Jimi Michiel

Hey guys, sorry I couldn't think of a better title for this post.

A few of you who have been around for a while know that I was doing some graduate work at the University of Minnesota. For a couple of reasons (none of which being the trumpet teachers there, Gary Bordner and David Baldwin, both of whom are excellent), I took this year off. It was a lot of fun, trying to make a living freelancing (I did just ok at that) and studying with Manny Laureano (an awesome experience).

Around January, I came to the conclusion that Minnesota was not the place for me. Again, there were a bunch of reasons, one of which being the HORRIBLE winter (I've lived in Interlochen (MI), Syracuse and Boston, so I mean it when I say the winter was bad). So I sent an email to UMN saying I would not be back (I had originally taken a "hiatus") and started sending out emails to everyone I knew, seeing what I could put together for next year. There were a couple of schools on the East Coast that I contacted, as well as some friends at a law firm in DC (that sounded too much like a real job). I even got leads for a couple for desk jobs in Boston.

I also called a friend in Texas who I went to Interlochen with. He was just finishing up his grad work at Texas Christian University and told me about an assistantship that would be open next year. He also told me about the teaching scene in D-FW. It all sounded pretty good. I went down for a week in March and absolutely loved it. I really clicked with the trumpet teacher, Dr. John Burgess. I met a bunch of people in the trumpet studio, all of whom seemed to be incredibly talented and welcoming. I also got a chance to ask all the questions that I didn't know to ask the first time I applied to grad schools, like "do you have a travel fund?" and "could I hear recordings of the orchestra?" I also got a sense that the school was on VERY firm financial ground. There was lots of construction on campus (a good thing), and the trumpet studio had just been given money to purchase several new instruments (full sets of rotaries and natural trumpets). Suffice it to say, I was very impressed. To me, it seemed like the school is headed in the exact right direction (similar to Rice, maybe a decade ago).

So I played my audition (in their BEAUTIFUL recital hall) and went home. 3 long weeks later I got my acceptance and assistantship letter. The next day I signed my forms and faxed them back to Fort Worth, indicating that I'd be there in the Fall.

So that's it. I'm moving to TEXAS!!! It's been a crazy few weeks since then, trying to figure out how to get my stuff from Minnesota to New York for the Summer, and then to Fort Worth in August. Fortunately I made enough friends in my week down there (and met up with a few old ones) to get a living situation set up and start sending some stuff down.

In the meantime: anybody on here from DFW? If so, I'd be grateful for anything you could share about the scene:

-tips/hints/survival techniques for getting a private studio started

-names of top freelancers/contractors in the area

-good post-gig bars

-groups to sub with

If anybody does theatre work, or knows anyone who does, I'd love to talk to you. Also, I'm a little confused as to the situation in the Dallas Symphony. I know Ryan Anthony has been playing the gig, but he flies in from out of town to do it, right?

Thanks for listening, and sorry for blabbering on...

Best wishes,
Jimi
jmichiel@msn.com

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RGood

Jimi -

Congrats and welcome to Texas!!! TCU is just a great school.

D/FW area has a lot going on - plus just north of us is UNT - University of North Texas with that great One O'Clock Lab Band!!! Great music program up there too!

Dallas and Fort Worth each have their own symphony orchestra's and symphony halls (Meyerson in Dallas, Bass Hall in Ft. Worth). Some smaller orchestras in Irving, Arlington, etc.

I'm not up on the professional music scene here - but think you'll enjoy. Lots of shows come through both towns.

Plus lots of churches with large congretations (like 10,000 people plus) who hire professional musicians.

But coming from Minnesota - get ready for the heat - was 98 today!!!! And the humidity was up there too! Triple digit days are coming....and luckily the hail and tornado season is mostly over....(you'll notice cars with golf ball like exteriors.....).

Wish you the best on the relocation - think you'll enjoy your time here.

And git you some BBQ, some chicken fried steak, and some sweet tea!!! (as a transplanted Yankee - I'm still learning...).

BG from Grapevine (fall out of the plane at D/FW - you're in my backyard....)

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stchasking

Learn to play Salsa music.

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ejaime23

Texas public school band programs are a goldmine for lesson teachers, there are a ton of really great established programs around if you're willing to drive for it, the good part is that most places will make them worth your while. The easiest way of going about establishing a studio is to email directors, there's usually a shortage of lesson teachers, some huge/powerful programs in the DFW area are Haltom, Marcus, Duncanville, Coppell, and any of the Richardson ISD schools (Berkner is the biggie) to name a few. Depending on when you move down, there is the Texas Bandmaster's Association conference in late July that is a great way to network and throw your name out there, as well as catch some good clinics/concerts. These are just a few tips, the downside is that you're competing with two really strong music schools that are nearby (UNT and SMU), the good side is that these progams are massive, and if you can't necessarily get to the high schools, those schools usually have two or three feeders that will also need lesson teachers. Best of luck, and enjoy the two seasons of Texas, hot and hotter!

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"Music is not a career, it's a way of life"
Raven Brass

ejaime23

Oh yeah, you should probably get to know Bert Truax while you're down here, not only is he a phenomenal player and teacher, he's just a great guy to know for many reasons!

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"Music is not a career, it's a way of life"
Raven Brass

bjntrumpet

Congrats on TCU, it's a great school. You are definitely in for a climate change, it is generally close to 100 degrees every day in August. There are plenty of playing opportunities in the DFW area. The latin scene is great and there are numerous community orchestras and wind bands around. I would also look into getting a church gig, the DFW area is Bible belt country and there are huge churches who have full time praise bands/orchestras that pay very well. I would do what ejaime said about lessons this is generally how Texas schools lesson programs work. Ryan Anthony flies from Memphis to play with Dallas. Tom Booth is also a great as well as Bert Traux, John Holt, Rick Bogard the list can go on and on. Best of luck.

Brett

Richard Oliver

I lived in Dallas/Denton for close to a decade about 15 years ago. Is the Green Parrot still offering jazz? It's in Oak Cliff.

Good Luck at TCU!

BIG sky out there.

Jimi Michiel

Thanks guys. Yeah, salsa is definitely on my list of things to work on this summer, as well as commercial playing. I've gotten some leads from friends at TCU, and Dr. Burgess has given my name out, so I'm not anticipating too rough a time finding students.

As for the weather, I'll take plus three digits over negative two digits any day (and twice today).

-Jimi

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