Black Phoenix Trumpet

You thought that all trumpets are alike, until you play on the Yamaha Black Phoenix trumpet. Not only does it looks good, it plays amazing well with lighting fast valves and very free blowing. It’s one of a kind, well one of 50 produced to be exact.

Also known as the YTR-8310ZBP trumpet, it features a large bore tuning slide and large bell flare in combination with the stepped bore design, enabling this medium bore trumpet to produce a very big sound with very little effort.

This limited edition Black Phoenix trumpet was produced in celebration of 50 years of Yamaha in the United States.

 

 

 

 

Oh, tuba!

The tuba is not a romantic instrument. Not many band players take readily to the tuba. It is very rarely a solo instrument. And it is not glamorous. It is big and heavy and it takes a stout fellow to go sashaying down the field performing on a tuba. But hey, you can carry the tuba and play on it in whichever position you want to adapt for a marching band. But beware of sudden gush of wind which can send you sprawling backwards if you are not carefully. All said, nobody says you cannot strut, twirl or fast step with playing the tuba as you are always in short supply.

 

 

 

Summer Conducting School

Summer is the perfect time for conductors to take advantage of the many clinics and workshops in many parts of the world that provide knowledge for professional growth for conductors of wind bands. These clinics and workshops are usually conducted with the aim to allow the participants to learn through clinic presentation by respected conducting teachers or professionals who have vast experience working with wind bands or ensembles. Participants will have the opportunity to hone their conducting skills with ample podium time and gain hands-on experience which are necessary for continued growth in the art of conducting.

Typical instructions that participants will receive are the study of baton techniques, study of scores, interpretation and rehearsal methods, movements and gestures in conducting and many more which are designed with the conductor in mind, including conducting opportunities in small ensemble setting as well as the full repertoire with the full wind band. There will also be opportunities for discussion with panel conductors and fellow conductors amidst sharing of knowledge and expertise.

With so many options, conductors are bound to find a summer program that aligns with their interests and goals and top off with a rewarding experience. In short every conductor should attend a summer conducting class at least once.

 

 

 

 

 

The Black Phoenix Alto-Sax

 

In 2009, Yamaha Corporation of America introduced the Limited Edition Black Phoenix instruments. Consisting of black-lacquer versions of 3 of the most popular Custom Z instruments, the Black Phoenix line celebrates 50 years of Yamaha in the United States.

Through contacts, I manage to obtain a unit of the Black Phoenix Limited Edition YAS-82Z Alto Saxophone which is produced in a small production run of only 150 units specially for the American market. It has custom phoenix hand-engraving on the bell, a lightweight brass alloy body for a great feel and tonal flexibility, and a black lacquer finish applied with a new lacquering process that allows in-bell lacquering.

The alto sax is free-blowing in all registers with fine intonation. In short, it is a superb musical instrument.

 

 

 

Band memories.

The Johore State Fui Chiew Association Brass Band performing in 1977.

The band was established in 1960s. Under the direction of Conductor Wu, the band practised twice a week and strains of band music like “The Thunderer”, “Washington Post”, “Under the Double Eagles”, “Old Comrades” perpetrated the night air in the little town of Kluang in the state of Johor in Malaysia. I grew up listening to those band music as my house was just opposite the band’s practice venue. I joined the band when I was a teenager during the seventies.

Yes, the sixties and the seventies were the glorious days of band music as simply speaking, we have nothing much to do in those days except to get together to make music as well as socialise. A band is only as good as its conductor and Conductor Wu was simply in his element in teaching and conducting marches especially Sousa marches.

In the eighties and nineties when technology advanced and people had more diverse interests, the die-hard band members slowly dwindle in numbers. New members took over old members but those fire in band music were sadly being extinguished slowly.

Conductor Wu had passed on but his numerous students will remember those days. Such as when the main trumpeter tried his level best to reach the high notes in “Under the Double Eagles” or when “Old Comrades” invoked such strong sentiments.

Nowadays, the band still practise but on an ad hoc basis whenever there are performances.