MUSIC STUDENT WITH DREAMS OF TEACHING TAKES LEAD

Mt. Hood music student Michael Tran conducted a piece of music, “El Capitan,” in the Symphonic Band’s end-of-term concert on March 7, and grew his confidence along the way.

Last autumn, Tran, a second-year student, had talked to Symphonic Band Director Danielle Davey about college options to study music education and pursue his goals of becoming a high school band director, and the conversation sparked an idea in her. She wanted Tran to conduct one of the Symphonic Band’s songs during Winter Term.

Davey picked “El Capitan,” a march, and Tran got to work studying it.

“She’s been working with me, giving me conducting lessons, and I’ve been leading the rehearsals with her standing in the back just making sure I’m doing the right thing,” he said.

Tran explained that before this term, he didn’t know how to effectively and comfortably communicate in front of a large group of people. But, he said, “As the term kept going, I just got better at knowing what I wanted to say.”

One of the hardest things he’s trying to learn is how to get the band musicians to feel what he feels in relation to the song.

“Since it’s a march, I try to be more rigid, but also try to tell a story with the song. So, when I’m in front of the band I’m trying to express what I think of the song with them,” he said.

While one might assume that missing out practice time due to February snow closures would add more pressure in preparing for the concerts, Tran said the lost days worked in his favor.

“It freed up my schedule so I could sit at home and rehearse on my own, so I could be prepared for the next time we met,” he said.

When he’s not standing in front of the band, Tran is playing saxophone in it. He plays all levels of the saxophone, and also knows clarinet, bassoon, and a bit of piano because it’s a required course in the MHCC music program.

He’s taken these skills and is already finding real-world use for them, and creating opportunities for himself as well as other Mt. Hood music students. For example, he started a small jazz group which now plays at his workplace, Wall Street Pizza, every other week.

“We play jazz arrangements of video game (songs),” he said. “We’re called ‘Studio Hood.’ It’s a vague tribute to Mt. Hood, because we’re all Mt. Hood students.”

The other MHCC students in the group are Martin Lemon, Maya Brown, Max Mitchell, Bahr Trayhorn, Frankie Bryant, and Anna Meyer.

Tran also runs a music-focused YouTube channel where he plays anime covers.

“Right now, my life is pretty much just centered around music,” he noted.

While the Winter Term is coming to a close, Tran is already discussing the idea of arranging a piece for the Symphonic Band or maybe directing another song again, but either way, it’s safe to say he’ll be keeping busy with music in every aspect of his life.

To keep up with Studio Hood, look for them on all major social media platforms @studiohood1.