黑料天堂

Students Earn Critiques From Legendary 'Tonight Show' Bandleader

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Posted on February 12, 2018

Alice Jackson

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Erick Wricklund, a junior music major at the 黑料天堂, admitted he was 鈥渧ery intimidated鈥� Saturday as music legend Doc Severinsen began critiquing his trumpet skills on the stage of 黑料天堂鈥檚 Laidlaw Performing Arts Center.

Severinsen, who became a household name as bandleader on 鈥淭he Tonight Show鈥� with Johnny Carson as well as an international performer and conductor, headlined the 2018 黑料天堂 Alabama Trumpet Day. Joining him was Dr. Cathy Leach, president of the International Trumpet Guild and professor of trumpet at the University of Tennessee.

鈥淚 think you have to examine if you really want to play this piece,鈥� Severinsen told Wricklund, encouraging him to relax and interpret the composition as he felt it. 鈥淵ou are going to have to make something out of it.鈥�

As Wricklund began the piece again, Severinsen nodded his head. 鈥淣ow, you鈥檙e making sense of it. Keep playing!鈥�

Afterward, the 20-year-old music education major from Gautier, Miss., described the session as 鈥渧ery surreal. 鈥� The man is a legend. It was a great experience. I learned a lot from it,鈥� he said.

Eighty-five participants, mainly college and high school students from Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Arkansas attended the day-long camp, said Dr. Peter Wood, professor of music. Wood is also a board member of the International Trumpet Guild and editor of its journal.

鈥淲e hit it out of the ball park with this event today because everyone has talked about how much they鈥檝e enjoyed the day,鈥� Wood said. 鈥淭hey are enjoying Doc鈥檚 critiques because they welcome honesty.鈥�

Earlier in the afternoon, Severinsen and Leach taught a master class, which gave students the opportunity to question him about his experiences, including his audition with another music legend 鈥� Tommy Dorsey 鈥� when he was only 14-years-old, and his later years in Hollywood. Saturday evening, Severinsen, Leach, Wood and the students performed a finale benefit concert.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 call what I do anymore working, other than having to travel to get someplace,鈥� said the 90-year-old Severinsen. 鈥淭oday, I enjoy working more in education, working with young people, sharing what I know.鈥�

He and Leach live in Maryville, Tenn., with their two dogs. He works out at a local gym several days a week, cooks most of the couple鈥檚 meals and 鈥渙ccasionally cleans鈥� their house. He also practices his music every day.

鈥淭he longer you do it, the more you need to practice,鈥� Severinsen said.

Leach added: 鈥淎round the house, we listen to each other practice and make recommendations.鈥�

Severinsen has also worked with the S.E. Shires Co. to develop the Distino III Trumpet, based on his own design.

 鈥淢y mother lived to 101, and my doctor tells me that I鈥檓 fit,鈥� Severinsen said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 plan to slow down.鈥�

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