I’ve yet to post a photo entry about my trip to Florida — and it’s because I forgot the cable to transfer the photos from my camera to the Mac! Fortunately, my partner in crime at University High School on Monday, Michael Markowski, has it all covered in his own great entry on his blog. Lots of great pics (even of some food!), and a fun read. I look like I’m balding in one of the photos, and I’m pretty sure I’m not, so we might need to do some Photoshopping on one of those shots…

As Mike describes, the day at University High School in Orlando was AWESOME. Now I’m at the University of Florida in Gainesville. I had a great dinner with Dave Waybright last night (he’s the Director of Bands here), and in about an hour, I’m heading to lunch with one of the conducting students. After that, I finally get to hear the band here rehearse “Turbine.” I’m excited. They did a great job last year with “Redline Tango,” so it’ll be fun to see what they do with the new tune.

More later!

P.S. I only saw the last three singers, but last night’s American Idol was horrifying and offensive. Yes, Queen is probably my favorite band (since I was 4 years old!), and just about any non-Freddy Mercury-led performance would bother me, but good lord, what were they thinking?! And I like Taylor, but his “dancing” felt false and forced, and made it seem that he has become far too self-aware, turning into a self-caricature. Fortunately, I didn’t actually hear Kellie Pickler — perhaps the dumbest human being ever to be caught on film — perform Bohemian Rhapsody. It’s waiting on the TiVo back at home, but according to AEJ, I’m not going to want to hear that without the benefit of much Xanax and Vicodin. I hope I still have an email in by in box with a good offer for those particular drugs…

You may have noticed that this site and email were down for about 24 hours, but it seems to be back up in most of the country now (although AEJ still couldn’t access it the last time we checked).

I’m in Gainesville, Florida, now. I had a great (and jam-packed) day at University High School in Orlando yesterday, then rode with David Waybright up to Gainesville this morning. Last night’s concert at UHS was a lot of fun, and I’ll write about it soon — hopefully tonight. First up, though, is dinner with Dave. I’m off! More soon…

I’m leaving first thing tomorrow morning for my week in Florida. I fly tomorrow at 7am from LAX to Orlando. First up (and I do mean first up – as in, I can’t believe I how early I’ll be getting up) on Monday morning will be the AP Music Theory class at University High School. (The class starts a little after 7am — EASTERN. I’ll be on West Coast time, and I normally sleep until 9am here — but that class will feel like it’s happening at 4am. I wonder what sort of asinine things I’ll say at that hour.)

Then, that night, there’s a lecture/performance with the University High School Band, conducted by Philip Obado. Phil is going to do “Strange Humors” and “Redline Tango,” as well as Michael Markowski‘s “Shadow Rituals” (recent winner of the Frank Ticheli Young Band Competition Contest). Michael will be there as well. David Waybright, Director of Bands at the University of Florida, will be part of the panel, too. That concert is Monday night at, I believe, 7:30pm.

First thing Tuesday morning, Dave Waybright and I get in his car and drive from Orlando to Gainesville (where University of Florida is located). I’ll spend a few days on campus, working with the players, and hopefully the student composers, all leading up to the U. Florida performance of “Turbine” on Thursday night.

Should be a fun trip! Pictures to come!