Welcome to my new blog

An enlightening photo of the author at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

When I was in first grade in Pleasant Hills, PA (a suburb of Pittsburgh), there was a bit of doggerel that made the rounds. "It's about time. It's about place. It's about time to slap your face!" What happened next is predictable, but it didn't end badly as often as you might think. This distant memory returned as I write this, my very first blog, and it seemed a fun way to begin.

It is about time. Time to join the blogosphere. Time to share my ideas. Time to respond to some questions, perhaps. 

But it won't be much about place, and all slapping is out of the question (except for bass players).

It will be about music. About my music, since I compose music, and also about the music of others. About my experiences as a musician. About my teaching. About things I have learned and about things I want to learn. 

There are many areas of music that interest me -- too many to write them all -- but the following list will give you an idea of some of the topics I expect to explore:

• composing
• playing and teaching trumpet
• brass chamber music
• my compositions and publications
• my musical experiences and memories

I'm new to blogging, so I'll learn how to do it as I go along. Many people share my musical interests, and I hope some of you will join this site, or follow it, or do whatever it is that fans do. We'll have some fun.

My new Web site will launch soon, but that's another blog...

Dr. Ray