Mr. Mo’s Blog

I Can’t Stop Loving You

Mon, 4 Oct 2010 13:32:57 -0500

This 1986 studio recording of the Du Quoin Jr. High School Jazz Band playing “I Can’t Stop Loving You” features Jenny Tavee on keyboards and Stacey Atteberry on the tenor saxophone.

This was recording in a recording studio in Salem, Illinois. Doug Cosby, a former band director, was the recording engineer. We did this recording session as a summer school class, practicing for two weeks, then going to the studio to record. Watch for more from this session.

Middle School Jazz Band

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:34:20 -0500

Li’l Darling as performed by the Middle School Jazz Band at the 2010 Spring Concert.

Hayden Schubert is the soloist on trumpet.

Beginning Band 2010

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:30:53 -0500

Beginning Band performs Trombonanza at the Spring Concert, May 2010.

Fife & Drum Corps

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 20:07:38 -0500

This summer, right after school got out in May, my family traveled to Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Now if you don’t know, Colonial Williamsburg played a very important role during the founding of our country.

Watch the movie of the Fife & Drum Corps that performed while we were there. It was a highlight for me. Pay close attention to how they move their feet, they are MARCHING not walking. Watch their body carriage also. Notice how sharp that looks. Watch how they bring their instruments together. That is what we want to look like when we march.

Also notice the drums. Those are how the drums were back around 1776. The ropes have been replaced with drum lugs, screws, to tighten the drum heads. The drummers left leg moves the drum with every step. That is why they used the traditional grip. That grip matches the natural angle that the drum head. The drum is only held by a single strap at a single point, thus the movement and the angle.

Click here to see more of the Fife & Drum Corp

Gene Stiman

Wed, 21 Apr 2010 08:34:48 -0500

Gene Stiman was my college tuba teacher in 1975-1976, my junior year in college at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Illinois. He left my senior year to return to teaching at the Salem Grade School where he finished it teaching career.
Mr. Stiman is 86 when I recorded him play Colorama with the John A. Logan College Band on April 18, 2010. The director of that band is Michael Hanes, a former student of Mr. Stiman at the Salem Grade School and also former director of bands at SIUC.

I hope all of you are still playing at age 86! He is an amazing musician. He toured with the Benny Goodman Orchestra in 1950.