School starts again on Tuesday and I’m pretty excited about the semester. Call me crazy, yes, I am a math major. Hurray for differential equations, calc III, and programming with Java in addition to english 105 and ballroom dancing (Linh talked me into it :-P). I’m sure we’ll be the laughing stock of the entire class with her being a foot and 3 inches shorter than me and about half my weight (and then some). It’ll be fun though!

That’s the academic side of things. The real fun stuff will be happening outside of school (as it usually does). First off, I’m wicked excited that the ASU Wind Symphony will be performing my work, Shadow Rituals, as I’ve said before. I never thought my first premiere with them would be for a grade 4 work. But hopefully they’ll dig it. I’d love to write something just awesome for them in the fall! Echo will also have its world premiere with the Mesa Community College a capella choir sometime this semester under the direction of Dr. Glenn Bennett.

I will also be collaborating with percussionist Joe Goglia and the rest of the Dobson High School marching band staff to compose next year’s show. The theme, as of now, is Africa.

Other projects will include wrapping up my string quartet and the Conan musical. That’s pretty much my semester. Looks like all my other projects keep getting pushed back but with good reason. It’ll give me a chance to really make the most of them.

A great read for young band composers: Composers on Composing for Band (volumes I and II). It’s like having a 30 minute lesson with all the great living band composers from Ticheli to de Meij. Caution: Eric Whitacre goes on a bitch ‘n’ moan rant about band music. But maybe he’s just painfully blunt. Still a great practical read into the creative process of many great composers.