With Christmas less than a week away, I have been busy doing what musicians do this time of year; playing music for Christmas Parties, Church functions and school events.

The last 2 nights I was involved in a great High School Dinner Theater Saddleback Church does each year. The High School choir, The Walk, under the direction of my good friend Vangie Gunn took center stage and wowed them Monday and Tuesday Night.

I love the spirit of the High School kids and they always blow me away with the tons of hard work and serious talent they have to offer. Me? I was the old guy playing Christmas tracks with my Sax. It was a honor to support these kids!

Another thing I love doing around Christmas is play at the schools! I started doing this once I had kids. They would ask if I could come and play for there little Christmas Party or class assembly. I have been playing in December at schools ever since.

Of particular fun, was my Daughters school yesterday. Vanessa is in second grade and we had the second grade class and first grade too I believe. The assembly was held in the MPR (Multi Purpose Room) and they were totally fun, loud and amazing.

So I play at school? What do I do when I play at school?

This little show developed over time, but the basic idea is playing Christmas Songs while teaching the kids about the woodwind instruments playing examples. I bring Sop, Alto, Tenor, Bari, Flute, Pic, Clarinet and toys. I bring tracks and a small system for something to be accompanied. I often bring a friend to include double reeds and a few impromptu duets for fun. Toys include Sleigh Bells and toy wind instruments to encourage experimenting with anything to make music.

Topics covered include: small-high, big-low, woodwind family, sax family, flute family, clarinet family, names for each instrument, which came first, how much they cost, student instrument costs, which one would they start on if they joined band, the range of each one I demonstrate, what makes the noise, reed mouthpiece, the difference between the clarinet and soprano, basic history for each....

Sounds like a lot? I get an hour, hour 15, and we have fun with a lot of information. I have kids come up and accompany me on Sleigh Bells, they all sing, and even their teachers tell me they learn a lot during the presentation!

Vanessa's class was the funnest one to date. They were so loud that I couldn't hear what I was playing at times. The sang so loud! I had to put my head in the speaker when I tried to play with the tracks. With them clapping and singing, I couldn't hear the track at all. It was great fun, but I think I end up having the most fun of all. Honking low A on Bari Sax and hearing them all scream is hilarious! Seeing them all grab their ears as I move up the Piccolo and, of course - SCREAM; too much fun.

SO, I have a few more to do this week and I love the Woodwind Demonstration Assemblies!

Funny note about these things.

It was a few years ago and I was asked to do the first Art Good Christmas Tour. 5 Artists, and we were supposed to help each other out to develop a show. We each had a segment to do by ourselves, and we could ask each other for help but needed to cover our time segment, pretty much alone. What does a sax player do when he has to play by himself? Tracks or.... ??

I had 30-40 minutes and was either first or second in the show (because I was a lesser name in the line up). I used Peter White and Diana Ditri for the closer, think I maybe had one other help before that, and then did the 30 minute kids show I mentioned above.

I had never done this for adults and had no idea if it would work, but it did. It was a huge success! Comments and buzz afterward just kept coming. Peter White was so impressed with my ability to play so many different instruments well, he hired me to play in his band and I toured and recorder with Peter for 6 years!!

All from a little kids show - that I love doing.

What Else???

Christmas at Saddleback.

This year is even crazier than usual. Fox News is taping and broadcasting the services 5 times, Armed Forces TV is broadcasting it to over 800,000 service men and women and we have our 13 services and 5 satellite services at the south county campus. A few rehearsals and a lot of music - we are going to have a great Christmas!!

Services start Friday Night - and go thru Saturday and all day and night Sunday. For service times - saddleback.com

I gotta get back to work here. Just wanted to post a sax player in December post to give some of you an idea what keeps a sax player busy this time of year.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

SAXBOY