Travis J. Weller

With a few final keystrokes on Sunday night, it was good to clear some projects off my composition desk. Several pieces were pushing towards deadlines (proud to say not past), so it was a welcome relief. Notes were found. Put in appropriate places. Transposed. Articulated. And now all that is left is for another band to breathe life into the paper.

Today I am absolutely terrified. Not in the “that-police-car-just-turned-into-a-giant-robot-with-a-gun” kind of way, but terrified about finding more notes. New notes. Different notes. The search begins anew today as I begin the creative process all over again. People often ask where the inspiration, the ideas come from, and sometimes I can only tell them “I don’t know, but I am glad it does.” But when I begin again, will people be expecting the new piece to sound like the old piece? The worst we can do of any composer is to expect every piece to sound the same, and the worst a composer can do is write to that end.

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The toughest thing about being successful? That’s easy…you have to keep on being successful. There is no mystery as far as I am concerned. It really does not matter what your profession is, the statement is true. To be honest with you, I am anxious to complete this article and post it. Because if it is successful, how will I top it on my next post on-line? In music education success can be defined a number of different ways (please visit my article on www.mustech.net for one such definition).But no matter how it may be defined for your group or ensemble, know this (insert your own Yoda voice here): once you raise the bar forever will it dominate your destiny.

First of all, I am not saying don’t raise the bar. We must raise the level of expectations with your ensembles and individual students whenever possible. Often students look at expectations as a limitation, something that will be difficult to obtain. In my own work as a composer and arranger of band music, I find limits to be very necessary. Limits force me to be creative. Limits force me to be decisive. Limits force me to think and create a way to obtain my goal that at the onset of work I did not consider. We hear all the time about the untapped human potential people possess. Why does it remain untapped? My guess with some people is that upon hearing a comment that they have untapped potential, they do not seek any limits (expectations) to see if the statement is in error. It is much easier to say you have no limits in your abilities than to actually test them and find out.

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A recording of “English Carol Fantasy” is now posted on my profile on Myspace.com.  It was written for an elementary band in their second year of instrumental instruction, thought it could be played by a middle school group and be a worthwhile musical experience.  The ranges are not extreme for the players, and there are plenty of good musical moments for every section.  My thanks goes to Joe Pisano (mustech.net – check it out!!!) who mixed this recording up using the Finale Kontakt 2 Player!  Please leave a comment and let me know what you think!

So begins today a new chapter in my search for “notes”. Call me Indiana Jones with a pencil, staff paper and baton. My living is to teach music to some wonderful students in Mercer, Pennsylvania. My most important job is being a father to three daughters. My passion lies in writing music for concert bands. To me there is no better medium to write for today. I have been raised on the music of wind band writers for the last century – thus when I am asked about who influenced me I am greeted with quizzical looks as the names of Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven are usually omitted.

The music of Mark Camphouse, Andrew Boysen Jr., David Gillingham, Samuel Hazo,Quincy Hilliard, Clifton Williams, W. Francis McBeth, Gustav Holst, Howard Hanson,Alfred Reed, Claude T. Smith, Robert W. Smith, Timothy Loest, Julie Giroux…the list just goes on, and on. I am sure I even omitted a few. I write band music. The process of writing gives me the chance to stay sharp as a musician and conductor. I hope to give the performer some that nutures their musical growth and that they enjoy playing. I want to give the audience a song to remember. Most of all, I hope my music gives everyone some hope, some joy, some excitement, and a lot of respect and appreciation for music.

There will be more to come in the chapters to follow.  I could not
be at this point without the support of my wife and children, Joe,
Doc, Tad, Steve, Erich, and Gary.  Thank you for your
support and interest.

Sincerely,

Travis J. Weller