In case you hadn’t heard….we are still at Stage 5 in Austin, which means we are rehearsing virtually for the time being.
The band had great momentum as we closed out 2021: in December we had back-to-back gigs at the 37th Street Lights Opening Night, and the Shipe Park neighborhood holiday parade. Right afterward we had a song share with Moontower Brass Band at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard.
What a thrill to play together for our community! Thanks to everyone who came out to hear us, and a big welcome to our new supporters and students who joined us after those events.
Stay tuned for more news and announcements about 2022 – HonkTX! is coming, and we are looking forward to more workshops at KDBY.
Good News!!! We are so happy to tell you that several of our sections are starting to meet in person! The sectionals are being held outside, socially distanced, and with masks on when not playing. Each sectional is deciding for itself when they want to meet in person – typically that decision is based on vaccination status. Percussion is meeting on Monday evenings and low brass is meeting Tuesday evenings. Woodwinds are meeting sometimes in person, sometimes via Zoom. High brass is still meeting via Zoom. We’re not trying to be secretive about the locations, but since the locations and times can change at the last minute, please email blowcomotion@gmail.com for further details.
What’s new in the sectionals?
We’ve asked a member from each section – high brass, low brass, woodwinds and percussion – for an update on what is happening in their respective sections:
WOODWINDS by Ken Hallenberg
Woodwinds are continuing our one-on-one Zoom mini-lessons during sectional time each week, focused on technique and improv. We have added a couple of new members recently and we are looking forward to resuming in-person sectionals when we are all fully-vaccinated in May.
PERCUSSION by Bev Larkin
Percussion started meeting in person on Monday nights at First Unitarian Universal Church since the beginning of April. Our section has had the chance to see members who’ve not been able to join us by Zoom since last year and welcoming a new member. We are masked, outside in a parking lot six feet apart and all participants are vaccinated. It’s been very productive to be able to see techniques, get live feedback and play and hear each other – currently we are practicing rudiments and the rhythms for “La Murga”.
LOW BRASS by Debbie Fehrenkamp
Low brass started meeting in person on Tuesday, April 20. What a great day! We practiced Ave Maris Stella, a trombone quartet. We also started practicing “Guess What! Chickenbutt!” written by Blowcomotion’s bari sax player, Elliot Pena. It was fun to play with everyone. Our first in-person practice was in Shipe Park, but please email blowcomotion@gmail.com for future location details, since the location may change.
HIGH BRASS by Brian Miller
High brass have been meeting in weekly Zoom sessions on Tuesdays. We’re planning to meet in person starting the last week of April at Mueller for socially-distanced-yet-syncopated practice. Omar has been leading us in an exploration of chord progressions, including rhythm changes, while helping us increase our improvisational and reading skills. Looking forward to seeing more trumpets and horns join us!
Instrument Lending Library
Want to join in, but don’t have an instrument?
Our available instruments include: 2 cornets, 4 trombones, 2 flutes, 2 clarinets, a french horn and a trumpet.
We are so thrilled to announce that Blowcomotion has been awarded a Community Initiative Grant by the City of Austin!! The third time was the charm! Thanks to Michael Nelson and Niko Druzhinin for their hard work.
Blowcomotion is planning to hold a couple shows in September as part of our grant from the City. One of the shows will be a song share collaboration with Moontower Brass Band. We would LOVE for you to participate with us! There is plenty of time to find that perfect purple and black attire.
Stay tuned for all the details!
HONK!TX – this year and next year!
HONK!TX will be virtual again this year and will be held on Saturday, May 29. Follow the HONK!TX Facebook page for more updates. Our new video for “Rhino Run” will premier at the festival. “Rhino Run” was written by one of our members, Francesco Petrogalli, and is based on a song his son was humming. Francesco turned that humming into “Rhino Run,” a brass band composition. Blowcomotion members recorded their parts in Bandlab and sent in videos of themselves performing. Thom Proctor edited the video and Matt Mossman provided audio engineering for the track. Thank you, Thom, Matt, and all the Blowco members who participated!
HONK!TX will be holding a silent auction as part of the virtual festival. If you have a gift card or service you would like to donate, please email blowcomotion@gmail.com and we will let you know where to send the item.
AND… no joke, the date has been set for next year – April 1, 2 and 3, 2022. We’ll be ready.
Fundraising
ADAPT of Texas Fun Run
The ADAPT of Texas Fun Run is virtual again this year and will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2021. There’s still time to register.
To participate as a fundraiser/virtual runner, you can register at https://www.adaptfunrun.net/ and then select Blowcomotion under the “Organization I am Supporting” menu to ensure your donations go to our group.
Once you are registered, you will receive a “Runner Registration” email with a personalized link that you can share with family and friends via email or social media. Donations can be made via credit card, PayPal, or check. If you need it, they even offer a physical sign up sheet – but their online registration and donation process is so simple that likely it will not be needed.
If you have any questions, please contact Beverly Larkin at beejcctx@gmail.com.
