Nathan Nothelle

“I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.”  – Thomas Jefferson

My name is Nathan Nothelle and I’m a 17 year old senior from Imlay City Michigan. My passion in music goes way back to the four stringed guitar I found in my barn when I was five, and has only escalated since I learned to play when I was 10. My real musical career began in 2010 when I picked up a trumpet for our beginning elementary band. I played trumpet all the way through middle school and learned the real meaning between passion and determination.

Going into high school, I auditioned for our top band and began my real study. I was placed lead and section leader in my marching band and concert band my sophomore year. Since then I’ve taken great pride in tutoring students of all ages in all of the brass instruments I’ve learned including trumpet, horn, euphonium, trombone, and tuba. Some of my favorite experiences over the past four years have been playing in 14 various college honors bands, playing for my high schools concert band and wind ensemble, playing for many jazz ensembles, community bands, and so many more that I could go on forever. This year I’ve completed 51 performances so far!

My passion in aviation dates back to when I took a flight down to florida when I was 9 and I was stunned by the absolute beauty of being up in the sky. Since that moment, all I ever want to do (besides play horn) is be in the air. My goal in aviation is to fly search and rescue missions with the United States Coast Guard. To reach my career goals, I am currently working on receiving my private pilot license from Flight 101 at KPTK to gain knowledge and accelerate my career. Before I apply to become an officer, I plan to complete a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology from Western Michigan University. While attending school, I’ll devote as much time as I have available to the USCG Aux Air as I’ve recently joined as an observer. Currently, my line of work before I ship off to school includes my day job as a custom fabricator for a local diesel and body shop, my night job as an equipment maintainer for a farm, and my many students that I continue to try and inspire with music as it’s inspired me.

Happy flying!

Read updates from Nathan:

• Solo!
  My first solo was absolutely breathtaking. Me and Joe flew to the Lapeer airport to do some pattern work and to my surprise, he jumped out of the plane after the first landing and said “Give me three goes around the pattern.” I will admit, that was a little scary when he took me by … Continue reading Solo!
• My First Solo
  On Monday June 3rd 2019 I did my first solo flight, at long last. I don’t think I could have asked for a more beautiful day and the weather was great calm skies, no clouds in view and a nice temp. around 69 degrees. when my instructor Ken got out of the plane and said … Continue reading My First Solo
• Update
  Just want to apologies for not posting anything in a long time, but though the winter I wasn’t able to fly because the weather just never seemed to permit it. It wasn’t until February that I was able to go flying again. I was able to get a few hours of flight time in but … Continue reading Update
• Latest Progress
  Hi all! I wanted to give a huge thank you out to FMA and all of our wonderful sponsors! I love the recent package I received and I have already handed out most of my flyers to people here at WMU and have talked to numerous more about joining the association. More information to come … Continue reading Latest Progress
• Updates
  Hi all! I recently had a short break to visit my family in Germany earlier this month, it was an amazing trip. Now I’ve been squeezing in great opportunities to get in the air with all of Michigan’s crazy weather. The fall colors sure do look good from the sky! Lately I’ve been working with … Continue reading Updates
• Past high school Band
  I was asked this marching band season to come back to my High school band and be in charge of one of the props they have. The director also asked me to help to low brass section with some tricks on how to keep a good tone while marching. They had their first contest last … Continue reading Past high school Band
• Post Storm Flight
  I had a great flight last night with my flight instructor Joe. The weather has held me up long enough so we decided to wait out the storm until the clouds broke. We took the opportunity to get into some post storm air. Yesterday we revisited power on and off stalls, we practiced an emergency … Continue reading Post Storm Flight
• First week as a Bronco
  This Month has been a month of preparing. Preparing to leave, to move in, and to start a new four years of my life that will make perhaps the largest impact of any years. This week it has been an intense week of preparing to march. Band camp at Western Michigan has been one of … Continue reading First week as a Bronco
• Recent Events
  I just wanted to let everyone know that today was my first day at college. I am going to Sinclair in Dayton, Ohio for their professional pilot program. Today I attended my academic classes, and tomorrow I will be attending my first day of pilot classes. I am so excited to see who all I will be flying with and learning even more about … Continue reading Recent Events
• Band Camp
  Even though I’m graduated, I still got the chance last week to come help my section out at band camp. They worked very hard on their “Legends of Rock” halftime show throughout the week. The marching is great and the music is stellar! I really do miss playing with my high school. However, in a … Continue reading Band Camp
• Update on Flying
  I  just want to let everyone know unfortunately I wasn’t able to fly in a while because the weather around me in Ohio hasn’t been cooperating to have good flyable weather. It does seem like the weather is improving and I am trying to get lesson scheduled with my instructor ken currently. I would just … Continue reading Update on Flying
• Flight!
  Finally, now that the weather has cleared and I have a path into a plane, I was able to get myself in the air. The weather was gorgeous, the air was super smooth, and the backdrop of the sunset was absolutely incredible. My instructor got me up practicing slow flight and steep turns today, as … Continue reading Flight!
• FMA Swag
  Earlier this week I was able to meet up with flying musician Josh Homet to chat and get my swag, and let me say, I’m absolutely blown away! I’d like to give a huge shout-out to Bose, Gleim, Sporty’s, Avemco, Pacific Coast Jazz, Trade-A-Plane, and FMA for all the awesome stuff. This is absolutely already … Continue reading FMA Swag
• update on flying
  I just wanted to let everyone know so far I have logged 5 hours of flight time with my flight instructor Ken Cruel. Everything is going great so far and just the other week we flew to Richmond, Indiana to stop and get lunch which was great.
• Flying update
  It was great of John Zap and Don Bilbrey to fly all the way to see me and to drop off all the swag. It was also great to meet John and Don face to face and to get a chance to talk to them.  I am very thankful for all the support from the flying musicians. I would also like to say thank you … Continue reading Flying update