John Starkes needs no introducing, As Principle Euphonium of the Boscombe Salvation Army Band and Bournemouth Concert Brass as well as a Wilson Euphonium Artist, John has had a wealth of experiences and I am glad that he has joined me today to discuss a number of these experiences. 1. When did you start to play the euphonium? I started to play the Euphonium when I was 4 years old. My music teacher, John Lacey decided I did not have the embrasure for the Cornet and so han

Recent news has come to light of the withdrawal from sale of the infamous 'Blue Juice'. Although a very attractive colorful product it contents were lest spectacular and contained a chemical solution which has not only damaged numerous instruments but has been deemed unsafe by trading standards, there is no surprise as the product was designed by a chemical engineer. B# Brass, the creators of the superb B# Brass Cleaning Kit, has again arrived on the scene with a superb new n

The music of Roger Trigg needs no introduction to the Salvation Army Brass Bands and audiences. In this weeks 'Tips from the Top' I chat to Roger Trigg about his recent commission for Euphonium entitled 'El Olam' as well as inspirations for his popular music. 1. Over the past number of years you have had an enormous output of new compositions, what inspires you to write? The main motivation for writing is receiving requests for new music. Life is busy, and without requests f

On this weeks 'Tips from the Top' we welcome the incredible Joe Broom. Besson artist, innovator and winner of the Euphonium Artist 2016 gold medalist of the Leonard Falcone International Euphonium and Tuba Festival to discuss all things Euphonium. 1. When did you start to play the euphonium? In my school district, band started at 5th grade. I was 10 or 11 years old. 2. What is a typical day/week like for you? Now that I’m at the University of Michigan, each week I

Today marks the day that Steven Mead releases his latest CD aptly titled 'Lyrical Virtuoso'. I am always excited when Steven Mead releases anything new as the product is always guaranteed to be superbly designed and well thought out. In recent years Steve has lead the way in producing a high quality cardboard and plastic case something which I particular enjoy as it not only saves room in my CD cabinet but fits nicely into my car which seems to be filled up with mostly bulky

On this weeks 'Tips from the Top' we welcome the Principal Euphonium of The Flowers Band, Grant Jameson, current Besson Prestige Artist, Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Musician of the Year 2015 and recent Graduate from the Royal Welsh College of Music. 1. When did you start to play the euphonium? I started playing when I was 11 years old. Being from a musical family, I was always encouraged to play an instrument. When I was 10, I was really interested in being a

Internet masterclass pioneer and Sterling Virtuoso Artist Algirdas Matonis joins me this week for an chat about all things Euphonium. 1. When did you start to play the euphonium? I started to play the Euphonium at the age of 7. 2. What is a typical day/week like for you? On my regular non-traveling days I am usually super big on structure and routine. I wake up around 4am and try to leave for University at Carnegie Mellon, before all the student and people and general buzz

Steven Mead needs no introduction to Brass Enthusiasts from around the world. To define Steven in a few words would be impossible, Artist, Clinician, Innovator and Performer, Steven Mead has put the Euphonium on the world map. I first met Steven Mead on a cold January afternoon for my very first lesson, from that I have had a unique perspective on Steven's enthusiasm, dedication and work. In this special exclusive interview we discuss all this Euphonium with arguably the most

After reviewing the B# Cleaning Kit I decided to show you some of the results that this wonderful cleaning kit brings as well as give you an insight into how I clean my own instrument. Before cleaning my instrument I always strip the instrument down into its individual parts. I tend to clean all smaller slides and valves in the sink and use the bath to clean the Euphonium. As usual I removed all valves and slides and put them in a numbered system (as you will see in the pictu

On this weeks 'Tips from the Top' we welcome Euphonium Superstar Glenn Van Looy. Glenn needs no introduction to the Brass Banding World, Geneva Artist and Principal Euphonium of Brass Band Buizingen, we chat to Glenn after his recent appearance with The Brighouse and Rastrick Band at The British Open Brass Band Contest where they achieved a resounding 2nd Place. 1. When did you start to play the euphonium? I started to play the euphonium when I was 7 or 8 years old with my d

