Band clinic at NUACS

Texas musician: a mistake is like 'a rare stone'

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Instead of horns tooting and drums pounding during Don Jirak's Cathedral High School band class, on Friday musician Paul Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, stopped in for a band clinic and talked to the students about the importance of practice.

Armstrong has been playing instruments since he was 9 and currently plays the trumpet. Armstrong has played before U.S. presidents and was a member of the U.S. Air Force band for 10 years.

He said he gives credit to his parents for opening doors to the world of music.

"My mom and dad used to sit me down when friends would come over and put on some music," Armstrong said. "So there I would be 3 or 4 years old, sitting with these big headphones on, listening to music."

Armstrong talked about the importance of "sound" with music.

"Sound is the most critical point for a musician -- you're establishing an identity," Armstrong said. "You have to be confident in your sound."

Armstrong said that band instructors are there to give students the basics, and from that point, students have to be willing to try new things and make their own musical choices.

"Go home and try different things -- got out and try different styles," Armstrong said. "When you play an instrument you're going on feelings because people are hearing different things. You are what makes an instrument come to life."

Armstrong talked about the importance of making mistakes -- how they're necessary for students to learn and grow as musicians.

"Mistakes are inevitable so try to turn them to your best advantage," Armstrong said. "Mistakes are your best friend; they tell you you're moving too fast or you're going in the wrong direction."

Armstrong said with practice, mistakes become fewer.

"Examine a mistake as if you found a rare stone," Armstrong said. "A mistake knows when it's not needed and eventually they'll leave for good."

Armstrong said students need to realize the importance of playing in a group and said that all musicians are equally important in a band and group setting. Armstrong said students that aren't in the "first chair" position, shouldn't feel inferior to the students who are.

"Each chair has a different role to play -- it doesn't mean one chair is inferior to another," Armstrong said. "Don't get too caught up in the position. Everyone has something to offer the group."

Armstrong told the students there are two philosophies in music -- learn how to read music in school and then go out and play what you feel.

"Learn how to read music in school. When instructors pass out music, learn how to read it," Armstrong said. "But written music is a barrier. Once you have music internalized, that's the performance of music."

A student asked Armstrong how musicians can suddenly break into a "solo" without any music in front of them during a live concert.

"To answer your question, they make it up," Armstrong said. "A lot of bands down in Texas have never read a note -- they just play what they feel."

Armstrong stressed the importance of listening to music. Armstrong named some of his influences as Louie Armstrong and Miles Davis. When he asked the students who they listen to, the students couldn't name anyone.

"Listening to music is the most important thing -- If you don't listen to music, what do you have? Nothing," Armstrong said. "You need to listen to music; it's not about a director telling you what to do."