I began playing the trombone in the seventh grade (that was 23 years ago as of this writing). It all began when my football career ended. Four practices into the season I ran into (quite literally) the biggest and strongest guy on the Hawkins Jr. High School Football Team. After he put me on my back with a broken arm, I hung up my cleats and decided the band sounded a lot less painful than sports and I never looked back.
I was fortunate to attend a junior high/middle school and high school with two of the best band directors you will find anywhere–Jeff Phillips and Marsha Hartwein. With their guidance and encouragement, I slowly (sometimes very, very slowly) developed into a pretty good trombone player. During my high school years, I played the honor band circuit and even occasionally got to sub with a few dance bands in the third trombone chair. My senior year in high school was without a doubt the best as I earned first chair in both the Middle Tennessee First Senior High Concert and Jazz bands. That year, I also was the bass trombonist in the Nashville Youth Symphony (now the Curb Youth Symphony).
In 1994, I went off to college at Tennessee Tech as a music education major. My musical growth hit an all-time high while at Tech as again in my second year I earned the principal and lead chairs in the top performing concert and jazz groups. It makes me tired to think about it, but at one point in my second year in college I was the principal trombone in the Symphony Band, trying to survive being the first chair in the Bryan Symphony Orchestra, playing lead in the Troubadours (jazz ensemble), preparing for a recital in a student brass quintet, playing corporate parties in a jazz combo, playing 5 shows a week in the only trombone chair at the Cumberland County Playhouse, in addition to trying to learn music theory, ear training, music history, private lessons, etc. If I hadn’t been 20 years old and believed I was invincible, it would have killed me. During my fourth year at Tech, a combination of personal issues (read as: severe exhaustion and an illness/death in my immediate family) forced me to leave the music program and eventually college.
For the next 11 years I played only the occasional gig here and there. During that period, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who I was and what I wanted out of life.
In 2009, a twist of fate reconnected me with my love of music and trombone playing. At the time I was living in the Washington, D.C. area and was again fortunate enough to connect with some groups. I was subbing regularly with two working dance bands and playing in a rock/funk cover band horn section. This period of time was my musical rebirth and I haven’t looked back since.
In January 2011, I moved back to my hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. I am currently reconnecting with former musical friends and getting some calls to sub with various groups. My only regular gig at the moment is playing in the orchestra of First Baptist Church in Hendersonville. I can’t begin to explain the moments of joy and worship I have experienced with this group. I truly have found a whole new way to use my talents and what I get back spiritually is greater than any time commitment I am required to give.
If you have somehow stumbled across my little blog and would like a trombone player with a wealth of experience playing in concert bands, orchestras, rock bands, brass quintets, jazz bands and combos, polka bands, and almost anything else in between feel free to send me an e-mail at brandon.e.windsor[at]gmail.com.
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