RCEditions

I have learned something from everyone in my life; it is really that simple-by observation and examples, role models, and then, my own experience(s); I've tried to learn what to do, or what not to do. My wonderful parents were my first example of both, and principally the former. 'Make a note--treat people the way they did,' --I learned from that and by far the positive model was the best, but the negative also allowed me to delineate, 'I will never do that/say that to one of my children (or students).' Accepting all forms of media, we musicians have certainly learned, and continue to learn in what is basically folkloric style. It is passed down, and about, and we continue to add to and refine --not merely copying, but with the best examples, standing on the proverbial shoulders of others, to reach new heights.

Every chapter of my book is simply a person I've met. So, clearly my book will never be finished, and I will constantly be adding 'chapters,' hopefully, to this website.

I have always been interested in writing; I used to write occasional articles for the Saxophone Journal, a bit of scholarly research into the music of Villa-Lobos, Stravinsky's Three Pieces for Clarinet Solo (were they inspired by Sidney Bechet?). I interviewed Joe Allard and Rene Longy in the later part of their lives, to get their thoughts down, always wrote my own program notes, researched the life of Elise Hall (America's First Classical Saxophonist), and believe that our elders have much to pass on, and to respect. They have something important to say. My thoughts on articulation and other essays will also be appearing soon on this site.

Over the years, I've also developed little sayings for my students (I know my style is simple, but my students smile, and remember it).
One is called '6 Measures a Day...' or 'Unlimited Potential':
'If, first, we learn 6 measures a day of a piece we do not wish to play, or think we can play,
then, soon,
we find that we wish to play everything and may play anything.'
I also offer to you:
'Limitless Possibilities' for Self-Expression:
'To play all notes the same, we must first learn to play all the notes differently,
and
To play all the notes differently, we must first learn to play all the notes the same.'

In related simplicity, I remember David Schiff, (who years ago while working on his teacher Elliott Carter's biography), telling me he was struck most by Carter's statement (who wrote some of the most complicated (or hard for many to understand) music in history), saying, 'basically every note we play/write is either happy or sad.' Well, Ok, then; on we go, finding the gradations and sensitizing ourselves, trying to understand, unlock the mysteries, and satisfying our need to offer our emotions (both happy and sad), creations (and recreations) in communicating with others, creating a more beautiful civilization and expressing ourselves, sharing and caring all the while.

I've spent the greater part of my life commissioning new works for saxophone, and other instruments. Benny Goodman and Elise Hall were my elders in the inspiration for commissioning music. That has allowed me to grow as a musician, and to hopefully contribute something to the Art, and I've begun or helped develop saxophone programs in Venezuela, China, the United States and Taiwan.
Thus begins my story of what I've learned in my travel(s) and 'travailler (to study, model, practice and learn),' with the saxophone as my life's vehicle, something possibly akin to Herrigel's 'Zen in the Art of Archery,' which is one of my favorite all-time books, immensely quotable, and one for which all find their own meanings, with archery the metaphor for life.

A Salute to (My) Teachers

1. Introduction