Patreon
Our Patreon page has been really successful and we greatly appreciate those who have joined. As we’ve mentioned before, almost all of the money we raise is used to pay our instructors (the remainder goes toward things like our website, insurance, and instruments). To access our Patreon account, you can go to https://www.patreon.com/blowcomotion. Patreon levels begin at $5 per month.
Amazon Smile
Blowcomotion is listed as a charity on Amazon Smile. If you use Amazon and don’t already have a designated charity, would you please consider designating Blowcomotion? Just go to Amazon Smile, and search for Blowcomotion.
Car Donations
We are participating with Car Easy for vehicle – car, truck, boat – donations. Have a used vehicle, donate it to us! Go to https://careasy.org/nonprofit/blowcomotion to have your donation support Blowcomotion’s music education programming.
Volunteer with Us
The group that keeps Blowcomotion moving is composed of volunteers and we need help. The Board has created the following committees: Fundraising (includes grant writing), Marketing, Community Outreach, Curriculum, and the City of Austin Community Initiative Grant Show. Most of these committees only have two members so if you are interested in helping Blowcomotion grow, email us at blowcomotion@gmail.com.
Blowcomotion is a nonprofit corporation and has received a 501(c)(3) tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service. All donations are tax-exempt. Blowcomotion greatly appreciates your financial and instrument donations.
Blowcomotion is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
How to raise money for Blowcomotion from the comfort of your home!
by Beverly Larkin
ADAPT of Texas has been very generous to host us during the inclement and cold weather months in previous years- and one way we can give back, and help Blowcomotion at the same time is to participate in the ADAPT FUN*RUN! They offer to us as a group — 75% of the monies we generate while they receive 25% which is a huge win/win for our band.
This year, it will be held on Saturday May 1, 2021 – so we have plenty of time to prepare.
It’s super easy to register at https://www.adaptfunrun.net/ and then select Blowcomotion – we are listed in the “Organization I am Supporting” menu option on the web page to ensure your donations go to our group.
Once you are registered, you will receive an “Runner Registration” email with a special personalized weblink that you can easily share with family and friends via email or social media. ADAPT also made donation options very easy — folks can choose to use credit cards, PayPal or mail in a check. If you need it, they even offer a physical sign up sheet — but have made their online registration and donation process so simple that likely it will not be needed.Using social media or email can easily get the word out to your friends and family — even a small gift of $5 – $10 from each person can quickly add up to a nice donation to ADAPT and Blowcomotion. Every bit helps, even if we are not performing live, we are still holding sectionals and continue to pay our excellent instructors!!I really hope you will consider participating this year — If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at beejcctx [at] gmail.com. Expect to see an email from Bev with more information!
A year ago, we were preparing for the tenth edition of our well-loved, free festival. When COVID-19 changed our plans, we continued working to support our local musicians and planning for the day we can all come together and celebrate the joy of live community band performances again. We’re still working toward that day, so we are asking for your support during Amplify Austin. Just like last year, this campaign will be our only online fundraiser for 2021.
Each year our city comes together to Amplify Austin. As part of Austin’s annual day of giving, over just 24 hours people like you ensure that local nonprofits have the resources needed to help make Central Texas an even better place to call home.
Did you know you don’t even have to wait for Amplify Austin day to make your gift? Thanks to the early giving period, you can make your Amplify Austin gift right now. Every gift made before 5:59 PM on March 4 will count towards Grand Prizes on Amplify Austin day. But that’s not the only reason to make your gift today.
When you make your most generous gift today you can help us start strong on March 4 and reach our goal of $5000. Your Amplify Austin gift ensures that local musicians will have financial support to weather the pandemic storm and be back on the streets and public spaces when we can safely gather again.
Give your most generous gift when you visit our page: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/honk-tx-festival-of-community-street-bands. Until the pandemic is controlled, we are staying home and supporting our local music community. We distributed record amounts of funding to Austin musicians in 2020, and we will do so again in 2021. They are in turn providing us all with virtual moments of joy, which we will share in mid May (exact date and time forthcoming).
If you missed our online presentations in 2020, check them out here:HONK!TX Online
And here: HONK!TX portion of HONK! United: a worldwide online festival featuring Honk bands from all 7 continents (yes, even Antarctica).
P.S. Check out this awesome marquee at the Paramount, spotlighting HONK!TX’s Amplify Austin campaign! Don’t forget: Amplify Austin runs from March 4 at 6 PM until March 5 at 6 PM.
We hope so! We look forward to a time when we can play together — in person — and we think the only way we can do that is if musicians get vaccinated! We want to hear from you on this important subject so look for an upcoming survey.
Announcements and Class Updates – JOIN US!!
Until we can play together, we are still meeting in our online sectionals!
The sectionals are open to everyone — if you play the saxophone but want to come to low brass for sight singing or music appreciation — it’s OK. The zoom information for the sectional is sent out by various zoom hosts. If you are interested in attending any of the sectionals, please email blowcomotion@gmail.com and let us know which sectional you are interested in attending. Your request will be forwarded to the appropriate host. Look for an email about 5 minutes before the meeting is to start.
