Bugleboy21

For those of you wondering what life in the army band can be like:

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Army bugler/trumpeter soloist at concert tonight

By Olga Peña

Killeen Daily Herald

There is a difference between a bugler and a trumpeter — Sgt. Larry Dean is both.

The featured soloist at tonight’s Heights Band concert, Dean joined the 1st Cavalry Division Band in August of 2004, leaving for Iraq a month later. He returned in January of this year.

Dean recalls having played Taps — the military bugle call sounded at funerals, wreath-layings and memorial services — more times than he can number.

“We did it way more times than we should have, but that’s war,” Dean said casting his eyes down. “It was hard to feel that emotion and project it but having to keep it at bay.”

Military musicians, Dean explained, have a rare opportunity to perfect their craft, entertain troops, honor fallen comrades and defend their country.

Band members attend a six-month music school in addition to the regular basic training all soldiers undergo.

“You always have your weapons and armor,” Dean said. “We are combatants just like anyone else.”

When they are stateside, Dean explained, trumpet players perform dual roles as buglers and trumpeters. With the troops, buglers perform calls at ceremonies to include Taps. As trumpeters, the musicians march, entertain and perform in concerts.

While Dean’s love for his military musical career is great, he also enjoys playing outside of the Army world.

Dean, who was born in Killeen, followed in his brother’s footsteps and picked up a trumpet before the age of 10. He has not put it down since.

“It’s a very versatile instrument,” Dean said, listing the various musical styles he enjoys performing.

After studying music at Southwest Texas State University, Dean played nights and weekends in clubs, weddings and “odd things that musicians do,” he said.

Having witnessed his father’s successful and enjoyable military career, Dean then decided to join the Army in 2003. Dean participates in three of 1st Cavalry Band’s ensembles: brass quartet, jazz combo and Grupo K-lore — a salsa ensemble.

Dean has been performing with the Heights Band since junior high school. He said the band offers musicians an opportunity to perform with professionals, educators and talented students.

“It’s musically fulfilling and just a lot of fun,” Dean said . “I always seem to pick something up.”

This will be Dean’s second time performing a solo with the accomplished band, having had his debut two weeks ago in San Saba. A 1994 graduate of Copperas Cove High School, Dean said tonight’s performance is like coming home.

“I usually get nervous but since I came back from Iraq, it’s a feeling of anxiousness going back to my hometown,” Dean said.

Appropriately, Dean’s solo is titled “The Bugler.”

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Thank you for all those who expressed the kindest words to me when I came home from Iraq.

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SSG Laurence C Dean
US Army TRADOC Band
Fort Monroe, VA


You have to be a SMAT Boy to transpose well! -William Vacchiano

ebtromba

congrats! how did the performance go? I have never heard of The Bugler. Who is the composer?

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www.Ebtpt.com

Bugleboy21

The performance went well! I had a great time. The Bugler is by Edwin Franko Goldman (arr. by Erik Leidzen). It is published by Mills Music, Inc. It's a cute solo fillled with standard military bugle calls with band accompaniment in the first half and lots of fast (TK'd) arpeggios in the second half. Whenever I get a CD of the concert, I'll post a couple sound bytes up.

__________________
SSG Laurence C Dean
US Army TRADOC Band
Fort Monroe, VA


You have to be a SMAT Boy to transpose well! -William Vacchiano

dow30

Thanks for sharing that article and many Thanks for your service, it is Greatly appreciated! Be Well!!!

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dow30
Courage doesn't always roar, sometimes it's that little voice at the end of the day that says. "I'll try again tomorrow."

Alex Yates

Bugleboy - thank you for being a trumpeter and a soldier. I am happy you are back on U.S. soil. Also, thanks for sharing your musical experience with us. Take good care.

Bugleboy21

Ok...so it's been almost 4 years, but I got a clip of it on YouTube! However, this is from a repeat performance last summer in Waco, TX with the Heights Concert Band. I'm honored that they invited me back to perform not just the solo, but sit in the section as well for the whole concert.


You can also find me in Facebook and MySpace, where there's lots more audio files of practice/recording sessions. Cya!

__________________
SSG Laurence C Dean
US Army TRADOC Band
Fort Monroe, VA


You have to be a SMAT Boy to transpose well! -William Vacchiano

Bob Grier

Wouderful playing. I enjoyed this very much.

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Bob Grier, An Old Pro
Web Cam trumpet & jazz improvisation lessons
bgrierjr@triad.rr.com
Schilke B5 GB bell
NY Bach ML 37GB Bb 1949
Benge 7X 1985
Conn 22B 1940s
King Liberty Silversonic 1975
King Master Model Siversonic cornet 1975
1985 Bach C L 229GB 25A
1985 Bach D ML 239
1985 Bach Eb ML 239
1967 Martin C ML rose brass bell
1985 Selmer Paris Picc with Osmun A pipe
& Blackburn Bb pipe
1975 Getzen Eterna Flugelhorn
1985 Yamaha YFH 635T Flugelhorn

TrumpetPower

Bugleboy,

You just might be one of the many people whom I decide to burden with questions, though in all honesty I think my instructor is equally qualified. I'm going to be auditioning for Army Band eventually, my lessons instructor Roy Muth (Navy) will let me know exactly when I should go about doing this.

I would be prior service, I did 4 years of 11b (Infantry) and an injury that left 5 of my brothers dead forced me to reevaluate my plan. I came home, fortunately which is the site of the SOM (School of Music), and have been mentally rehabilitating myself. Now I'm left with a dried up G.I Bill and a foggy future, until I picked up my horn again. Now all of a sudden it's like a steam train. I love playing now more than I ever did in high school, and not to 'toot my own horn' (but that's what we do, right?), but I was a pretty decent high school player.

I can't sit through Taps without tears, and I can only imagine how hard it might be for me to play it at first. But I can't imagine a better way to honor a fallen soldier. I was in the hospital when my brothers had a memorial, and was unable to hear their taps or 21 gun salute. So I am taking that and using it as my motivation.

I think I've typed too much as now I can't even seem to get back on track of the purpose of this response. I guess just be prepared for a few private messages from me, when I have Army Band questions that might need answering.

Thanks for doing what you do, and one day (hopefully soon) I'll be able to play along side of you (figuratively) and honor the rest of our fallen troops.

-- oh and one more thing --- the infantry in me wants you to know your no combatant!! (just kidding, keep on doing what you do)

veery715

Thank you, Bugleboy. That was really great!
veery