Wednesday, October 17, 2018
Wednesday, August 22, 2018
Meet the Band: Dave (Saxophone)
Dave has been with the band since 2003 and plays the alto saxophone; he is also a board member and our part-time music librarian
He recently graduated from college with a Degree in Teaching social studies teacher.
He thinks guitar "is really cool" if he could play any other instrument; and his fun fact---he loves and raises ttortoises!!!
He likes our band because, "NECB is a welcoming group and provides a low-stress environment in which to make music with other people and be challenged to grow as a musician. It's fun, has some great people in it, and is close to home! (It's also the only band I've ever played in, so it's not like I have much to compare it to... :) )".
He recently graduated from college with a Degree in Teaching social studies teacher.
He thinks guitar "is really cool" if he could play any other instrument; and his fun fact---he loves and raises ttortoises!!!
He likes our band because, "NECB is a welcoming group and provides a low-stress environment in which to make music with other people and be challenged to grow as a musician. It's fun, has some great people in it, and is close to home! (It's also the only band I've ever played in, so it's not like I have much to compare it to... :) )".
Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Meet the Band: Jenny (Flutes)
Jenny -has been with the band since 2016 and plays Flute.
In her regular life she teaches early childhood music, gives private flute and piano instruction, and sees clients for music therapy.
In her spare time, she enjoys hanging out/food/arts/being outside with her husband Jordan (Trumpet), tutoring Somali women in English, reading fiction, helping at church, spending time with friends and family, and playing with their "awesome" cat Milo.
She is a "jam canning newbie" and hopes to do more--they have cherries, rhubarb, and Concord grapes in their yard, and trying to cultivate raspberries and strawberries.
She loves teaching music and helping people; and if she could play any other instrument, it would be percussion. With NECB band, she enjoys "playing great music with my husband and other fun people in the neighborhood!"
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Meet the Band: Anna (Clarinet)
Anna - plays Clarinet, and is coming up on a year in the band as she joined in January 2017. In her non-band life she is a reading tutor in a local first-grade classroom, and lives with 27 potted plants. Definite green thumb!
Her dream profession would be a dog whisperer, and she thinks playing the trombone looks pretty fun and would be something she'd like to try given the chance.
Monday, July 16, 2018
Meet the Band: John (Tuba)
John plays Tuba and has been with us since 2007. He enjoys our "casual atmosphere with the opportunity to continue playing music with a group." When he's not in the band, he works at the U of MN Libraries and loves to travel.
In fact, he'd be a travel writer if he could, as well as learn to play the bassoon. And speaking of playing other instruments, John has played electric bass and upright bass for some songs with us over the years.
In fact, back in the day, he played bass guitar with a couple of local rocks bands. Rock on!
In fact, he'd be a travel writer if he could, as well as learn to play the bassoon. And speaking of playing other instruments, John has played electric bass and upright bass for some songs with us over the years.
In fact, back in the day, he played bass guitar with a couple of local rocks bands. Rock on!
Thursday, July 5, 2018
Meet the Band: Joseph (Saxophone)
Joseph - plays the tenor sax and joined us last year as "its a low key way to keep playing sax that doesn't interfere much with school". He studying to be a Mathematician at the U of MN.
When he's not studying (emphasis on the dying), he is playing ukulele or frolfing or biking".
http://www.frolf.com/
He's "curious about brass instruments" and would choose trumpet if he could play something different.
Fun fact--Leroy Anderson is his favorite when it comes to Christmas songs. So he is actually thrilled when we play Sleigh Ride every year.. a classic!
When he's not studying (emphasis on the dying), he is playing ukulele or frolfing or biking".
http://www.frolf.com/
He's "curious about brass instruments" and would choose trumpet if he could play something different.
Fun fact--Leroy Anderson is his favorite when it comes to Christmas songs. So he is actually thrilled when we play Sleigh Ride every year.. a classic!
Monday, June 25, 2018
Meet the Band: Michael (Euphonium/Baritone)
Michael- is in his second year with us as a Euphonium player. If he could play any other instrument it would be Tuba, "if he could afford one."
When not in band, he's works cashier and stock at a grocery store, plays computer games, enjoys biking, and plays in a drum corps.
He likes the location of the band and the fact that he can then keep playing during the winter.
Interesting note: his high school band director lent him his euphonium from the "closet of forgotten instruments. He agreed to give it back on his deathbed". Hope his high school band director is immortal.
When not in band, he's works cashier and stock at a grocery store, plays computer games, enjoys biking, and plays in a drum corps.
He likes the location of the band and the fact that he can then keep playing during the winter.
Interesting note: his high school band director lent him his euphonium from the "closet of forgotten instruments. He agreed to give it back on his deathbed". Hope his high school band director is immortal.
