First of all, welcome to my first attempt at any sort of a public blog!  While the information you read here will be trivial at best, I just thought it would be a good idea for me to send out to anyone, in writing, some of the things that I get to thinking about from time to time.  I honestly have no plans to keep this blog updated with any scheduled regularity, but I do hope that when the mood strikes, I can remember to go here to open up to readers about what I'm thinking.  I plan to keep it updated with tips on playing, practicing, warmup, or just give simple life lessons.  There may be times that I add a link to a cool site I found.  There may be time that I post a funny picture.  Who knows?

 

In college, I actually earned a nickname among my music education classmates; they used to call me "Deep Thoughts."  Now, any of you who have ever had a lesson with me must surely know that I NEVER talk too much, over-explain a concept, or ask a lengthy series of rhetorical questions aimed at inspiring you to perform that concert b-flat whole note with the most beautiful tone, rhythm counting, and emotion, so much so that it would make Beethoven jealous.  So hey...if you can't get enough of Mr. Schwanger's short and consise, less-talk-more-doing style of teaching, go ahead and hit "SUBSCRIBE" and read my posts in your most favoritest RSS feed reader. 

 

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Its about this time of year that I begin to realize that alot of what I've said in a lesson or in a band rehearsal is all old material.   It's either stuff I've already said this year, stuff i've said last year, or stuff someone else has said.  Don't get me wrong; I don't consider myself a walking encyclopedia of band knowledge.  I just remember alot of things that people used to tell ME in the past, and I pretty much just regurgitate that out to my students.  Yes, there are plenty of times that I have thought up my own analogy on the spot, but for the most part, I am telling you something that someone else has (or I have) said already.  So, the next time you are at home practicing your instrument, just think to yourself "What did Mr. Schwanger (or anyone else, for that matter) say about this?"  If you can't answer that question, think "What would someone like Mr. Schwanger say to me (besides 'Do it again!')."  It may just help to keep you practicing, that is, assuming you've begun to do that in the first place!