Today's blog post is going to be a current-and-recent-events style post to update those of you who are interested in what's been happening lately! Check back for my next blog post if you're looking for a discussion topic like I typically post, or - if you haven't seen them yet - check out some of my previous blog posts.
There is never a dull moment in the wonderful world of music! Here's what's been happening lately:
Fairly recently, I've been hired to arrange music for the VCU Pep Band. As a recent graduate of the school with a music degree, an active composer and arranger for similar mediums, and the nephew of VCU's immediate past basketball coach (and Alabama's current coach), Anthony Grant, I can't imagine a more exciting way to enjoy this current college basketball season, which opened last night for my past school VCU, my current school Indiana, and my Uncle's school Alabama with strong wins across the board for all three teams. It's going to be a fun ride this season!
Last month, brand new professional brass ensemble "The Brass Roots" performed my brass arrangement of the National Anthem live on television, as well as on their inaugural concert. The arrangement, dedicated both to the celebration of my grandmother's life and in honor of the innocent lives lost on 9/11, is closer to my heart than any piece I've written or arranged in the past. I could not think of a better way to honor both experiences than sharing them through music with the Pittsburgh-based professional group as well as all the spectators who hear them perform it. It's an incredible honor.
Check out the YouTube statistics!! I wrote a cover-style arrangement of Taylor Swift's new single "Shake It Off" for marching band with friend and colleague John Paddie, and featured it through Enlightened Productions. It's currently at 14.8k views and 126 likes, growing at an steady rate of 350+ views per day. It's slated to break 15,000 views before noon on Sunday. Here are some other YouTube videos hitting milestones very soon that you might like to check out:
Nearing 1,000 views on my new channel, MSGrantMusic:
Beethoven's 5th, Mvt. I for Trumpet Ensemble
Thomas Dale Marching Knights 2013 Show (my first year arranging their music)
Behind The Scenes Carolina Crown 2014 High Brass Transcription Video
Nearing 75,000 views (personal all-time high) on my old channel, FreakoftheArts73:
Carolina Crown 2013 Full Show Transcription (Brass) E=MC^2
So what's next to come?
Those of you in tune with my media side may have noticed the frequent small updates to my social media pages and my website, including a revamped "about" page on every address, re-formatted site home page, increased media sources, and various small changes to the overall interface of the website. Over the next few months, you'll see an increase in the quality of media and public-relations-based output on my internet presence. I promised an increased output of YouTube vlogs like this one and other videos on my new channel when I left for grad school. Before I left, I started experiencing issues with my media equipment, and have recently replaced them with an upgraded set of tools. I intend on keeping my previous promise.
Finally: A few days ago, I put out a question on my Facebook page regarding my website - related to the recent changes I've been making - asking if you guys would like for me to attempt to expand the media section to include a full title list of pieces I've written and arranged. I received a positive enough response that I've decided to do it. Some pieces won't have recordings to them yet, others will have small samples of live recordings, and others still may have MIDI recordings attached to them. As I continue to expand my media output over the next few months, more and more of these pieces will be accompanied by recordings so that you can listen to them in their full glory, and you will eventually be able to click a direct link on the page where each piece is featured - if that piece is for sale - and be able to purchase it. This will take quite a while, but I'm eager to see the resulting product, and I'm happy to be able to share more music with you guys.
Meanwhile, you can continue to tune in to both the website and the Facebook page - as well as this blog - for timely updates about how things continue to progress in the music world. Until then!
Marcus Grant
Educator, Composer, Trumpeter
http://www.msgrantmusic.org
http://www.facebook.com/msgrantmusic
http://www.soundcloud.com/msgrantmusic
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