Monday, June 11, 2018
Meet the Band: Kyle (Trumpets)
Kyle Park - plays Trumpet and has been with us since 2010. When he's not in the band, he enjoys home brewing beer and playing with his dog (a Golden doodle named Archie).
If he could choose a dream profession it would be a baseball player, and would love to play blues guitar if he could play any other instrument. His wife is also a member of the band.
If he could choose a dream profession it would be a baseball player, and would love to play blues guitar if he could play any other instrument. His wife is also a member of the band.
Friday, June 1, 2018
Meet the Band: Ralph (Trumpets)
Ralph Sowden - plays Trumpet is our band Treasurer. He has been with the band since day one back in 1998, and is an avid motorcycle rider! He enjoys long motorcycle Vacations with his wife who is also a member of our band. He is a Veteran of the US Navy!
Tuesday, May 29, 2018
Meet the Band: Amy (Flutes)
Amy - plays Flute, has been with us since 2010, and is currently band President. She enjoys the community and fun atmosphere of the band. If she could play another instrument, she'd like to give the cello or oboe a try.
Interestingly, this is not her first time under the musical direction of our director Tim...back in 96' at the U of M, he was staff on the U Marching Band, and she a little ol' freshman flutist making her way through spat camp.
Interestingly, this is not her first time under the musical direction of our director Tim...back in 96' at the U of M, he was staff on the U Marching Band, and she a little ol' freshman flutist making her way through spat camp.
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
Meet the Band: Alex (Clarinet)
Alex joined us back in 2015, plays Clarinet, and is an At-Large Board Member, and sometimes one of our sub conductors. He likes the wide variety of music we play, and in his spare time you may find him reading, running, and playing Chess or Computer Games. If he could, he'd play French Horn, and be an Astronaut provided he could learn not to get motion sick!
Alex is one of several Band Members from Michigan!
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Meet the Band: Georgette (Saxophone)
Georgette - plays Alto Saxophone and is yet another new member who found us through a list of area community bands. She is retired from teaching, so she "enjoys doing whatever I want and don't keep track". She also enjoys time with her grandchildren (2 who live down the street from Edison and 3 in beautiful Montana). She also tap dances (not in public), and would like to learn to play the drums. Otherwise, she is "a serious Vikings fanatic.''
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Meet the Band: Loryn (Saxophones)
Loryn - plays Alto Saxophone and is another new member who found us through our website. She enjoys readings, painting and hanging out with family and friends, would like to learn the Trumpet, and be a Sports Newscaster - Specifically for the NBA . In her daytime life, she works at Minnesota Public Radio and loves it!
Monday, April 30, 2018
Meet the Band: Tony (Cornet)
Tony- plays Cornet, and this is first year with us! He learned about our band through a current member. He is a registered nurse in his real life, but if he could he'd be a writer and learn the cello. He is also a winemaker!
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Meet The Band: Leah (Clarinets)
Leah plays Clarinet (as well as flute and piano) and has been in the band since 2002. She enjoys us (the people) and the diversification and generations in the group, and the fact that "we are NOT suburbanites". She is a CPA, and thus why you haven't seen her since the beginning of the year, but she'll be back with us again for the end of the season. If she could she'd like to play the harp, and in her spare time enjoys cats, needlework and antiques. An interesting and rather cool fact was that she "stayed with a family in East Germany during reunification, as she studied in Salzburg, Austria" at the time.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Meet the Band: Kristin (Clarinets)
Kristin plays Clarinet and has been with the band since 2012. She enjoys our relaxed atmosphere that still makes good music. She is a project manager in her day job, and enjoys hockey and running for hobbies
Friday, April 20, 2018
Meet the Band: Sarah (Flutes)
Sarah plays Flute and is a new member this year who learned about us through Facebook. Other than the Flute, she would love to learn the French Horn or Cello.
Monday, January 29, 2018
My Band Story - Ron - Trumpet section
My name is Ron and I am the Vice President of the Northeast Community Band.
NECB: How long have you been in the Northeast Community Band?
Ron: I started in 2000 or 2001
NECB: How did you find us?
Ron: My son was in the Northeast Middle School Band, and his teacher (Tim Martin) suggested that he join to gain additional experience. My son told him that I played too and Tim said bring your dad. My son eventually moved on and I stayed with the band. Later my youngest son spent a season or two with us.
NECB: What do you play
Ron: I play the Trumpet and Flugelhorn. Although I have played the Baritone and Trombone in the past with some experience on French Horn and Tuba. In High School my second Instrument was percussion.
In the past I've taken lessons on the piano, Guitar and Clarinet.
NECB: Do you play anywhere else?
