanks, Bob"

I am not requiring you to be there since this is such a late notice. But if can clear your schedules out an come, that would be GREAT. I, too, am going to have to move some items around so I can (hopefully) be there.

Thanks,

Dr. Cox

Studio class for 4/8 and 4/10

Good morning, everyone.

We find ourselves in an odd situation for studio classes this week. For today (Tuesday), we have no room, so have you have 11:00 am free. As to Thursday, I thought we had a room, but it does not show up on the master schedule. Added into it, I have a faculty meeting during that time. AND, there is a horn masterclass going on in Staples at that time. Here is the email from Dr. Bonnell:

"Mirror Image - (Michelle Stebelton of Florida State University and Lisa Bontrager of Penn State University) will give a performance and master class from 11-1 in Staples Family Recital Hall this Thursday, April 10th. I know that we have a faculty meeting scheduled at that time, but I wanted to write and encourage you to attend after the meeting and we would GLADLY appreciate and welcome any of your studio members to  attend."

If you would like to attend the masterclass, that would be fine by me. I know both of them and they are fantastic performers.

And don't forget that Thursday is the Central Foundation concert in Staples. I shouldn't have to remind you that this is a required concert.

Freshmen and Sophomores - I will have your jury info (scales, sophomore self-prepared piece) completed by noon today. I will put them on my bulletin board, so please stop by and pick it up.

Thanks,

Dr. Cox

Keera Allen's recital

Studio,
Just a reminder, Keera Allen's senior recital is this Sunday (2 March 2014) at 5:00 pm in Chamichian. This is a REQUIRED attendance concert. See you there.
Dr. Cox

Euphonium Locker Update

Euphoniumists,
FYI - The locker combo has been updated on my web page.
Dr. Cox

Possible LESSON Cancellations for Tuesday

Good evening, everyone.

Hope you all are home safe and warm. As it stands now, it looks like I won't be in come sunrise. We already had one car get stuck in front of my house and had to have a tow truck out to pull them 1 1/2 miles to safety. Having said that, most likely I won't be until late morning (the last time it was this deep with snow, the plows came through at 10:30 am). We WILL have studio tomorrow, either with me, or without me (I know, my grade will suffer for it ; >) . Anyway, as soon as the plows come through and it looks safe for me to leave, I will head in. If, for some reason, the plows don't come through (the schools are all CLOSED already for tomorrow), then I will let lesson people know of my situation. Hopefully, I will see you all tomorrow. Have a restful night,
Dr. Cox

Studio - 2/13/14

Studio,
I've been asked by several people if we are having studio today. YES, we are. For future reference, unless you get an email from me CANCELING studio, ALWAYS assume that we will have studio.

Thanks,
Dr. Cox