What’s new in the sectionals?
We’ve asked a member from each section — High brass, low brass, woodwinds and percussion — for an update on what is happening in their respective sections:
WOODWINDS by Ken Hallenberg:
Hey everyone!
The Blowco woodwinds (still all saxes at the moment) have been working on soloing skills under the tutelage of our fine instructor Jorion Dawson. Sometimes we all work together on a single concept, other times we divide up the sectional into a series of short mini-lessons with topics chosen by each player. Lately our main full-group topic has been using pentatonic scales (major and minor). Individual mini-lessons have focused on such topics as fingering technique, bebop scales, altissimo, and learning some jazz tunes.
PERCUSSION by Beverly Larkin:
Percussion sectional experienced a bit of a turndown in attendance over the holiday weeks – showing more presence during the monthly full rehearsals. Our instructor Sean has had us concentrating on Stick Control rudiments — foundational for any percussionist — and discussing percussion influences and instruction from various YouTube videos. Looking forward to more time together with the new year.
LOW BRASS by Niko Druzhinin
A virtual rehearsal in the low brass section is always a treat that is sure to benefit any musician! From scales and sight-singing, to breathing exercises and music appreciation, you don’t even need a trombone or tuba to learn a lot from John. The format is free-flowing with plenty of opportunity to dive into the subjects that interest those who attend.
HIGH BRASS by Ike Eickstaedt
Trumpets and French Horns are discussing and practicing each week! We love talkin’ high brass. All are welcome to join us . . . regardless of your experience you will feel welcome as we explore the intricacies of our melodic and harmonic roles in the ensemble. Come join us! Led by instructor Omar Garcia Tuesday nights at 7 :00 pm on Zoom. Looking forward to seeing y’all!
New Instruments
Thanks to everyone’s support Blowcomotion purchased more instruments for its instrument lending program. If you find some unused band instruments in the back of your closet, please consider donating to us.
To borrow one of the Blowcomotion instruments, please email us at blowcomotion@gmail.com for instrument availability and requirements.
Fundraising
ADAPT OF Texas Fun Run by Beverly Larkin
How to raise money for Blowcomotion from the comfort of your home!
ADAPT of Texas has been very generous to host us during the inclement and cold weather months in previous years- and one way we can give back, and help Blowcomotion at the same time is to participate in the ADAPT FUN*RUN! They offer to us as a group — 75% of the monies we generate while they receive 25% which is a huge win/win for our band.
This year, it will be held on Saturday May 1, 2021 – so we have plenty of time to prepare.
It’s super easy to register at https://www.adaptfunrun.net/ and then select Blowcomotion – we are listed in the “Organization I am Supporting” menu option on the web page to ensure your donations go to our group.
Once you are registered, you will receive an “Runner Registration” email with a special personalized weblink that you can easily share with family and friends via email or social media. ADAPT also made donation options very easy — folks can choose to use credit cards, PayPal or mail in a check. If you need it, they even offer a physical sign up sheet — but have made their online registration and donation process so simple that likely it will not be needed.
Using social media or email can easily get the word out to your friends and family — even a small gift of $5 – $10 from each person can quickly add up to a nice donation to ADAPT and Blowcomotion. Every bit helps, even if we are not performing live, we are still holding sectionals and continue to pay our excellent instructors!!
I really hope you will consider participating this year — If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at beejcctx@gmail.com. Expect to see an email from Bev with more information!
Patreon
Our Patreon page has been really successful and we greatly appreciate those who have joined. As we’ve mentioned before, almost all of the money we raise is used to pay our instructors (the remaining goes toward things like our website, insurance and instruments). To access our Patreon account, you can go to https://www.patreon.com/blowcomotion. Patreon levels begin at $5 per month.
Blowcomotion is also listed as a charity on Amazon Smile. If you use Amazon and don’t already have a designated charity, would you please consider designating Blowcomotion? Just go to Amazon Smile, and search for Blowcomotion.
Car Donations
We are participating with Car Easy for vehicle — car, truck, boat — donations. Have a used vehicle, donate it to us! Go to https://careasy.org/nonprofit/blowcomotion to have your donation support Blowcomotion’s music education programming.
Volunteer with Us
The group that keeps Blowcomotion moving is composed of volunteers. We are dedicated to seeing Blowcomotion grow strong, but we can’t do it all. We would love to have some help.
The Board has created the following committees: Fundraising (includes grant writing), Marketing, Community Outreach and Curriculum. Most of these committees only have two members so if you are interested, email us blowcomotion@gmail.com.
Blowcomotion is a nonprofit corporation and has received a 501(c)(3) tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service. All donations are tax-exempt. Blowcomotion greatly appreciates your financial and instrument donations.
When it’s warmer (Spring, Summer, Fall and Austin Winter) we meet at Shipe Park. Contact us to register, and stay tuned to email announcements for details!
About The Band
Blowcomotion is Austin’s Community Learning Brass Band. We welcome folks of all musical abilities.
