Author: Isaac Hill

Today we worked on take-offs and landings.  Here is a short video.

Band

 

 

 

Last Thursday and Friday, I attended the Summer NAMM (National Assn. of Music Merchants) show in Nashville. While there, I met John Zapp and FMA Ambassador, Gary Piper.  Thank you both for showing me around and for allowing me to attend.

NAMM was awesome!  It felt like I was in the world’s largest music store.  I must have played 20 saxophones, tried out new reeds, and different mouthpieces.

As for flying, I have now logged 4.6 hours.  I’m learning more about aerodynamics, operational systems, and FAA regulations. Tomorrow we are supposed to work on stalls and slow flight.

I had my first lesson with Tanner Quigley at Murfreesboro Aviation  today.  We flew over my house. I took the picture from above and my dad took a picture and video of us!

I was scheduled to begin my lessons at Murfreesboro Aviation this morning at 10:00 a.m., however, we had to cancel due to bad weather. So, instead, my dad and I went to the Beechcraft Heritage Museum in Tullahoma, TN.  It is a very cool place.

Had a great time this week at the NJW Jazz Camp which concluded today with ensemble performances.  Our ensemble’s instructor was Roy Agee, a fantastic trombone player from Nashville who has toured with many greats, including Prince!

I was also excited to receive an email from Jay Mason an FMA member, fellow Bari player, and member of Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band. He was in Prague when he reached out. I am a huge fan of the Phat Band.  If you have never heard them play, you should check them out. Very cool.

I started the Sporty’s online course this week and hope to start my lessons at Murfreesboro Aviation after the holiday.  I also start taking a summer college class at MTSU on July 10.

Happy 4th everybody!

This week I switched gears from flying to playing. I’m playing bari sax at the NJW Jazz Camp at Vanderbilt Blair School of Music. We are learning about different jazz forms and chord structures and learning several new head charts, which we will perform Friday night. I also made contact with with Blake Tumbleson at Murfreesboro Aviation to thank him for their support of FMA and the generous donation of flight training time.  I plan to start next week. I’m really looking forward to it.

Also, Aaron, William, Courtney and I have decided to come up with a song we can all learn and record via YouTube and in person if we have a chance to meet in person one day.  We welcome any suggestions for violin or electric violin, clarinet, sax, and guitar or trumpet.

 

 

 

 

Last day of MTSU Aviation Camp.  Sporting my FMA shirt in this Diamond DA-40.

I look forward to starting my flight training at Murfreesboro Aviation soon, but before I do, I am attending Aviation Camp at Middle Tennessee State University. Yesterday, was my first day and I met three marching band students from two high schools.  Today we will try out MTSU’s 360 degree air traffic control simulator and begin designing and building an airplane out of balsa wood. Tomorrow, we fly!  I will be sure to tell everyone about the FMA.