Just got back from the Atlanta Snare Drum Competition.  I didn’t make it to the final round but it was a great experience.  Got to meet alot of really great players and get some insight from some great teachers who were on the judging panel.  I would recommend that everyone at least look into the competition and see if you can possibly make it down.  It’s still getting off the ground but there are alot of great players that show up to compete.  Also got to play in a masterclass with Bob Becker which made the entire trip worthwhile just being able to talk with him about things.

Just finished up my newest snare solo (The Covert Chameleon).  Should be available tomorrow.  Who knew that a marching snare drum could be anything but loud….?

I’ve been working on getting some more solo works done and up on the site.  Everything for the Full Drumline marching section is up and available.  I finished a new tenor solo (Well That’s Odd!) and am working on a new snare solo right now.  I’m also trying to finish up another easier snare and tenor duet.  Keep checking back for more updates regularly.  Also, check out the blog.  I’m using this mainly as a percussion blog to post some of the main things I find out that are happening in the world of percussion.  Thanks to all who stop by the site.

I’m on Twitter now. @jamieson_carr is me. Start following if you’re interested. Maybe I’ll use it….we’ll see….

I recently went to concert featuring the music of John Mackey.  I had played three of Mackey’s pieces before and his music has always been very exciting.  The JMU Wind Symphony played his Concerto for Soprano Saxophone with Prof. Dave Pope playing the solo part.  It was probably one of the most awesome displays of technical virtuosity I had seen on an instrument that wasn’t percussion.  If you have never heard of John Mackey you can check out his website here.  Go take a listen to some of his stuff and you will have a new appreciation for the music being written for the modern Wind Ensemble.

Pedro Carneiro is organizing a consortium to commission a new work for marimba duo from Alejandro Vinao.  I recently joined it and if you are seriously interested in being part of this new and exciting project, visit Pedro’s website or Vinao’s website for more info.  Only 3 more people are needed for the project to be a definite go!!

Interesting article on how the iPad could be utilized to store sheet music and revolutionize the publishing of sheet music.

Article

Congratulations to the James Madison University Indoor Drumline on their 3rd place finish in the PIA category of the Atlantic Indoor Association Finals.  The drumline performed an original composition of mine titled “Just a Matter of Time”.  A video will be posted shortly of the finals performance.

Well hopefully everyone has noticed that things look a little different.  There’s a couple of new things with the site.  There are now officially pieces up and available for sale.  Just go check out the compositions page and take a look around.  I am still in the process of uploading all the files to be available for purchase.  The nice thing about this too is that everything will be available as a digital download meaning that you will receive it as soon as you purchase it.  Just contact me if you have any questions as well.  Keep checking back for more updates

My xylophone etude, Chrome Plated, is currently published in the 2010 MassChap Xylophone collection, available from Bachovich Publications, product number #0802.  I’m excited to say that Chrome Plated was selected as one of the winners in the PAS Massachusetts Chapters Xylophone etude composition contest.  If you are in the New England area, stop by the Massachusetts Day of Percussion on Sunday March 21st at the Boston Conservatory.  More information on that is available here.  There will also be a concert featuring some of the xylophone etudes selected and someone will be performing Chrome Plated on that concert.  Once I have a recording or video I will post it on the site.  Many thanks go out to Sam Solomon and all the judges who picked my piece to go into the book.  There are many other great etudes in there as well so make sure you go buy a copy!