Tuesday 23rd August 2016, the brass banding community awoke to find a new and deadly threat lurking within, the disease known as 'Bagpipe Lung'. Doctors quickly advised musicians that instruments should be regular cleaned to prevent the build-up of yeast and pathogens. Many questions were asked concerning the lack of dedicated cleaning kits available. This is where B# Brass has plugged a gap in the market with a dedicated cleaning kit designed to give the instrument a clean b

In recent years the production of new ranges of mouthpieces has risen steeply. As part of a special, exclusive interview I spoke to Dennis Kurun from Kurun and Gilbert Mouthpieces (better known as K&G Mouthpieces) about their new range of mouthpieces hitting the market across the world. 1. Kurun and Gilbert mouthpieces are the very first professional line of brass mouthpieces ever to exist in Malta. How did you make this idea a reality? I remember that in 2009 I was at an

A popular question I get asked on numerous occasions is "What do I gain from taking lessons with a professional musician?". So with setting up a new blog I thought I would take a shot at giving a detailed response. As many of you know I take regular lessons with renown euphonium soloist Steven Mead. To give you a bit of background knowledge I picked up the euphonium at the age of 14 after playing cornet and was taught by my dad before attending lessons with Steve Cooper, who

Many of you reading this blog will know that I take private lessons with Euphonium Virtuoso Steven Mead. I have been asked a lot of questions regarding what happens with my lessons with Steven Mead, so I have decided to produce a short blog post on a lesson with Steven Mead. Monday 29th August 2016, marks my first lesson with Steven Mead in around two months due to my own work constraints. The preparation for the lesson has been ongoing since my previous lesson, progression n

On this weeks 'Tips from the Top' we welcome one of my Euphonium Heroes Demondrae Thurman, Professor of Music at Samford University, Demondrae is one of the leading international exponents of the Euphonium. 1. When did you start to play the euphonium? I started playing euphonium at age 12. I had no musical training before then. 2. What is a typical day/week like for you? I teach at Samford University where I teach around 10 low brass students per week. I also

This weeks 'Tips from the Top' features American Euphonium Player Joel Collier who has just released his very first CD 'Shadowed'. 1. When did you start to play the euphonium? I began playing the euphonium when I was 9. I had been playing cornet and tenor horn before that, but the euphonium appealed to me and I was finally big enough to make the switch. 2. What is a typical day/week like for you? I’m lucky enough to have a job where I get to teach music. I work for the Salva

This week on 'Tips from the Top' we are pleased to welcome Besson Euphonium Artist Misa Mead. 1. When did you start to play the Euphonium? I started to play euphonium when I was 9 years old. 2. What is a typical day/week like for you? I practice for 3 to 4 hours a day, I go to the gym twice a week, I also go to yoga / tai chi class once a week and of course, travelling for concerts or masterclasses, etc. 3. What has been your most interesting/unusual concert performance? Shoo

This week on 'Tips from the Top' we welcome Sterling Artist and Principal Euphonium of Brass Band Schoonhoven Robbert Vos. 1. When did you start to play the euphonium? I started on flugelhorn when I was 8 years old. But the mouthpiece was way too small for me and my tuning slide was so far out that it looked more like a trombone rather than a flugelhorn; I decided to switch to euphonium when I was around 11 years old. 2. What is a typical day/week like for you? Since

In this week's 'Tips from the Tops' we welcome one of my biggest Euphonium heroes, Gary Curtain from the world famous Black Dyke Band. 1. 1. When did you start to play the Euphonium? I started to play the baritone when I was about 12, when both euphonium members of the band decided to get together and eventually got married they left, the committee came to me and basically took the baritone off me and thrust a euphonium into my hands, and have played it ever

Introducing the first in a series of interviews with top euphonium players from around the globe. This week we welcome Mark Glover, originally born in the UK but currently living and working in Dubai after 5 years in Singapore. Mark is a performing artist for Sterling Musical Instruments and is a past member of The Virtuosi GUS Band and The Staffordshire Band. 1. When did you start to play the euphonium ? Age 10, I wanted to play the trombone but was told my arms were too