𝓙𝓲𝓶 𝓢𝓬𝓱𝓮𝓾𝓮𝓻

Would take too many posts here. A couple of real characters. And they both played well.

Judged solos & ensembles today at Black River Falls Middle School.
Lots of great kids, including two really good class C kids who will go down as some of my "most memorable characters".
#MusicEducationMatters

First day of solo & ensemble judging for this year was today at Whitehall High School.
Great kids and some excellent performances!
Yes, I got to judge in an auditorium.
#MusicEducationMatters

Yesterday was my 2nd day of evaluating High School State Honors auditions, this time at UW-Stevens Point. I got to listen to some percussionists, lots of saxes & clarinets, & (for the 1st time) a string bass player.
Lots of great kids that any teacher would love to work with.
#musiceducationmatters

"The only thing more powerful than hate is love."
"Together we are America."
Now I'm being told that these are divisive slogans, including claims that they are liberal "woke" concepts. And I've heard this from people who claim that they are Christians.
Have we really come to this point as a society?

And my 2026 music judging schedule begins.
Spent the day at UW-Eau Claire evaluating high school state honors auditions. I got to hear some wonderful percussion and brass students!
#MusicEducationMatters

As part of the Wisconsin Music Educators Association (WMEA) Capitol Conversations, I met with my state senator & assembly person the past 2 days to discuss issues of importance to music educators. Thanks to Senator James and Representative Hurd for taking time to meet with us.
#MusicEducationMatters

Music makes it better. #music #education #school #community #better

FFS. ICE is targeting Native Americans!

Magic happens.

'Tis the season.
This is for my fellow music theory geeks...

A world of wonder.

No. Just no...

(You'll only get it if you can read music pretty well.)

The TrumpMobileT1 phone turns out to be a T-Mobile Revvl 7 Pro, made in China. You can buy one of those for about $100 to $130, but Trump sold it to MAGA as "PROUDLY AMERICAN...designed with American values in mind" for the low, low price of....$499.
And I believe that they haven't shipped any yet.

Successful people.

I have created many arrangments for typical & non-typical combinations of band instruments. The link gives access to a chart that sorts them by size, instrumentation & difficulty (Wis.class A = most difficult) & details about all my works. All available from JWPepper
drive.google.com/drive/folder...

Celebrating my Dad on Veterans Day.
Enlisted in the Navy near the end of WWII. Served as part of the occupying forces in the Pacific after the war ended, including time on Guam. Was an electrician on the USS Antietam aircraft carrier. Part of his job involved climbing those towers while at sea.

God Rest Ye Merry Variations | J.W. Pepper A holiday Theme and Variations for Concert Band. This piece is appropriate for a very good high school band, or any level above, but is also written with smaller bands in mind. There are single parts ...

My “God Rest Ye Merry Variations” is a holiday concert band work that is a theme and variations based on God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. Fairly challenging for a good high school band.
www.jwpepper.com/god-rest-ye-...

High Barbaree | J.W. Pepper Traditional sea chantey (shanty) arranged for young brass choir. Minimum instrumentation of 2 Trumpets, 1 Horn, 1 Trombone or Euphonium and 1 Tuba. A treble clef euphonium part is included. Can also b...

A new piece for intermediate (Wis. class B level) brass choir. My arrangement of “High Barbaree”, an old sea chantey in 6/8 time. Playable by as few as five players (2 trumpets, horn, trombone or euphonium, and tuba), so also usable as a brass quintet.
www.jwpepper.com/high-barbare...

Life lessons.

Today's Republican party is no longer the party of Reagan and Bush.

No Kings, Marshfield WI

YouTube video by The Moody Blues - Topic Isn't Life Strange

R.I.P. #JohnLodge
Isn't Life Strange: probably my favorite of his MoodyBlues tunes. Heard them do it live at Summerfest sometime in the late 70s/early 80s.
Yeah, he's probably happy to be remembered as "just a singer in a rock and roll band"...(different song, I know)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXKP...