Tim's Musical History...
How it all began for me, as I entered the world of music.
My musical life began as I finished 4th grade in Penn Hills, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.
It was then that students were able to consider playing a musical instrument. My mother and I went to the local Junior High School, where we met with the band teacher, Mr. Ferrante, to select an instrument.
We already owned a clarinet.. a very old, metal clarinet, that had been my grandfather's! So, it was determined that was what I would play.
That metal clarinet was terrible! It's a wonder that I continued to play!
It will forever be etched in my memory the multiple times that my teacher, Mr. Henry Marconi, would faithfully repair that clarinet.
I didn't realize at that time how difficult repairing that clarinet was. I am now certain Mr. Marconi only did so to help out this fledgling student. I still have that clarinet... you can see it here. It serves me faithfully as a lamp that I created! It is a far better lamp than it ever was as a playing clarinet!
As I entered Junior High School, my parents sacrificed and purchased a used student clarinet for me, made by Evette-Schaeffer. It was a student model from Buffet-Crampon. This clarinet served me well all the way through to my senior year in High School.
As I was preparing for a career in music, it was necessary to upgrade my clarinet to a professional model. And, as an early graduation gift, my parents purchased a brand new Buffet-Crampon clarinet for me. It was - and still is - the finest clarinet made.
The Buffet-Crampon clarinet that I received, and still have and play, was hand selected for me by my musical mentor, Henry Marconi. I play it with one of his Marconi mouthpieces, which are very rare, and quite valuable.
While in my high school years, I played in every ensemble I could, including Band, Orchestra, Symphony of Winds, and Stage Band. I also was selected to the PMEA District, Regional and All-State Bands, where I sat first chair, first clarinet.
As I entered Duquesne University's School of Music, I then began my studies with Nestor Koval, a world-renowned clarinetist and graduate of the Paris Conservatory.
I added a second Buffet to my clarinet entourage - an "A" clarinet, so that I now have a matched pair of Buffets - a Bb and an A. The A clarinet is used primarily for classical orchestral work.
At Duquesne University, I was privileged to play in the symphonic band and orchestra, and also in the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony. While a student at Duquesne, I was also employed by the school in their woodwind department, assisting with the woodwind methods classes, as well as their annual MidEast Music Conference.
After my wife and I were married, we moved to Springfield, Missouri for further education. During this time, I also auditioned for and became a performing player in the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
Clarinet has always been my primary instrument. However, it no longer is the woodwind that I use most often!
Early on, in 7th grade I believe, I added saxophone to my repertoire. And then, added flute when I was in 9th grade. I used all three throughout my high school and college years.
I have bought and sold many instruments throughout my life, and now have my two clarinets (A & Bb), four flutes (two soprano flutes, B foot and C foot, as well as a piccolo and an alto flute), and five saxophones (sopranino, straight soprano, curved soprano, alto and tenor.)
Interestingly, what I find myself playing most often now are my two electronic wind instruments - a Yamaha WX5 combined with the Yamaha VL70M wind controller, and my newest addition, an AKAI EWI 5000. With those two electronic wind instruments, I can play and sound like an unlimited number of actual as well as synthetic tones.
In the photo above, you can see me playing (clockwise from the top left) clarinet, tenor sax, piccolo, soprano sax, WX5, alto sax, EWI, and soprano flute.
I hope that this brief accounting of my musical history has been a joy and encouragement for you!
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