Thursday, December 23, 2004
Christmas Breakfast
This morning at 7 am we had our company Christmas Breakfast. We eat, exchange cheap gifts, gab and then go to work. My friend and co-worker Harvey and I played a couple of saxophone/cello duets this year, The Christmas Song and Jingle Bell Rock. Everyone applauded, happy to have some live entertainment and appreciative of our efforts. For the most part, I was happy with the part I had written to accompany Harvey's melodies, and with how I played today. Damn, a sax is loud compared to a cello (or almost anything else), but we sounded pretty cool, I think. Just a couple of songs, maybe five minutes total and everybody seemed to make a lot of fuss. None of it was needed. For that matter, we never needed to play in the first place. But it was fun. Maybe we'll do it again next year, maybe not. I guess we'll see if we are asked to again.
Thursday, December 16, 2004
Cellodad's Musical background
I really don't want this to sound pretentious. I'm a real guy people just call Dave. But on paper, I have put together quite a list of accomplishments. But really, I drink my beer right out of the bottle (though I don't drink very often at all these days, got to keep sharp).
Professionally, I am an award winning advertising representative. I have been working in my chosen field since 1989. Newspaper ads sold and designed by me have won WNPA (Washington Newspaper Publisher's Association) awards, including a few third places, a couple of seconds and I recently won a first place (for use of color). More importantly, I make a living at newspaper advertising. My customers are happy, because most of the time, what I do helps them to make more money. I have a degree in Communications, Advertising Option from the University of Idaho, where I studied Public Relations, Journalism, Media Ethics, The Advertising Agency, and Media Planning among other things. I was also a member of Ad Club and PRSSA. I was a paid Arts & Entertainment writer for the college newspaper, the Argonaut. I was a volunteer for the college/community radio station KUOI FM Moscow, 89.3.
At the University of Idaho, I minored in music (cello performance). In my off-time, I was also the lead singer of a folk/comedy band (with my friend Dave Wascher) called The Forks (think of a toned-down Jack Black of Tenacious D, only circa 1988). We even played a wedding reception once. As a classical bassist, I played in the Washington-Idaho Symphony ("Eye Wash"). What about electric bass? I started playing bass in high school. My brother played drums and our friend John sang and played guitar. Man, we rocked hard. We played all our own songs too. We called ourselves a lot of things, from "Destiny" to "Black Velvet," but we didn't go anywhere. We didn't even try to, we were just playing for fun. I learned to play drums and guitar a bit too, because we used to trade off instruments. All of us had paper routes, which earned us money for our instruments (as well as BMX bikes, and skateboards).
Musically, I played cello with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, then the Portland Youth Philharmonic Preparatory Orchestra (under Jacob Avshalomov), starting at an early age (I don't remember exactly). I took third place in a youth cello solo contest at Portland State University. While still in high school, I became a section cellist in the Mt. Hood Pops Orchestra, and was stand partner with one of my teachers, Karren Rhea. As a member of the Pops Players quartet as well as a family trio with my mom and brother, I played gigs at various businesses, restaurants and events. Once in college, I played with the Mt. Hood Community College Chamber Orchestra, which was a class also organized as a club by our instructor, Dr. Larry Zgonc (principal bassist with the Oregon Symphony). Dr. Zgonc also helped me locate and purchase the cello I own to this day, but that's another story. As a club, the MHCC Chamber Orchestra performed locally to raise money, which we used to tour ("TUR!") to Vancouver BC, where we played at the World Pavillion of Expo '86. It was Dr. Zgonc who recommended I study under cellist Dr. William Wharton at the University of Idaho (where I minored in music, cello performance). I played cello in the U of I orchestra as well as chamber music in the Dorian and Syringa festivals held there in Moscow, Idaho. I also played bass viol in the Washington-Idaho Symphony.
After graduation, I continued to play with the Mt. Hood Pops Orchestra, helping transform the advertising and printing of the programs as a board member and VP of Marketing at one point, and becoming co-principal cellist for a short time. Now an adult and a graduate, I still wanted to learn more, and spent my own money (something like $40 an hour, which was a heck of a lot at the time, but I was actually getting a deal and paying too little) to take private lessons from Jerry Bobbe, former cello prodigy and soloist for the WGN Symphony in Chicago (I hope I got that right). As a cellist, I learned a great deal from Jerry, in part because I paid such close attention to get my money's worth. It was Jerry who really turned me on to Bach's Six Suites for the cello, and gave me the courage to develop my solo skills.
When we first moved to Shelton, I played in the pit orchestra for a couple of high school productions, and began teaching cello, bass and violin lessons with ear training, music theory and advanced techniques. Over time, I developed a program of cello solos for a few local gigs (Tea & Crumpets, Hoodsport Marina Cafe, a wedding rehearsal dinner reception, Shelton and Harstine Farmer's Markets, Alpine Way Retirement Center, Old Town Hobby). I will be playing at Alpine Way again in January, and at the Robin Hood Restaurant & Pub on February 12 from 6-9 p.m.
The idea of being a professional musician (or artist, or writer, or game store assistant for that matter) seems crazy to me. I am definitely keeping my day job. But I am excited about music right now, especially cello.
Professionally, I am an award winning advertising representative. I have been working in my chosen field since 1989. Newspaper ads sold and designed by me have won WNPA (Washington Newspaper Publisher's Association) awards, including a few third places, a couple of seconds and I recently won a first place (for use of color). More importantly, I make a living at newspaper advertising. My customers are happy, because most of the time, what I do helps them to make more money. I have a degree in Communications, Advertising Option from the University of Idaho, where I studied Public Relations, Journalism, Media Ethics, The Advertising Agency, and Media Planning among other things. I was also a member of Ad Club and PRSSA. I was a paid Arts & Entertainment writer for the college newspaper, the Argonaut. I was a volunteer for the college/community radio station KUOI FM Moscow, 89.3.
At the University of Idaho, I minored in music (cello performance). In my off-time, I was also the lead singer of a folk/comedy band (with my friend Dave Wascher) called The Forks (think of a toned-down Jack Black of Tenacious D, only circa 1988). We even played a wedding reception once. As a classical bassist, I played in the Washington-Idaho Symphony ("Eye Wash"). What about electric bass? I started playing bass in high school. My brother played drums and our friend John sang and played guitar. Man, we rocked hard. We played all our own songs too. We called ourselves a lot of things, from "Destiny" to "Black Velvet," but we didn't go anywhere. We didn't even try to, we were just playing for fun. I learned to play drums and guitar a bit too, because we used to trade off instruments. All of us had paper routes, which earned us money for our instruments (as well as BMX bikes, and skateboards).
Musically, I played cello with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony, then the Portland Youth Philharmonic Preparatory Orchestra (under Jacob Avshalomov), starting at an early age (I don't remember exactly). I took third place in a youth cello solo contest at Portland State University. While still in high school, I became a section cellist in the Mt. Hood Pops Orchestra, and was stand partner with one of my teachers, Karren Rhea. As a member of the Pops Players quartet as well as a family trio with my mom and brother, I played gigs at various businesses, restaurants and events. Once in college, I played with the Mt. Hood Community College Chamber Orchestra, which was a class also organized as a club by our instructor, Dr. Larry Zgonc (principal bassist with the Oregon Symphony). Dr. Zgonc also helped me locate and purchase the cello I own to this day, but that's another story. As a club, the MHCC Chamber Orchestra performed locally to raise money, which we used to tour ("TUR!") to Vancouver BC, where we played at the World Pavillion of Expo '86. It was Dr. Zgonc who recommended I study under cellist Dr. William Wharton at the University of Idaho (where I minored in music, cello performance). I played cello in the U of I orchestra as well as chamber music in the Dorian and Syringa festivals held there in Moscow, Idaho. I also played bass viol in the Washington-Idaho Symphony.
After graduation, I continued to play with the Mt. Hood Pops Orchestra, helping transform the advertising and printing of the programs as a board member and VP of Marketing at one point, and becoming co-principal cellist for a short time. Now an adult and a graduate, I still wanted to learn more, and spent my own money (something like $40 an hour, which was a heck of a lot at the time, but I was actually getting a deal and paying too little) to take private lessons from Jerry Bobbe, former cello prodigy and soloist for the WGN Symphony in Chicago (I hope I got that right). As a cellist, I learned a great deal from Jerry, in part because I paid such close attention to get my money's worth. It was Jerry who really turned me on to Bach's Six Suites for the cello, and gave me the courage to develop my solo skills.
When we first moved to Shelton, I played in the pit orchestra for a couple of high school productions, and began teaching cello, bass and violin lessons with ear training, music theory and advanced techniques. Over time, I developed a program of cello solos for a few local gigs (Tea & Crumpets, Hoodsport Marina Cafe, a wedding rehearsal dinner reception, Shelton and Harstine Farmer's Markets, Alpine Way Retirement Center, Old Town Hobby). I will be playing at Alpine Way again in January, and at the Robin Hood Restaurant & Pub on February 12 from 6-9 p.m.
