Slide 2003
Highlights from our 2003 Event
Streaming video
Event photos
The people who made this event happen
Participant comments
Wickford Middle School's event page
Etude study materials
Resources for trombone players
Overview
The Slide Heard 'Round the World! was the first-ever trombone master class conducted via videoconference over Internet 2. The April 10th event celebrated Wheaton College's new connection to OSHEAN and International Trombone Week (April 6-12, 2003).
The master class brought together geographically-separate trombonists of varying skill levels, from middle school to professional, using Internet2's advanced network. The Rhode Island Network for Educational Technology (RINET) provided their video bridge, operated by Pam Christman, which allowed many music students in Rhode Island to participate. The event was developed and hosted by Colleen Wheeler, trombonist, technology specialist at Wheaton College and former public school music teacher.
Participants were located in several different cities and states for the event. Master class leaders were located at Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts; middle school and high school students were located at their schools in Wickford, West Warwick, and North Providence, Rhode Island; and the Austin Bones, members of an outstanding graduate trombone quartet, were located at the University of Texas in Austin, Texas.
The master class was led by Matthew McGarrell, trombonist and Brown University music faculty, and David Schwartz, trombonist and transcriber of a new and highly-acclaimed etude collection.
Wheeler started the master class with a few celebratory blasts on the trombone's ancestor, a conch shell, in tribute to OSHEAN and K-12 participants in the Ocean State. In many ancient cultures, conch horns are played at ceremonial occasions -- and this occasion certainly qualified!
The Austin Bones joined the master class from the University of Texas in grand style. They thrilled fellow trombonists with their performance of Jan Koetsier's "Five Impromptus" (movements I, II and V). Austin Bones members are Billy Gayman, Darin Cash, Jeff Freeman, and Mike Mannella.
Students at Wickford Middle School, West Warwick High School, and North Providence High School performed beautifully as well. Trombonists at each site had the opportunity to play a tuning note (Bb); demonstrate warm-up routines; perform etudes, exercises or other pieces; and receive expert coaching. James, an eighth grade student at Wickford Middle School, performed "Gavotte" by Georg Phillip Telemann with great skill and musicianship. West Warwick demonstrated outstanding ensemble playing with an excerpt from "Channel One Suite" by Bill Ready. North Providence performed part of the gorgeous "Flourish for Band" by Ralph Vaughan Williams. McGarrell and the Austin Bones coached the student performers, providing valuable pointers to help the blossoming musicians.
Schwartz provided downloadable copies of the etudes for pre-class study via Wheaton's site (see "Etude study materials" link above) and offered copies of his Volume 1 to participating schools. McGarrell has recorded three of the etudes to assist students who wish to study and perform them. These recorded etudes are available on the event website.