Last Friday, we had our first Schools Day of tour. On Schools Days, the band and chorus break into chamber groups to play recitals and clinics at local schools and colleges. I consider the band’s educational work some of the most rewarding work in the job. Music is a demanding discipline, and learning to do it as a kid can be tough for all kinds of reasons. I have a lot of affection for music students, elementary through college, and anything I can do to make their process easier is more than worthwhile.The Army Field Band Brass Quintet played our second recital of tour for the Penn State Music Department, which was great fun. We performed in the Worship Hall of the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center, one of the most resonant rooms I’ve ever played in, certainly with a brass quintet. The walls were concrete, the ceilings were more than 30 feet high, and the front of the hall was adorned with a colossal mural, which hung above a massive wooden table. As we weren’t permitted (or inclined) to move the table, we set up off-center at the foot of the steps, closer to the audience.

The audience was fairly typical of a college recital: small but appreciative. A college music department is an intense place, and the students are always drowning in rehearsals and performances; even when they’re not performing, their friends and colleagues are, and they’re obligated to support them. We usually get modest showings at our college recitals, but the kids that take the time to come are the ones we really want to reach.One nice perk to the Penn State gig: after our recital we got to coach the graduate brass quintet. They played movements I and III of Anthony Plog’s Sketches for Brass, and they sounded excellent. They made me want to play that piece in our own quintet. Congratulations, guys… I hope to hear you again.