The idea of being a professional musician (or artist, or writer, or game store assistant for that matter) seems crazy to me. I am definitely keeping my day job. But I am excited about music right now, especially cello.
Archives of cello deeds past
I am 38 years old. What I tell people who compliment my cello playing may sound humble, but it is true. I say, "I started playing the cello when I was in the fourth grade. I was never greatly talented, and I wasn't one of those people who practiced eight hours a day. My mom had started teaching me piano before I even started school, and gave me Hot Wheels to reward me (I think she started me at 4 or so). She also paid for private piano, cello and clarinet lessons for me all the way through high school, even when I didn't practice. The only reason I play well is really because I just never quit. I wasn't great. I didn't work hard. But I started music early, and I never quit."
I had a paper route in Gresham, Oregon for about six or seven years, back in the early eighties, when newspaper carriers still personally collected from their customers each month. I met a lot of people, and learned a lot of things talking to people on my route. Being somewhat interested in music, I would talk to people about that. Often I would hear people say things like, "I used to play the bassoon (or the ____, fill in the blank), but when I got a job (had a kid, was broke, again, fill in the blank) I had to quit." It was so sad. Here is an area of beauty in people's lives, and our society cares nothing about its demise. Art and music seem to be almost taboo in American society, or so it would seem. The same seems to be true for other creative endeavors too. For me, I came out of my experiences with an early inner resolve not to quit, no matter what happened.
It all happened.
I went to college, got a job, got a house, lost a job, got a new job, rented a tiny house, got married, sold my half of the first house and bought a big house, bought things, became so broke we almost lost the big house, worked our way out of trouble, partnered in a game store that failed, lost relatives, gained a daughter.
Throughout everything, I have always kept playing cello on a regular basis (admittedly less regularly at some times than others, but I've never sold my cello or quit entirely). I have always told myself, "I have too much time and money invested in this to throw it away." It's true, and also I have been able to make a small amount of money teaching and performing. After all these years, playing the cello is fun for me again, maybe more fun than it ever has been for me. I wonder now, whether if I had tried harder when I was younger, if I would play at a higher level now. But I know, too, that many of my peers who pushed themselves (or were pushed) extra hard, quit. They were better cellists than me then, but now I'm a lot better than they were. Certainly if any of them picked up a cello now, they wouldn't be able to play very well, if at all. What a waste.
So that's my secret. Don't worry about being perfect at what you do. Just don't quit.
I had a paper route in Gresham, Oregon for about six or seven years, back in the early eighties, when newspaper carriers still personally collected from their customers each month. I met a lot of people, and learned a lot of things talking to people on my route. Being somewhat interested in music, I would talk to people about that. Often I would hear people say things like, "I used to play the bassoon (or the ____, fill in the blank), but when I got a job (had a kid, was broke, again, fill in the blank) I had to quit." It was so sad. Here is an area of beauty in people's lives, and our society cares nothing about its demise. Art and music seem to be almost taboo in American society, or so it would seem. The same seems to be true for other creative endeavors too. For me, I came out of my experiences with an early inner resolve not to quit, no matter what happened.
It all happened.
I went to college, got a job, got a house, lost a job, got a new job, rented a tiny house, got married, sold my half of the first house and bought a big house, bought things, became so broke we almost lost the big house, worked our way out of trouble, partnered in a game store that failed, lost relatives, gained a daughter.
Throughout everything, I have always kept playing cello on a regular basis (admittedly less regularly at some times than others, but I've never sold my cello or quit entirely). I have always told myself, "I have too much time and money invested in this to throw it away." It's true, and also I have been able to make a small amount of money teaching and performing. After all these years, playing the cello is fun for me again, maybe more fun than it ever has been for me. I wonder now, whether if I had tried harder when I was younger, if I would play at a higher level now. But I know, too, that many of my peers who pushed themselves (or were pushed) extra hard, quit. They were better cellists than me then, but now I'm a lot better than they were. Certainly if any of them picked up a cello now, they wouldn't be able to play very well, if at all. What a waste.
So that's my secret. Don't worry about being perfect at what you do. Just don't quit.
Who is cellodad?
I am happily married, with a beautiful wife and daughter. Also, I am a cellist (that is I play the cello, which is like a big violin that you sit down to play).
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