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.
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.
Well, it’s hard to believe we have not been able to practice as a band, in-person, since March. It is the safe, right thing to do, but WE MISS YOU!! We are keeping our fingers crossed that someday soon we will be able to be playing together somewhere in Austin.
Until then…..join us ONLINE. Based on input from our band members, we’ve made a few changes to our online playing. The first Tuesday of each month, the ENTIRE band is meeting via Zoom to chat and play along to our songs. Before each song, our instructors point out a few things to help us improve our playing.
The remaining Tuesdays of the month, we meet in our instrument sectionals. Each of the sectionals are run a little differently. The Low Brass sectional has been doing sight singing exercises. If you want to work on your music reading skills, please come to the Low Brass Sectional and John will help you.
The High Brass Sectionals meet twice a week – Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. Also Omar is discussing holding a class on music composing and arranging.
Both the Woodwind Sectionals and the Percussion Section are still meeting on Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
The sectionals are open to everyone – if you play the saxophone but want to come to low brass for sight singing – 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.
Honk!TX – How I Honk!
On August 30, Honk!TX put together a great online show – if you haven’t seen it , you can check it out here:https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1007314976349501&extid=WJq0vbW7tedxJxxu). There were a lot of amazing videos of Honk bands. One of the highlights was one of our former instructors, Lauryn Gould, who sang and played soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones in her video. Another interesting submission included interviews of a number of musicians about their Honk!TX experiences. Highly Recommended.
Honk United!
Along the same lines as the online Honk!TX experience, Honk (Somerville MA) is going online on October 10 and 11. Blowcomotion will be submitting videos of Varga Varga with Vibrass and Flashlight. Flashlight should be fun – our members submitted videos and Thom Proctor has put it all together!
If we can’t play together, watching Honk bands online is the next best thing. It is fun seeing all the bands and our friends, but it really makes us long to be able to play together. Honk!TX 2021 should be lots of fun, right?
New Instruments
Thanks to everyone’s support Blowcomotion purchased more instruments for its instrument lending program. We have added a french horn, a flute and of course, another trombone.
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. Because we are adding more and more instruments, we have instituted a lending policy and agreement.
Fundraising
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.
Volunteer with Us
The group that keeps Blowcomotion moving is composed of volunteers. We are dedicated to seeing Blowcomotion grow strong, but sometimes 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.
Welcome to the second Blowcomotion Newsletter! This newsletter is to keep all our band members, future band members, volunteers and supporters updated on what we have been doing and what we have planned for the future.
Announcements
Well, for a group of people who enjoy getting together to learn and play music, this time has been extremely difficult. We took social distancing very responsibly and held our last practice on March 10.
As you may know, Honk!TX was postponed. We can’t wait for the rescheduled date. The Texas Community Music Festival was also postponed. The new date is the end of August and we plan on participating on August 25.
So far, none of our Blowcomotion band mates have been sick with coronavirus, but we are saddened that some of our friends and family have had the virus. We are also saddened by the financial impact social distancing has had on our friends and family. We hope we will be able to practice together in person at some future date. When that time comes, we’ve been practicing and we’ll be ready. We hope you will join us.
We are grateful for those who continue to make contributions to us via checks and PayPal. And thank you to our anonymous benefactor for your generosity.
New Teachers
Our low brass teacher, John Dinning, is taking some time off from Blowcomotion to be a new dad. We have a few people substituting for him.
Sean Harvey is our newest percussion teacher. He started back in January and we love his instruction.
New Logo and Merchandise
We have a new logo – which is at the top of this page. And, in the future, we will be selling merchandise! T-shirts, stickers. Email us at blowcomotion@gmail.com for updates.
New Instruments
Thanks to everyone’s support, Blowcomotion purchased more instruments for its instrument lending program. We found two cornets at the Austin ISD warehouse sale – all they needed were a little cleaning and mouthpieces. They are both ready for loaning. Recently we found a flute also ready for loaning.
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.
Our January Gigs
In January, we had so much fun at the Central Texas Pig Rescue’s Pig Pageant. The Pageant was held at Mueller and we joined our friends in Minor Mishap Marching Band in entertaining the crowds before the start of the Pageant.
After the Pig Pageant we played at a special birthday party for our band mate and friend, David Wittie.
