Tonight’s date, Chinese take-out at our favorite mobile cabana.

16 groups performed at the SBCC String & Wind Festival yesterday. Performance, critique, and the terror of sight reading in front of a judge. The sight reading judge was so good that they every group left smiling! Love to see kids happy with their musical progress.

These guys are crazy good. #tryin2keepup

You see the darndest things from my classroom window.

I was adjudicating a festival where I did my student teaching years ago and had no idea that this was within walking distance.

…because sometimes ya gotta get burgers, pop the lift on the 92 Volvo wagon, listen to the surf, and squeeze in a French lesson.

It’s String and Wind Festival time of year again. What a great time giving clinics to young groups and hearing them get better in 20 minutes. So much fun!

Delfeayo Marsalis and his Uptown Band was on point tonight. Everyone was blowin’ changes. Good stuff.

Today I watched Dr. Maurice Limon inspire a group of college students at the Dos Pueblos High School Jazz Festival. One of the best clinics I have seen in 35 years.

I look forward to seeing old friends at festivals all over California. Kicking things off with the Ventura Co. Jr. High Honor Band. I love the energy of the Jr. High kids. Lots of fun. (Missing from this picture is Coconut Shrimp Island that I stole from Patrick Sheridan.)

Just sent this to Apple Maps. I’m sure that my name now on some kind of a list.

Went to see Charlie Chaplin’s Gold Rush with his score played live by the Santa Barbara Symphony. So much fun. I learned that Chaplin “composed” the score with the help of a team of composers because he could neither read or write music. David Raksin, the composer of Laura was a big part of the team

After the storm. Unfortunately our practice rooms didn’t fare so well.

The calm before the storm.

The Santa Barbara Symphony also runs 3 exceptional youth orchestras. It’s inspiring to watch these kids play!
#santabarbarasymphony