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
Monday, July 18, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
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
All the best, Dan.
Dr. Cox
Thursday, April 28, 2011
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
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
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
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."
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."
Friday, January 14, 2011
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
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
Thursday, January 6, 2011
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
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)
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)
Friday, December 31, 2010
New Year
Hello everyone.
I hope you all are having a restful break! Was Santa good to you? Life here in wet, soggy Mt. Pleasant (my garage partially flooded today from the warm weather, the snow melting, and the rain. Nothing got damaged) is busy as usual. We have been busy with Sarah's chemo treatments, a quick trip to Chicago, and family and friends occasionally visiting. It seems like I have been down at the office every day this week and most days last week (along with Professor Nichol) getting the ITEA winter journal advertising completed and lots and lots of small details down for MWRTEC.
In the meantime, I just realized that I did not send out the "official" announcement of my sabbatical replacement. After lots of talks with Dr. L'Hommedieu, we finally decided on hiring Scott Hansen to teach BOTH the tubas and euphoniums. Scott studied with Dan Perantoni back at Arizona State University the same time as Dr. Lindahl. He is very excited about teaching all of you. He and I have been on the phone several times a week (which is funny, because the times I am not on the phone with him, I am on the phone with Deanna about MWRTEC) trying to get it all planned out. He will be added to this account so he can send out group announcements, or, individual ones as needed. He will be contacting each of you individual over the next couple of weeks, trying to get items in order for your first lesson.
I am confident that you will enjoy taking lessons from him. His teaching style will most likely be very different from mine, but has established himself over the years as a well-respected teacher and performer. Scott is highly active in the tuba/euphonium world. He has currently taken on the treasurers position with ITEA (I tell him who to send the invoices to for ITEA), and is the Falcone competition CD coordinator (he took my old position that drove me nuts in early April) as of last year. He and Deanna travel the world dealing with tuba and euphonium issues. He is known by everyone in the industry, and again, is highly respected. So, go into your lessons with an open mind, try new things, take what works and remember what doesn't work. Even the items that don't work for you now will some day work for one of your students!
And yes, you will be seeing me around way too much. With all the little items that keep cropping up with MWRTEC, it seems that I need to be at school way more than I should have to.
As to Sarah's chemo. We are down to 14 more days of the hard stuff. After January 14th, we head into a much easier process called "Maintenance." That will be once a month trips to G. R. (for two years) and a bunch of oral medications for her. She is doing well. Though, we almost had a couple of trips to the hospital, but managed to stay out of it. She has lost all of her remaining hair. But hopefully in the next couple of months it will start growing back.
Have a great New Year's Eve and be careful driving if you are out and about tonight. If you need something from me over the next couple of weeks, please call the house. If I am not there, leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Thanks,
Mark
I hope you all are having a restful break! Was Santa good to you? Life here in wet, soggy Mt. Pleasant (my garage partially flooded today from the warm weather, the snow melting, and the rain. Nothing got damaged) is busy as usual. We have been busy with Sarah's chemo treatments, a quick trip to Chicago, and family and friends occasionally visiting. It seems like I have been down at the office every day this week and most days last week (along with Professor Nichol) getting the ITEA winter journal advertising completed and lots and lots of small details down for MWRTEC.
In the meantime, I just realized that I did not send out the "official" announcement of my sabbatical replacement. After lots of talks with Dr. L'Hommedieu, we finally decided on hiring Scott Hansen to teach BOTH the tubas and euphoniums. Scott studied with Dan Perantoni back at Arizona State University the same time as Dr. Lindahl. He is very excited about teaching all of you. He and I have been on the phone several times a week (which is funny, because the times I am not on the phone with him, I am on the phone with Deanna about MWRTEC) trying to get it all planned out. He will be added to this account so he can send out group announcements, or, individual ones as needed. He will be contacting each of you individual over the next couple of weeks, trying to get items in order for your first lesson.
I am confident that you will enjoy taking lessons from him. His teaching style will most likely be very different from mine, but has established himself over the years as a well-respected teacher and performer. Scott is highly active in the tuba/euphonium world. He has currently taken on the treasurers position with ITEA (I tell him who to send the invoices to for ITEA), and is the Falcone competition CD coordinator (he took my old position that drove me nuts in early April) as of last year. He and Deanna travel the world dealing with tuba and euphonium issues. He is known by everyone in the industry, and again, is highly respected. So, go into your lessons with an open mind, try new things, take what works and remember what doesn't work. Even the items that don't work for you now will some day work for one of your students!
And yes, you will be seeing me around way too much. With all the little items that keep cropping up with MWRTEC, it seems that I need to be at school way more than I should have to.
As to Sarah's chemo. We are down to 14 more days of the hard stuff. After January 14th, we head into a much easier process called "Maintenance." That will be once a month trips to G. R. (for two years) and a bunch of oral medications for her. She is doing well. Though, we almost had a couple of trips to the hospital, but managed to stay out of it. She has lost all of her remaining hair. But hopefully in the next couple of months it will start growing back.
Have a great New Year's Eve and be careful driving if you are out and about tonight. If you need something from me over the next couple of weeks, please call the house. If I am not there, leave a message and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Thanks,
Mark
Monday, December 6, 2010
Music Return
It is that time of year...time to return that music that you checked out for "two weeks." When you get the chance, please either:
1. Stop by the office and refile the music, or
2) Leave it at the front office WITH MY NAME ON IT (on a Post-It)
I do not want my music going to your home for the break. Too often, the music either does not return, or, it takes weeks/months to get it back.
Thanks,
Dr. Cox
1. Stop by the office and refile the music, or
2) Leave it at the front office WITH MY NAME ON IT (on a Post-It)
I do not want my music going to your home for the break. Too often, the music either does not return, or, it takes weeks/months to get it back.
Thanks,
Dr. Cox
Tuba Room painting and repair
Tuba players,
I need to ask a favor. We need to have your tubas out of the tuba room by tomorrow (7 December) for painting and restoration to the room. They are going to replace the drywall behind the racks, and maybe put some plywood in to protect the back walls, as well as paint the entire room. If you need some place to store your instruments for a couple of days, they can be placed in the Brass Tech/Marching Band storage room (between 155 and 156, where the sousaphones are kept). If you do not move your horn, then the painters or Dan Koefoed will move your instrument there for you.
Thanks and have a great (and well-deserved) break.
Dr. Cox
I need to ask a favor. We need to have your tubas out of the tuba room by tomorrow (7 December) for painting and restoration to the room. They are going to replace the drywall behind the racks, and maybe put some plywood in to protect the back walls, as well as paint the entire room. If you need some place to store your instruments for a couple of days, they can be placed in the Brass Tech/Marching Band storage room (between 155 and 156, where the sousaphones are kept). If you do not move your horn, then the painters or Dan Koefoed will move your instrument there for you.
Thanks and have a great (and well-deserved) break.
Dr. Cox
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