Christmas pictures

Putting a few pictures on here from Christmas, mainly of hunting and hanging with the family.

It was amazing to get to go hunting, and then be fortunate enough to see deer, then even more fortunate to kill one deer, then even more fortunate to kill two. Now before you have PETA bustin' down my door and stuff, realize that down south hunting is a valued tradition. I used the deer for food. Thanked the good Lord for providing them to me and my family. Hunting allows me to clear my head and also to spend time with my brothers.

Enjoy.

Whew!

It's been a long time since I wrote something.

School is good, almost done. Life is good right now, busy but good. Got a lot to do between now and end of school: recital, audition, figuring out what I will be doing next year and getting that secured.

Made an audition tape for BLAST! a few days ago. The acting and free form movement is hilarious. I was so tired after making that tape.

Last semester was great, busy, but I feel like I made a lot of progress in many areas.

I met and became friends with a lot of new people

David and Katie Kellert-what can I say. They are two of the coolest, nicest, most fun, and talented people I have ever known. They have been so good to me, I owe them so much.

Janna Leigh-She is really cool, other than the fact she's from Tennessee. She the nicest car out of all my friends and is a ridiculous oboe/eng. horn player!

I am living with Dan Walshaw, it's a palace of Dan's. It has been really great so far. He's really cool. I knew it would work out well.

So much drama at school though. I just do my thing and leave, not getting into the middle of things.

People in the jazz department are alwasy vibing each other out. I HATE THAT! Why can't everyone just have fun, work hard, play together, and not act like their seven years old! I don't go up to people and say, I don't like the color shirt you're wearing, so I am not going to enjoy playing with you or ever play tunes with you.

Like one person complaining that they don't get to do stuff the want to do through their TA, and that the person that gave the TA is not being fair to them. I wanted to yell at him and say:
Me: Do you have a TA?
Him: Yes?
Me: Quit complaining and trying to bite the hand that feeds you. Take your money, complete your assigned tasks, end of story.

Alright, I said what I want to say.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz7LvCS1oXM

aturday, September 08, 2007

Busy Time flies when you are busy. School has started back, I decided to stay and finish, I was half way done, might as well finish. I am really just trying to focus on my studies. Come in practice, go to class/rehearsals and leave. I am definitely not wanting to get caught up in all the crap at school. I am playing a bunch. Learning bass clarinet and playing that in concert band. Bass cl. is super fun, I highly recommend it. Lessons with Chris V are good, he gives a lot of work. I think I am making good advances in my playing, which is what I wanted to do. My flute playing is getting better, slowly but surely. It is highly dissapointing however, to go to a school that values the outward appearance of the school more than what actually goes on inside the school and how the students are treated. Enough about the messed up ways of the UMD school of music, their ways will come back to bite them sooner or later. I am playing Dreamgirls(Musical) which is going well. It's a fun show. Anyway, I need to hit the 'shed.(Practice-for you non hip folks) GO DAWGS, BEAT THE GAMECOCKS! Once a Dawg, always a Dawg, how sweet it is!

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Website is up! www.danielpuckett.com Go to it, check it out, let me know what you think! Saturday, April 21, 2007 Decision/opinions wanted Current mood: caffinated So it's been a long time since I posted a blog. School and gigs have kept me super busy. I am about to have to make a super difficult life decision and would appreciate anyone's opinion/advice on this. Basically, if I don't get a full assistantship in the fall I can't stay and finish my degree at UMD. I really hate to leave, because I really like studying with Dale, and Gerry Kunkel is the man. Brad Linde has also helped out a lot and I owe him big time. But I was basically promised a scholarship or work study program, and was ultimately lied to my face about this. I turned down almost a full ride from South Carolina to study with Cliff Leaman and Bert Ligon, two individuals that I respect very much. I also turned down a decent scholarship offer at the University of Northern Colorado and Andrew Dahlke who is a fantastic player and teacher. UNC played at IAJE this year, and have a well respected jazz program. You can see why I am not happy with my financial situation here. I borrowed way more money this year than I wanted to and I am not going to do that next year. It would be one thing if I was slacking, not practicing, not doing well in my classes, but I am working hard. It may not be evident in my progress but I am. I feel like I have improved many areas in my playing, esp. jazz,doubling, and classical saxophone. I am starting to get a lot of students and gigs. I have gigs lined up all the way through August if I stay. I plan on taking doubling lessons with Ed Walters over the summer and jazz lessons with Paul Carr if I can stay here over the summer. That's gonna be jam up. If I can't get the money I am going to go back to GA and get a teaching job and teach for several (3 or 4) years until I pay off every penny that I owe and then go back to school. I am definitely going to get a master's degree. I am just afraid that I am not going to be able to keep up my playing, and I really love playing/teaching. It's my life! While there has been a lot of crap here at UMD, that I have had to wade through, I have learned a lot here, and feel I have improved, and I want to continue on that path. I am just gonna have to trust that God has a plan for me and will allow me to stay and finish the degree. I wouldn't even mind staying in the area and maybe getting established here. Who knows? Anyway, your advice/opinions would be greatly appreciated in this. Thanks PS If you don't own Barry Harris-Listen to Barry Harris, Stop what you are doing and go buy the album, it will change your life and your views on music. It has mine!

