This week's post is about a very good friend, mentor, and teacher of mine who passed away last summer. I first met Brian in August of 2001 when he became the band director at Ocoee Middle School. I was very involved in band that year, playing in concert band, jazz band, and pep band, which gave me a lot of opportunities to learn from Mr. Gallaher. My favorite memory from this time is of Brian playing an improve solo on every instrument (drums, piano, saxophone, and even trombone) to encourage us to give soloing a shot.
When I left OMS to head to Walker Valley I was lucky that I was still able to interact with Brian. He was very involved in the marching band at WV, working every day at band camp and attending almost every after school rehearsal during the year. Brian taught us so much during our time at WV. He even taught us how to dance (every year he was the one who took the dance from Mrs. Hunt and demonstrated it for the band). I will always remember the time that Brian was showing the trumpets the proper way to execute a "Horn's Up". He grabbed a student's horn and proceeded to execute the move. As he did so the student's mouthpiece came flying towards him and nailed him in the chest. This was also the time when he taught us that you should give your mouthpiece a quarter turn in the receiver to prevent it from flying out, after we all stopped laughing.
During my time at Lee I had several different interactions with Brian. From working along side him at band camp to playing in Jazz Ensemble together, there were many opportunities to learn from Brian. The most important lesson Brian ever taught me came from this time of our relationship. While we were in Jazz Ensemble together we were asked to have weekly sectionals to work on our parts as a section. The problem with this was going to be finding a time that four college students and a teacher had free at the same time. Initially I told Brian that I didn't need him at the sectionals, let's face it I wasn't worried about him being able to play his part. However he wanted to be there so we ended up settling on a time during the school day. The four college students would go over to OMS during Brian's lunch hour and we would go through our music in his band room. I later found out that Brian gave up his lunch hour everyday so he could practice his trumpet. This allowed him to spend his evenings with his family instead of practicing all night for his degree. The importance he placed on family is something I have tried to emulate since becoming a dad.
I, along with so many others, will always remember the things Brian taught me, about music and about life. He was a great example of a Godly man who is truly missed. I encourage anyone reading this to attend the Gala for Gallaher tomorrow evening, January 22, 2016 at Lee University as we celebrate his legacy.
Today's video is of the Southeast Trumpet Connection playing at Lee University's Music Camp a few years ago. This was one of the many opportunities I had to play along side Brian.
When I left OMS to head to Walker Valley I was lucky that I was still able to interact with Brian. He was very involved in the marching band at WV, working every day at band camp and attending almost every after school rehearsal during the year. Brian taught us so much during our time at WV. He even taught us how to dance (every year he was the one who took the dance from Mrs. Hunt and demonstrated it for the band). I will always remember the time that Brian was showing the trumpets the proper way to execute a "Horn's Up". He grabbed a student's horn and proceeded to execute the move. As he did so the student's mouthpiece came flying towards him and nailed him in the chest. This was also the time when he taught us that you should give your mouthpiece a quarter turn in the receiver to prevent it from flying out, after we all stopped laughing.
During my time at Lee I had several different interactions with Brian. From working along side him at band camp to playing in Jazz Ensemble together, there were many opportunities to learn from Brian. The most important lesson Brian ever taught me came from this time of our relationship. While we were in Jazz Ensemble together we were asked to have weekly sectionals to work on our parts as a section. The problem with this was going to be finding a time that four college students and a teacher had free at the same time. Initially I told Brian that I didn't need him at the sectionals, let's face it I wasn't worried about him being able to play his part. However he wanted to be there so we ended up settling on a time during the school day. The four college students would go over to OMS during Brian's lunch hour and we would go through our music in his band room. I later found out that Brian gave up his lunch hour everyday so he could practice his trumpet. This allowed him to spend his evenings with his family instead of practicing all night for his degree. The importance he placed on family is something I have tried to emulate since becoming a dad.
I, along with so many others, will always remember the things Brian taught me, about music and about life. He was a great example of a Godly man who is truly missed. I encourage anyone reading this to attend the Gala for Gallaher tomorrow evening, January 22, 2016 at Lee University as we celebrate his legacy.
Today's video is of the Southeast Trumpet Connection playing at Lee University's Music Camp a few years ago. This was one of the many opportunities I had to play along side Brian.
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