Our Future Gigs
August 25 – our first performance at the Texas Community Music Festival is scheduled for Central Market on N. Lamar at 7 p.m.
Fundraising
Fundraising is hard. Right now, it is especially difficult with so many needing help to get through this economic crisis. Our needs are small; we continue to pay our teachers for helping us learn to play our instruments – that is our only current expense.
To help with fundraising, we’ve launched a Patreon page. To access our Patreon account, you can go to https://www.patreon.com/blowcomotion. For as little as $5 per month, you will be able to access our livestreams and giveaways (well, when we start playing together.)
COME JOIN US!
Our sectionals get together online about once a week. Our teachers have also prepared helpful videos so when we return to playing as a band, we will sound awesome. If you need contact information to join the online sectionals, email us at blowcomotion@gmail.com and we will get the sectional information to you.
SURVEY RESULTS!
In February we sent out a survey to everyone on the email list for input. “Thank You” to the 23 people who answered – we found it very helpful!
Some interesting facts:
54% have been playing in Blowcomotion for over a year
45% have been playing in Blowcomotio for less than a year
45% are re-learners
29% are learners
16% are there for fun
87% feel the first hour sectionals are helpful
75% like the song selection as it is
79% believe the band does the right amount of gigs
NEW SONGS AND CURRICULUM
We are updating our curriculum to better serve our current and future students.
Omar Garcia is adding new songs to our repertoire. The newest song is “Sunday Morning.”
Blowcomotion is a nonprofit corportion 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.We are supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
This newsletter is to keep all our band members, future band members, volunteers and supporters updated on what we have been doing.
We plan on sending out a quarterly newsletter to keep all our band members, future band members, volunteers and supporters updated on what we have been doing and what we are planning.
Announcements
Thanks to everyone’s support, Blowcomotion purchased the first instrument of its instrument lending program — a sousaphone! Thank you Austin Walton for giving us a great deal.
Special Thanks
To our financial supporters – the Cheswatyr Foundation and Minor Mishap Marching Band. We love you!
Upcoming Fundraiser
We are planning a PARTY!! We are looking at an early March date to hold a fundraiser and celebrate the launch our new Patreon community. We will be sending invitations to all of you and hope you will come. Bring an instrument and jam with us!
Our December Gigs
We had a very busy December. Blowcomotion played at the opening of the 37th Street Lights on December 14. We had a large and enthusiastic crowd and the Christmas lights were amazing! We are so thrilled to have this Austin tradition back.
On December 15, we played a charity benefit for an orphanage in Africa.
Speaking of Austin traditions, on December 20, we played at the City of Austin’s Trail of Lights. The rain stopped long enough for our set, but as soon as we finished, there was a downpour!
Blowcomotion had a first in January! Two gigs in one day. We played a set for the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity on January 11. It was a beautiful day at Mueller Amphitheater and the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity had a successful fundraiser. That evening we played at the HonkTX! prom/fundraiser.
On Saturday, January 25, we played at an Australia Day Benefit benefitting the Australian Red Cross. Another successful fundraiser.
Future Gigs:
April 3 to 5 – HonkTX!! We can’t wait. We have one set Friday night at Spider House/Adams Hemphill Park, one set on Saturday at Mueller Lake, and one set Sunday at Pan Am Park. More information to come.
April 28 – our first performance at the Texas Community Music Festival. Central Market on N. Lamar at 7 p.m.
JOIN US!
If you haven’t been to one of our performances, we would love to see you. If you are interested in playing with us — even if you have never played an instrument — COME JOIN US!!
New Songs
Omar Garcia has been working on some new arrangements for us. At our January 14 band practice we learned Funky Fanfare and at our January 21 practice we learned Pick Up the Pieces and Sweet Dreams Are Made of These. Thank you Omar for keeping it challenging!
Practices are held on Tuesday evenings starting at 7 p.m. with instrument sectionals. From 8 to 9 p.m. we play together as a band. During Winter months, we practice at the ADAPT of Texas building, 1100 S IH 35 near the intersection with Riverside Drive. Look for the giant wheelchair on the side of the building. During Spring, Summer and Fall, we practice at Mueller, near the hanger.
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.We are supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.
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.
