IE Music & IEMusicstore.com Blog

Although, Steve Jobs had no clue who I am.

It’s his imagination and tenacity that created work for many in the IT industry.  It was his vision, and his external computing family that grew to thousands (Mac Zealots) in believing that a better computing experience may cost  a little more.  The useful ease of his visionary products were put in the hands of those who were NOT so computer literate.  This philosophy gave everyone a chance at finding a rich computing experience at their fingertips.  No matter where you were/are on the computing knowledge ladder.

We were saddened to learn about Steve Jobs passing.  There so many things to say about a visionary that moves generations of people.   Excites people about computing at so many levels.  This can only happen in here America.   His Apple products, created an opportunity  for me that lasted through a 22 year career in Information Systems before I landed at IE Music.   It started with a computer called “Macintosh” and morphed into so many different facets of IT… the sky was the limit.  Thanks Steve it was a good run.

Steve Jobs  legacy will live on.   Let’s hope the spark of life he started will live far beyond his imagination.  Without a doubt he will be sorely missed at all levels in and out of Apple.

A prelude to the Tournament of Roses is the annual Band Fest held at Pasadena City College.  It is a celebration performance  for all of the bands who made it to the Tournament of Roses parade.   There are three shows in all and the band members are all high energy from here and abroad.  This is a world wide event that is streamed live via webcast.  But nothing beats being there live.

IE Music was there to enjoy the festivities, and this is just  great way to get to hear the music pieces in their entirety.   Bands from as far away as Sweden and Japan were there to perform, and perform they did!   We look forward to attending this festival of bands this year year when Santiago High School from our very own City of Corona will be there to celebrate their performance!

Keep your eye tuned now for the annual Tournament of Roses Parade airing tomorrow (January 2nd).

Cheers!

IE Music

L.A. Fairplex – Pomona, California

After a week of waiting to find out if the Sanitiago High School marching band would compete in the final competition for a spot in the 2013 Rose Parade.    We found out Wednesday that Santiago would indeed  be competing against two other high schools from the Inland Empire on Friday the 30th.  What a wonderful surprise it was to find that our very own Santiaogo had clinched the competition with the piece Magnificent Seven,  and performed a spirited version of Birdland at the award ceremony.  Santiago was a real crowd pleaser.  The bands that participated are high caliber, and the judging must have been very difficult with the high level of talent presented to them.

A big congratulations to the band directors Kris Parish and Joe Dudek, and to Color Guard Coach Corkie Keys.  This team put the Corona-Norco music marching program on the map for everyone to see, and to enjoy.  It is a huge honor to be selected for the Rose Parade,  and took many hours of preparation and dedication from the band directors, color guard coach, band/color guard boosters and of course the band and color guard members.  Let”s not forget the band parents who made sure their students were prepared for the performances.  We are looking forward to seeing Santiago march down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena  on January 1, 2013.

Congratulations!!

The following videos are courtesy of Music213′s YouTube channel.  Thank you Music213!

What were you doing the morning of 9/11? Maybe you were in school. Perhaps you were finishing your morning coffee. I was getting ready for work. The TV news was buzzing with what would become a day of infamy in American history. We saw the event unfold before our eyes on national television.   Our country was attacked by Islamic terrorists on our own soil. The first attack of this magnitude since World War ll.  We we’re caught off guard by an extremist group fueled by hatred.

I remember one colleague being on an airliner which was suppose to be part of the bombing plot.  Thank God she was spared…  because the terrorist(s) didn’t make it to the jet flight that was suppose to be part of the bombing plot.

The events of planes crashing into the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and being forced down from the skies.  The lives lost was an awakening to who our allies are and who are our foes.   We certainly have learned a lot since then.   9/11 has changed everyone’s life in the U.S.   From securing our borders to a simple airplane flight.  We do things differently now to keep ourselves safe.  Our loved ones went to battle and are still battling on foreign soil.  Our greatest hope is that our God and peace will prevail.

We pray for those who lost their lives,  and the ones who were left behind to pick up the pieces.  We pray this never happens again.   Let all of us become more understanding, loving and grateful.   Let us continue to be the nation that everyone looks up to.  We shall stand strong in our God and Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us remember those we lost, and those who heroically gave up their lives to save others.  Remember the heroic emergency workers and volunteers who worked effortlessly to save lives that day, and the days that followed.  Everyday citizens that performed heroic deeds did not go unnoticed.   Remember our president George Bush who led us through the turmoil into resolve.  Let our history books remember that well.

There are services today to commemorate 9/11.  Do attend one in remembrance and respect of all who fell.

Remember 9/11.

School has started and there are a lot of musicians who have started out without the necessary care or adjustments for their instruments.  If  you haven’t had your instrument checked your band director can point you a list of well qualified technicians who can make the needed adjustments for your instrument.  This will help your instrument not only sound better but help you as a performer.

If you require cork grease, tuning slide grease or other instrument lubricants during the year you can check on the IE Music store website.  If you are in need  of a lyre, music stand, reeds or just about anything else you need for your woodwind or brass instrument.  You can find those at IE Music as well.

We wish you all the best of success this school year both in band, and your academic curriculum.

IE Music/IEmusicstore.com

IE Music wishes everyone a safe and happy 4th of July.   Keep in mind those who have fought or died to keep our freedom alive.   Let us remember that we are fortunate to live in a country that still believes in basic freedoms for every man, woman, and child.

This was quite an event that went off without a hitch.   The main event of the evening was edited video footage of Pearl Harbor played to music by the band.  It was very impressive.  Congrats to all of the 2011 band seniors that are moving on to new adventures and we hope you keep music alive in this new phase of your life.  Cheers!

This was an all parents, family and friends music event at Santiago High.  The energy was high and if you missed this one.. you’ll just have to wait until next year.

So I missed posting several Musical events in recent weeks.  The Mt. SAC  Jazz Festival isn’t one of those.    There were plenty of bands to be heard and wow .. great sounding bands from all over the area showed up to compete in a really nice venue.   Santiago High School was there with Jazz I II & III to round out the days events.   They gave up some fabulous performances, and just sounded great.

If you haven’t had a chance to attend one of these events this year.   There will be more before the end of the school year.  So get out and check it out.   Check with your band director for the next event in your area!

This past weekend was pretty busy both Saturday and Sunday for band students who performed in the annual Upland Jazz Festival (at Upland High School) and RCCWE Tribute to John Philip Sousa band (at Riverside Community College).   What a great way to start out the first weekend in the month of March.

Both events were a simply a joy to attend.  The Upland Jazz festival has grown over the years and is held in two separate venues on the Upland campus.  What a great opportunity for students to show off their chops and met other students from adjacent areas.   This is quite the competition and is just a whole lot of fun… and jazz all day long!   A couple of college bands showed up as a recruiting tool?  Whatever.. it’s all fun!  We look forward to attending next year.

The Tribute to John Phillip Sousa Honor band gave an awesome performance.   Kevin Mayse (RCCWE Band Director) did a fabulous job of picking traditional pieces for the honor band.  The Honor Band gave a stunning performance with just a couple of rehearsals under their belt.  Of course the RCC Wind Ensemble gave a stellar performance as always.   Cheers to all of you that made the Honor Band.  We are proud of your accomplishment.