October 2024

MMEA News 

The Minnesota State Arts Board grant period for re-synth began in April 2023 and runs until the end of March 2025. Part of the proposed timeline mentioned a presentation of the MN Music Educators Association's annual Midwinter Convention in February.

With assistance from Dr. Aaron Lohmeyer (WSU Music Ed. prof.) and my wife, Janet,  we will present "re-synth project: Digital Literacy in the Band Room ... and it's fun!" on Thursday Feb. 13, 2025 at 10 a.m.  – Auditorium 2 – Minneapolis Convention Center.

Along with Aaron and Janet, WSU Music Ed. majors will demo how the project served as an educational tool blending music tech with acoustic instruments. Attendees will perform as one of the soloists and receive free access to all materials required to give their own re-synth performances.

I'm thrilled that the concepts and demonstration of how re-synth works will be shared with a much broader audience and can't wait to share the journey with music educators from across Minnesota.

WSU Music Ed. Seminar

One of my goals throughout this project is to share as much of the process with the students as I can.

Thanks to Dr. Aaron Lohmeyer (Assistant Professor Music Ed), I had a chance to present at a WSU Music Ed. seminar this week. 

During the presentation I sampled a scaled played by WSU MuEd major Maverick GIlson on tenor sax and then demonstrated how to "Slice to MIDI" in Ableton Live. 

The students asked some really insightful questions. In particular, what was my inspiration for writing re-synth. My answer … it combines two of my most loved passions; concert band and music technology.!

First rehearsal with “Tech” soloists

Although the WSU Wind Ensemble has rehearsed the band parts of re-synth, October 7, 2024 was the first rehearsal to include the four "Tech" soloists.

There were a few minor bumps, but the technology and the Techs performed exceedingly well.

The audio from my iPhone isn't studio quality, but you can already hear how the samples interact with the live music.

It was a very good day!

Last rehearsal before premiere weekend

One of the soloists had to miss rehearsal on October 30, so I filled in as Tech 01.

It's rather nervewracking having to carefully count measures before triggering my samples.

The WSU students are doing an amazing job staying in tempo with the soloists.

(I told them that the computer always wins in this situation!)

Not having a click track means watching their director like a hawk! Thank you, Janet!

re-synth featured on MPR Art Hounds

Art Hounds is a weekly show on Minnesota Public Radio News where everyday folks  highlight upcoming events that excite them.

John Sievers, a fellow trombonist and jazz musician from Rochester, gave this excellent shout-out to the re-synth project.

Thanks to MPR for their outstanding coverage of Arts events in greater Minnesota.

Listen here!