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Weekly Round-up 2/15/16

Happy birthday, George Washington!

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Performances: As always I keep a calendar updated on this site.

Nothing happening for the rest of February- phew- but first weekend of March I’ll be performing with Exultate Choir and Orchestra on their series “Emmanuel”- a performance of the best of the best oratorios we know and love. Check out their website or my calendar for dates and locations.

Rehearsals: nothing on the books for a bit.

Practicing: Sight-reading and some basics, not over-extending myself too much for a week or two.

Listening: I pulled out my favorite Billy Joel album yesterday, Stormfront, in case you were wondering how cool I am.

Teaching: Hamline update: Spring semester has started and I have two students there this semester, which is double last! I’m also excited to get to work with the wind ensemble as a player-coach and meet some more of the school’s fantastic students.

Studying: Still waiting on a copy of Flow to come from the library. So not much.

Relaxing: I had a really low key weekend of comic books, video games, and chats with friends. I have a guest this weekend and I’m excited to do a little MSP sight-seeing!

 

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Weekly Round-up 2/8/16

Performances: As always I keep a calendar updated on this site.

Monday, 2/8 12pm- Hamline University Lunch Recital. More info to come! These are short, informal half-hour recitals and I am happy to be the featured artist for February. I’ll be playing the David Concertino, selections from Bach Cello Suite No 2, and the first movement of Red Dragonfly by Amy Mills. TODAY! Tune in here to watch: http://portal.stretchinternet.com/hamlineadmin/

Rehearsals: Mill City Five meets this week!

Practicing: Auditions are done, after this afternoon my feature recital at Hamline will be done, and I’m looking at a long stretch in February with nothing very concrete to prepare. I think it may be time to dive back into some etudes, like the Slama or the Arban, perhaps.

Listening: Hit up some tunes reminiscent of things I loved in college yesterday, Ani Difranco’s Evolve being at the top of the list.

And, I watched Minnesota Youth Symphonies give a tremendous concert yesterday afternoon in Orchestra Hall. My student Bjorn performed 1st trombone on Hindemith’s Symphonic Metamorphoses with the top orchestra. It was phenomenal. That piece brings back some amazing memories from high school and makes me a little weepy.

Teaching: Not sure what will come up this week! Focused practice has been my main tool for taking students’ attention off technique and intonation- and solving those problems in the process.

Studying: Time to start researching grants for my studio scholarship expansion plans. And it’s MMEA weekend, which means I’ll get to learn how to be a contest judge!

Relaxing: I’m not sure what that is.

 

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Weekly Round-up 2/1/16

Performances: As always I keep a calendar updated on this site.

Monday, 2/8 12pm- Hamline University Lunch Recital. More info to come! These are short, informal half-hour recitals and I am happy to be the featured artist for February. I’ll be playing the David Concertino, selections from Bach Cello Suite No 2, and the first movement of Red Dragonfly by Amy Mills.

Rehearsals: Metro met last night for a solid rehearsal. I’m really excited to be playing a piece called Tientos y Danzas, by Gareth Wood. Here’s the first movement as performed by Superbness:

Practicing: It’s audition week! I’m focusing on small details, ‘nailing the changes’ as it were, and trying to iron out a few inconsistencies. On Wednesday I’ll do my last real day of prep- and Thursday and Friday I’ll run my pieces a few times throughout the day but in general taper my practice to make sure I feel fresh for Saturday.

Listening: Not much. Trying to keep my head clear.

Teaching: Air articulations and bopping- steadying the tone and hearing the heart of the note.

Studying: Scores for the David and Red Dragonfly.

Relaxing: Comic books!

 

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Weekly Round-up 1/25/16

Performances: Lots upcoming in January. As always I keep a calendar updated on this site.

Monday, 2/8 12pm- Hamline University Lunch Recital. More info to come! These are short, informal half-hour recitals and I am happy to be the featured artist for February. I’ll be playing the David Concertino, selections from Bach Cello Suite No 2, and the first movement of Red Dragonfly by Amy Mills.

Rehearsals: Mill City Five is getting back together on Wed night to kick off a new year, our fourth year together! We hope to fill it with gigs and music. Stay tuned .

Metro meets Sunday night. Looks like I’ll be playing a solo feature on “Stardust”. Put March 17th in your brain; we may have a concert date to announce soon.

Practicing: Less than two weeks to perfect my UMN audition materials- but I’m feeling strong! I had a really inspiring lesson with Professor Ashworth last Friday and am feeling the motivation to go into the audition swinging.

Listening: Charlie Parr’s album Stumpjumper has been making me dance lately.

Teaching: My seminar at Brass Chix was all about getting to the heart of your sound- feeling the air move, imagining the shape of your tone. We made some really nice music yesterday.

Studying: Doing what pleases me.

Relaxing: Crosswords and tea.

 

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Weekly Round-up 1/18/16

Happy Martin Luther King Day!

Performances: Lots upcoming in January. As always I keep a calendar updated on this site.