Ron: I play in our church worship/praise band. Generally my Trumpet or Flugelhorn and occasionally the Congas, Bongos and Tambourine.
NECB: What Brand Trumpet and Flugelhorn do you play?
Ron: My Trumpet is a Getzen Eterna, My Flugelhorn is a Bach Stradivarius and my Pocket Trumpet is an EM Winston
NECB: What is your favorite Music Genre'
Ron: I am fairly eclectic, Gospel/Religious Music, Jazz and Classical and pretty much any rock band that has a good Brass Section (Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire, J Giels for example). However, if the music is good I can enjoy pretty much any thing.
NECB: Do you have a Favorite Professional Trumpet Player?
Ron: It is hard to pick just one; I'd have to go with Clark Terry. When I was in High School, he spent a number of weeks at our school working with our various bands. He was down to earth, had an infectious smile and loved working with kids.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Terry
NECB: Are there other musicians in your family?
Ron: Yes - My mom played the Accordion, but she is a singer and sang with the same choir for nearly 70 years, until an injury sidelined her.
My Grandmother played the Piano and Guitar, her mom played the Guitar
Both of my sons play the trumpet and my youngest played the Cello for a while.
My wife is a keyboard player as is her mother and several of her aunts.
I have nieces that play the violin and clarinet
NECB: If you could learn other instrument, what would it be?
Ron: I have always wanted to learn the Bass Guitar and would love to try the didgeridoo.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didgeridoo
NECB; Over all, how has your experience with the Northeast Community Band been?
Ron: I enjoy this group, we have some very good people and have seen many people come and go for various reasons. We meet each week, make music, laugh a lot, tell jokes, relax and have a good time.
It is interesting as you meet the other members to see how diverse we are. So many different backgrounds with people of varying educational, employment and regional backgrounds - yet we have one unifying thing: The Love of Music.
NECB: How long have you been in the Northeast Community Band?
Ron: I started in 2000 or 2001
NECB: How did you find us?
Ron: My son was in the Northeast Middle School Band, and his teacher (Tim Martin) suggested that he join to gain additional experience. My son told him that I played too and Tim said bring your dad. My son eventually moved on and I stayed with the band. Later my youngest son spent a season or two with us.
NECB: What do you play
Ron: I play the Trumpet and Flugelhorn. Although I have played the Baritone and Trombone in the past with some experience on French Horn and Tuba. In High School my second Instrument was percussion.
In the past I've taken lessons on the piano, Guitar and Clarinet.
NECB: Do you play anywhere else?
Ron: I play in our church worship/praise band. Generally my Trumpet or Flugelhorn and occasionally the Congas, Bongos and Tambourine.
NECB: What Brand Trumpet and Flugelhorn do you play?
Ron: My Trumpet is a Getzen Eterna, My Flugelhorn is a Bach Stradivarius and my Pocket Trumpet is an EM Winston
NECB: What is your favorite Music Genre'
Ron: I am fairly eclectic, Gospel/Religious Music, Jazz and Classical and pretty much any rock band that has a good Brass Section (Chicago, Earth Wind and Fire, J Giels for example). However, if the music is good I can enjoy pretty much any thing.
NECB: Do you have a Favorite Professional Trumpet Player?
Ron: It is hard to pick just one; I'd have to go with Clark Terry. When I was in High School, he spent a number of weeks at our school working with our various bands. He was down to earth, had an infectious smile and loved working with kids.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Terry
NECB: Are there other musicians in your family?
Ron: Yes - My mom played the Accordion, but she is a singer and sang with the same choir for nearly 70 years, until an injury sidelined her.
My Grandmother played the Piano and Guitar, her mom played the Guitar
Both of my sons play the trumpet and my youngest played the Cello for a while.
My wife is a keyboard player as is her mother and several of her aunts.
I have nieces that play the violin and clarinet
NECB: If you could learn other instrument, what would it be?
Ron: I have always wanted to learn the Bass Guitar and would love to try the didgeridoo.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didgeridoo
NECB; Over all, how has your experience with the Northeast Community Band been?
Ron: I enjoy this group, we have some very good people and have seen many people come and go for various reasons. We meet each week, make music, laugh a lot, tell jokes, relax and have a good time.
It is interesting as you meet the other members to see how diverse we are. So many different backgrounds with people of varying educational, employment and regional backgrounds - yet we have one unifying thing: The Love of Music.
Saturday, January 27, 2018
New Article about the Band
NE Band celebrates 20 years
This fall, the Northeast Community Band began its 20th season of music-making for our Northeast community and the Twin Cities. Musicians with purple hair, gray hair, multiple piercings, some retired, some still in school, engineers, ministers, software programmers, accountants – all have gathered on Thursday nights to share a common interest, the joy of playing music.
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