Louisiana Trombone Collective Goals and Activities:
The Louisiana Trombone Collective enters into the following programs with the knowledge that allowing students to learn and hone their craft while in high school and college, rather than working full time jobs, will promote success in a career.
The Louisiana Trombone Collective supports the artistic and educational work of Benjamin Yates locally, nationally, and internationally. This work includes supporting touring ensembles dedicated to the commissioning and performance of new music, plus international travel and teaching in the Dominican Republic. The Collective will support the work of the International Music Education Project in instrument and financial donations; support the needs of the UL Lafayette trombone and low brass studios by financially helping programs including Louisiana Trombones, Octubafest, Community Trombone Choir, Community TubaEuph Ensemble, and others; and support the Acadiana Community Low Brass Institute, an organization dedicated to educating low brass students at the elementary and secondary levels in the Acadiana Region.
UL Lafayette Trombone Studio Impact
Student Instrument Lease-to-Own Program
The instrument Lease-to-own program supports students studying music at the collegiate level by providing a way purchase the instrument required for the degree program when starting college, rather than saving throughout college and purchainsg the instrument as they leave the degree.
The lease-to-own program is administered by the Louisiana Trombone Collective and students apply for the program and are vetted by the LTC Lease-to-Own Program sub-committee.
The program includes specific operating rules:
– This is a revolving instrument purchase fund, LTC purchases instruments outright and students pays back in small, interest-free installments. As funds are paid back, this builds the pool of money to help the next student, paying it forward.
– The lease includes money for instrument repairs and upkeep
– The end of the lease term is graduation from the University of Louisiana or ending student status at the university.
– Once the student completes lease payment, the instrument ownership is signed over to the student.
The student instrument loan program loans out enough money for a trombonist and euphonium or tuba players to purchase a professional quality used or new instrument each year.
Requirements
– Students must apply, using the application form: Complete the Form
– Students must be current UL Lafayette students, in good standing, in the low brass studio.
– Students must be music majors. Priority is given to music education and music performance majors.
– Students must have more than two years left in the degree program.
– Students must pay the agreed upon lease-to-own monthly or semester amount.
– Students may add the loan program amount to their own savings to purchase the instrument that meets their needs.
- Students who are accepted into the program will enter into a least-to-own agreement with LTC. Amounts may vary, current goals for instrument purchase:
- Trombone: $3,000
- Euphonium: $4,000
- Tuba: $5,000
- Students enter into a written contract with Louisiana Trombone Collective to pay off the lease amount and take ownership of the instrument.
- Students must complete the rent to own program in the same month they graduate from UL Lafayette.
Student Chamber Music Scholarship
- University of Louisiana (UL) AMUS 250 Chamber Music Scholarship.
- Defray the additional university costs and fees associated with taking the chamber music class.
- Encourage students to practice, prepare, and rehearse, rather than work part time jobs.
Low Brass students in UL Lafayette Applied Music (AMUS) 250 Chamber Music have the opportunity to apply for a small chamber music scholarship through LTC. The scholarship assists with the additional cost and fees associated with taking the chamber music course at the university and encourage students to practice chamber music, rather than working part time jobs.
How it works:
- Students apply for the scholarship through an application form: Complete the Form
– Students must be current UL Lafayette students
– Students must be music majors
– Priority is given to music education and music performance majors
– Students who are accepted into the program receive a single check from the Louisiana Trombone Collective for the scholarship amount
Support of UL Lafayette studio activities
Support the University of Louisiana Trombone Studio. The intention is to continue working with the university to fully support these items, which are part of an operating studio and should be primarily university funded.
Continued use of student organizations (UL Low Brass Association, NAfME, UL Concert Series) to aid funding studio events. These activities and events started by Benjamin Yates after joining the faculty of UL Lafayette to support the education of School of Music students, aid recruitment efforts for new students, and building national recognition of the education students receive at UL Lafayette. The events started with Brass day in 2017 and have expanded to individual instrument days to feature guest artists, local clinicians, and the studio performers.
Events supported by LTC
- Louisiana Trombones
Louisiana Trombones is an annual event designed for trombone enthusiasts of all ages and experience levels. Participants are invited to engage in a day dedicated to performance, listening, and education centered around the trombone.
Attendees have the opportunity to participate in a trombone choir, collaborate with guest conductors, and attend guest artist recitals and masterclasses. The day culminates in a participant trombone choir performance.
