A Maxterpiece in Progress

Maxwell wanted a trumpet for his 7th birthday. We are not sure why a trumpet and not a different instrument all together. My husband and I have a total of 4 children, 2 are musical and 2 are not, David and I met on the marching band field in high school, but music isn’t our career nor a requirement in our house. Little Einstein’s is a cartoon that tells stories with classical music in the background. Maxwell did enjoy watching that show so maybe that contributed to the sound of a trumpet and the request for the birthday, but truthfully David and I figured that commitment with the trumpet would last only a few months and Maxwell would move onto the next hobby, the next sport or next outing with his friends. 

After over 20 music teachers telling me 7 was too young to start a trumpet student, we were lucky to find Mr. Green a retired music teacher who was willing to start Maxwell with the basics. Maxwell started with a half an hour a week and loved learning the trumpet so much that his time with Mr. Green quickly moved to 5 days a week with an hour and a half lesson each day. He taught Maxwell the keys to an amazing sound, he made learning the fundamentals of scales and etudes fun and even offered free time at the end of each lesson where they dabbled in Composition and piano and other instruments. 

His music understanding grew exponentially an so did his love of the trumpet. What is interesting about Maxwell, even in the first few lessons and months; Maxwell sound and tone was always pleasant to hear. He never played out of tune, off key or without passion. Mr. Green delivered a solid foundation beyond any of our expectations. He made music fun, challenging and Maxwell Wanted to practice. Maxwell would practice for 30 minutes before school as a second grader, and he would practice up until bedtime every day. The trumpet came with us on all vacations, on all family outings we always had t leave room for the horn, a music stand, and his chair.  His first and last task every day for the past 11 years has been his trumpet. That can be good and bad at 6am and 11PM.  

After one short year Mr. Green, announced he is out of material, and doesn’t really know what to move too next to teach Maxwell, He has taught so many students for so many years thru high school, and Maxwell had mastered all High school material and was needing something more challenging, and he didn’t know what to offer. They didn’t recommend continuing the solo trumpet journey. They recommended more instruments, and more involvement with other musicians. 

Since Maxwell didn’t have a concert band in his grade school or future high school, that a solid organized So two weeks later, and an hour and half from our home; he had an audition in Rockford. As we look back he played Rise by Herb Alpert and Danny Boy, Hardly recommended repertoire for such a competitive organization. He had limited music options since they worked on pop music, scales and Etudes which are simply fundamentals and hardly pleasing to an audience, however, the conductor saw something in Maxwell. 

Maxwell was selected to sit in the Rockford Symphony Youth Orchestra at 8 ½, (Second GRADE) the youngest student admitted and to date the longest member of for 10 seasons.  With the selection for RSYO comes other responsibilities, He would need to acquire a Tuxedo, He would have Sunday rehearsals in Rockford from noon to 6pm every Sunday, they require a full-time professional teacher, he would attend several concerts throughout Rockford and would also be a member of a brass choir with a separate performance schedule. 

In the review mirror was now Mr. Green, and off to Dekalb for Mr. Mark Baldin Principal trumpet for Rockford Symphony and Dr. Mark Ponzo and the weekly lessons resumed just farther away. Maxwell averaged 11 hours a week of driving time and over 24 hours a week of lesson and rehearsal time for the next 6 years. His only had one day off, but he didn’t seem to mind. Maxwell sat every Sunday, among high school kids and matured through his music. He saw season after season least his side, but he solely retained his seat since he was so advanced in his music understanding. Imagine his first day of orchestra he barely stood higher than the music stand and when he sat his feet dangled and couldn’t touch the floor. His music stand had to be off center, they didn’t make a short enough one for some his height to see over the top when it was all the way down. He played the Apollo 13 solo. 

At 9 he took over the Principal Trumpet role in Rockford that he held for 9 years, he was also asked to cover the Principal Trumpet seat in the Dekalb -Community School of the Arts- (Youth) Sinfonia so he had now three separate repertoire lists, three performance schedules. 

At the beginning of Maxwell’s 8th grade year, the Conductor in Rockford recommended Maxwell consider applying and auditioning for one of the top Student Orchestra’s in Chicago and leave the treasured RSYO that truly gave Maxwell his start and took a chance on his young ability. 

Maxwell auditioned in Chicago and was awarded the top orchestra, one of only 4 trumpets. Most Students in the top orchestra were juniors and Seniors, and if they are young, they are probably a string player as it is understood String players start playing at 3 and advance so quickly thru challenging music It was so remarkable, he was again sitting in an advanced orchestra without seeing over the music stand, and a member of such an incredible organization. 

With the CYSO, Maxwell has recorded with soloists, played commissioned pieces, and climbed the ladder of repertoire that professional orchestra attempt. He toured Europe for three weeks and performance in some of the greatest halls in Germany, Prague and Vienna to sold out audiences. The CYSO was featured at the 2022 Midwest Band and Orchestra clinic with packed concert hall of orchestra directors, composers, and high school students from across the country.