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Jazz vs. Classical Current mood: productive This week has been a little better. I have been busy. I am trying to practice more, but it's been tough. Dale wants me to play the Dahl Concerto which is tough as nails, but I am trying to work my way through it. I think though I am starting to realize that I am not enjoying classical saxophone like I used to. I am pretty sure that playing jazz makes me happy, and shouldn't you do what makes you happy? I kind of want to put away classical saxophone for a couple of years and just focus on jazz, and getting better at doubling. I would like to come back to classical at some point, but not right now. I think that I am just burnt out on classical saxophone. I have been listening to Dave Holland's Extended Play Live at Birdland, with Chris Potter, non stop. I can't get enough Chris Potter. Potter is a true master of the horn and a true improviser. He is definitely an original voice in jazz, and I love his ideas. High Wire is probably my favorite solo on the album. Put right now I am listening to Sinta play the Dahl, and it's pretty ridiculous. He has a great sound. Until next time, peace out. DP

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Yo Haven't written in this thing for a while. Everything is going well. I am staying busy. I am trying to practice as much as possible, but with work and school, it gets tough. I am going to try and take a Navy Band audition soon though. I have to play Coltrane 26-2 and Stella in all 12 keys. I also have to play some legit stuff but I am not too worried about that. I have been trying to get into the word of God more, but I haven't been doing a great job, so pray that I will get on track I have been really thinking about not coming back to school next year. I am realizing that I don't need a master's degree to play well, I need to practice! The degree means nothing if you can't play your horn well! If I can find some work that pays well and isn't time consuming so that I can practice I may take it. Also I don't want to be in debt like crazy when I finish my degree. I am not going to spend years upon years paying off student loans. So let me know what you think, should I finish the degree regardless, finish only if I get some money, or try and get a playing gig that will allow me to practice as much as possible? Oh, my folks are doing well. My dad got a sweet new job, and quit smoking! My brother got a new truck, and my folks sold our house! Peace

Thursday, September 07, 2006

Takin a break Hope everyone is doing well! I am just takin' a break from practicin' some flute, so I thought I would post a blog. School is going well. I am really enjoying school here. It's a lot better than UGA so far. I do miss my friends though. I am playing second tenor in the big band, which is fun. The band is real solid from top to bottom. I am playing principal saxophone in wind ensemble which I cool. I really worked hard on the audition music and had a good audition, and I enjoyed the first rehearsal, which was run by the assistant conductor of the President's Own Marine Band. I am playing in the top jazz combo. It's going to be fun. We are doing some challenging tunes, which is good. On the classical side I am doing the Creston Concerto, which I am going to do for the concerto competition at UMD and the National Symphony. I am transcribing Dexter Gordon's Cheesecake off of Go! If you don't own this album shame on you, go buy it today, I mean right now! I am trying to practice as much as possible. I want to keep getting better at my classical stuff, while blowing my jazz chops through the roof. Anyway, hope everyone has a good Thursday and Friday. Later. DP

Monday, August 28, 2006

The Story of My Life Current mood: irritated Latest e-mail on Marketing Assistantship: Daniel: Thank you for your interest. It was wonderful to meet you. Unfortunately, we have offered the position to another applicant. Can't I catch a break? I am seriously wondering if I made the right choice coming to school here? It seems as though nothing is going my way lately. I realized that I am taking out more money for one year of school than I did my whole undergrad career. Guess there's just one thing to do: Practice my butt off and show them who they are messin' with! If they won't give me money next year, I'll go elsewhere. I refuse to let them push me around on this. I am going to be successful, if not here then somewhere else. Anyway, had entrance tests today. Theory went ok, history was rough. I have to work from 3-5, then training from 6-8, then I need play some, because I have an audition tomorrow at 2:54. Anyway, take it easy folks.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Week in Review I thought I had posted a blog from last week, but it didn't make it. Oh well. Anyway, the week was pretty good. I did a good of practicing. I think my wind ensemble audition is going to be fine. I am going to audition for a wedding band that pays well. I have to play some Billy Joel solos and other pop solos, which shouldnt' be too hard to learn. I am and I am not looking forward to starting school. I would rather be taking more jazz classes, but what can you do? I guess I'll learn as much as I can here. I am looking forward to beginning big band and combos and wind ensemble. I think they are going to be fun. I think once I get some more money I am going to take another lesson with Paul Carr. He really has some good insight into playing and I am really looking forward to another lesson. I am missing the folks from Athens, love you guys. I miss hanging out with everybody, but you must grow up at some point. So Athenians, enjoy the time while it lasts, I know I sure did. Catch you guys later.

Previous blogs

Wednesday, August 09, 2006

1st post! Current mood: determined This is my first blog on myspace, so enjoy! I have officially moved to Maryland, for those of you that didn't know. My address is 3416 Tulane Dr. #11 Hyattsville, MD 20783 So send me some mail! My roomate is great. Couldn't of asked for a better roomate to share an apt with, other than the Oak Park guys! I have been busy practicing, and I started workin' in the Performing Arts Center on Monday. It's ok, I wish I was teachin' lessons,but you do you what you can. I had a lesson tonight with Paul Carr, a local jazz saxophonist. He is a freakin' beast of a player. He slapped me around and then showed me exactly what I needed to do in order to learn jazz. He has like 3 students in NYC at Julliard right now, so he knows what he's talking about. Now it's up to me to 'shed like crazy and put the good hours in on the horn. I want to be a smokin' player and I know that if I work hard and believe it then it will happen. Catch ya'll later, got to rest up, I have to work the Mrs. Nigeria paegant tomorrow. Peace

welcome

Hey everyone, this is my first post in this new blog. I have been really wanting to start one to have some where to chronicle things to happen in my life, both good and bad. So enjoy