- OctubaFest (Since 2020)
OctubaFest is the annual event featuring the UL Lafayette tuba and euphonium studio. The event brings in guest artists and performers from the region. LTC is primarily concerned with funding guest artists. - Guest artists (Since 2017)
General guest artist interactions with the UL Lafayette low brass studio. Funding, housing, additional pay as needed. Possible student lesson scholarships? - Community Trombone Choir (Since 2021)
Support for the UL Lafayette Community Trombone Choir. Payment of a stipend to the conductor, payment for student compositions, maybe a small scholarship for student staff to run the rehearsals, set up/tear down, manage the physical space. - Community TubaEuph Ensemble (Since 2021)
Support of the UL Lafayette Community TubaEuph Ensemble, currently run by an adjunct professor for no pay. Payment of a stipend to the conductor, payment for student compositions, maybe a small scholarship for student staff to run the rehearsals, set up/tear down, manage the physical space.
Regional Impact
Acadiana Community Low Brass Institute
Improving the performance of low brass players in the region, educating collegiate level performance and music education students, and preparing the next generation of professional musician:
Lessons
Masterclasses
Chamber music
A new idea, based on similar models in the area. This would be to continue building improvement of low brass players in the region who have taken lessons and are prepared for college music education practices. Currently Benjamin Yates teaches 6-10 students/week. This institute would educate and prepare ULL music education students so they can teach high quality lessons to these and other area students, gaining critical teaching experience, making money in the field, and providing the needed information in the area.
Students at the institute would continue to pay for lessons, but the LTC would provide a safe public space for lessons to be held, provide the physical materials needed (music stands, pianos, music, instruments, mouthpiece, etc.), and support with accompanists paid through the LTC.
Students in the institute would have the opportunity for lessons, studio classes, repair classes, and participating in community chamber ensembles.
Global Impact
Dominican Republic Trombone Support
- Support low brass work in the Dominican Republic
- Provide opportunities to perform, teach, and recruit
- Trombodomi: Dominican Trombone Association
- Provide free clinics, masterclasses, and performances
Supporting work in the Dominican Republic, particularly opportunities to perform, teach, and recruit performers to the United States.
- Continued work with Trombodomi: Dominican Trombone Association. Providing free clinics, masterclasses, and performances to trombonists of all ages and abilities at the National Conservatory, Santo Domingo.
- Adding teaching and performing trips to ongoing trips to the D.R. Finding ways to support the high level of community and teaching already happening in the D.R. and moving that forward with ideas from the United States.
International Music Education Project (IMEP)
- Support the donation of instruments to after school music programs in the Dominican Republic
- Provide lubricants, instrument repairs, sheet music, and musical supplies
The IMEP supports the donation of instruments to after school music programs in the Dominican Republic. The IMEP additionally provides lubricants, instrument repairs, sheet music, and musical supplies to after school programs that provide music education to students (music education is not part of the school programs).
The Louisiana Trombone Collective can specifically aid the International Music Education Project with donations of trombones, trombone equipment, and trombone sheet music to the program. Additionally, the LTC can aid with financial support and logistical support in getting instruments to the country.
Musical and Artistry Impact
Financial support of trombonist Benjamin Yates
- Support the ongoing new music commissions, performances, tours, and recordings of Benjamin Yates. Projects include:
- Tromborgan (trombone and organ)
- Harp and Trombone
- Oak Trio (clarinet, trumpet, trombone)
- Percussion and trombone consortium projects
- Other new music commissions
- Continuing masterclass series, performance series, and education travel of Benjamin Yates. Projects motivate, inspire, and promote eager students in the field across Acadiana, Louisiana, and the Dominican Republic.
- Middle and High School masterclasses
- Traveling to the Dominican Republic to perform and teach at TROMBODOMI: Dominican Trombone Association
- Acadiana events, including Louisiana Trombones, Brass Day, OctubaFest, and private individual lessons
Supporting the ongoing new music commissions, performances, tours, and recordings of Benjamin Yates. Projects include:
- Tromborgan: Trombone and Organ duo that includes Brad Schultz, commissioning and performing new music for the duo.
- Harp and Trombone: Duo that includes Amy Nam, Minneapolis based harpist and composer.
- Oak Trio: Trio including Richard Tirk, trumpet, and Suzanne Tirk, clarinet. Commissioning and performing new works for the trio/chamber music performances. Interest in education through the U.S.
- Other new music commissions: including trombone and percussion, brass quintet, and other projects Benjamin Yates is involved in.
Continuing masterclass series, performance series, and education travel of Benjamin Yates. Projects motivate, inspire, and promote eager students in the field across Acadiana, Louisiana, and the Dominican Republic.
- Middle and High School masterclasses
- Traveling to the Dominican Republic to perform and teach at TROMBODOMI: Dominican Trombone Association
- Acadiana events, including Louisiana Trombones, Brass Day, OctubaFest, and private individual lessons