Sunday, 1/24, 11-4 – BrassChix Annual Forum for women and girls who play brass instruments! I’m so excited to be a part of this again. I’ll be giving a trombone seminar in the morning and performing a movement of Red Dragonfly by Amy Mills in the afternoon.

Monday, 2/8 12pm- Hamline University Lunch Recital. More info to come! These are short, informal half-hour recitals and I am happy to be the featured artist for February.

Rehearsals: Working with my pianist, Rebecca, on the Mills for Sunday.

Practicing: So there’s a lot on my plate this month. On top of the above performances I am also preparing for my audition to enter doctoral study at the U in the fall. That audition is February 6th. Luckily, I can recycle much of the material from other gigs.

Listening: John Luther Adams, like, all of it.

Teaching: Short, quick notes to find the heart of your sound. Making the motion of the horn coming to your face, the inhalation, and the sound all a part of one unit, effortless.

Studying: Balance.

Relaxing: Visits to Como Conservatory, walks, good long talks with friends.

 

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Weekly Round-up 1/11/16

Hello all and welcome to 2016! This is the first weekly post of the year and I’m excited to share some new performances, information, and materials with you. Here goes!

Performances: Lots upcoming in January. As always I keep a calendar updated on this site.

Next Sunday, 1/17, 2pm- Winona Chamber Winds. One of my bucket list pieces, the Stravinsky Octet for Winds, is on this concert. If you can make the drive or will be in the area, I would love to see you!

Sunday, 1/24, 11-4 – BrassChix Annual Forum for women and girls who play brass instruments! I’m so excited to be a part of this again. I’ll be giving a trombone seminar in the morning and performing a movement of Red Dragonfly by Amy Mills in the afternoon.

Monday, 2/8 12pm- Hamline University Lunch Recital. More info to come! These are short, informal half-hour recitals and I am happy to be the featured artist for February.

Rehearsals: Prepping for WCW next weekend. Metro meets on Sunday the 17th.

Practicing: So there’s a lot on my plate this month. On top of the above performances I am also preparing for my audition to enter doctoral study at the U in the fall. That audition is February 6th. Luckily, I can recycle much of the material from other gigs.

Listening: Recently I’ve been sharing favorite recordings and performances of classical and art music with a friend. It’s taken me down a rabbit hole of orchestral music that has been refreshing.

But, also, David Bowie, thank you, Starman, for blowing our minds.

Teaching: Air is all you need. Let your line do the work.

Studying: Aspects of zen and Buddhist meditation.

Relaxing: Not going to be a lot of that this month, but I made a few New Year’s Resolutions, many of them focusing on getting out into the world more, and experiencing. Less screen time, more art, dance, music, friends, and life.

 

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Trombone á Trois in concert!

Dear friends,

Please attend a recital featuring my trombone trio, Trombone á Trois, on Tuesday, December 8th, at 7pm- Sundin Hall, Hamline University!

Featuring works by Moulaert, Bach, Corelli, Hidas, and Britten. Come hear the diverse music available to trombone trio- a infrequently seen chamber group- as played by John Maddox, Derek Crosier, and myself.

The concert is free and will be recorded.

Facebook invite: https://www.facebook.com/events/1645104842412177/

See you there!

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I’m going to be a Piper!

It’s official: I am taking over for one year as interim instructor of low brass for the Music Department at Hamline University in St Paul! Their regular instructor, Ralph Hepola, is taking a leave of absence to pursue full time band teaching, and I am happy to step in and help.

I’ll be teaching low brass lessons to registered students, as well as doing the occasional coaching session for their ensemble sections. There is potential to collaborate with other instructors and I have every intention of putting on a solo recital in Sundin Hall in the spring.

What does this mean for my current studio? Almost nothing changes! I’ll be dedicating one day a week to teaching on campus and it will hardly affect my current studio schedule at all.

Many of you may know that I have been hoping for a long time to get a college position and begin my career in academia. I am really thrilled that I can start at Hamline- the first university founded in Minnesota- and work with the positive, civically-minded folks there. It is a gorgeous campus and has excellent facilities for its music students. There’s a possibility the position may extend beyond a year, but at the very least I am excited to begin here.

(A special shout-out goes to Sarah Schmalenberger, friend, fierce horn playing boss, and colleague, for her work in recommending me for the position and paving the way for my interview to go so smoothly and successfully. You should have friends like this, folks!)

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Welcome to My Studio Store!

Introducing my Husting Low Brass Studio Store on Amazon! I am excited to offer my students a place to pick up items I’ve recommended to them and in addition get a little commission for the purchase. Please bookmark this link and consider shopping through my store next time you are in need of a music item.

Happy shopping!

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Lauren Husting DOT COM SO COOL

Hello friends and students and colleagues!

This is my all new, renovated for ease on your eyeballs, super great merged website! I have combined my professional page with my studio page so that everything is in one place.

My name is Lauren Husting, and I play trombone. I also teach privately- trombone, baritone/euph, and tuba. I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. You can use this site to find out when I’m playing next, what I’m working on, and how to get started with private lessons.

Happy practicing!