I came here 22 years ago to the RNC mmm as a student and I came here with the
as a student and I came here with the
as a student and I came here with the sole intention of becoming a horn player
sole intention of becoming a horn player
sole intention of becoming a horn player that’s all I had wanted to do since
that’s all I had wanted to do since
that’s all I had wanted to do since about the age of 14 it’s all I could do
about the age of 14 it’s all I could do
about the age of 14 it’s all I could do it’s what I needed to do and there was
it’s what I needed to do and there was
it’s what I needed to do and there was not one question no doubt in my mind
not one question no doubt in my mind
not one question no doubt in my mind that that is what I was going to do and
that that is what I was going to do and
that that is what I was going to do and I did it it wasn’t straightforward you
I did it it wasn’t straightforward you
I did it it wasn’t straightforward you know they were failings disasters
know they were failings disasters
know they were failings disasters humiliations along the way but I did it
humiliations along the way but I did it
humiliations along the way but I did it I left college I freelance for a while
I left college I freelance for a while
I left college I freelance for a while and then I achieved that holy grail of
and then I achieved that holy grail of
and then I achieved that holy grail of orchestral ambition and I got a job I
orchestral ambition and I got a job I
orchestral ambition and I got a job I got a job in the Hal a here in
got a job in the Hal a here in
got a job in the Hal a here in Manchester and I loved it
Manchester and I loved it
Manchester and I loved it I loved every single minute of it and I
I loved every single minute of it and I
I loved every single minute of it and I would have stayed there forever had it
would have stayed there forever had it
would have stayed there forever had it not been for one of my character flaws
not been for one of my character flaws
not been for one of my character flaws and that is that I have to say yes
and that is that I have to say yes
and that is that I have to say yes because yes always leads to the unknown
because yes always leads to the unknown
because yes always leads to the unknown to wonder and to adventure you never
to wonder and to adventure you never
to wonder and to adventure you never know where yes we’ll take you it’s not
know where yes we’ll take you it’s not
know where yes we’ll take you it’s not always good it’s not always a happy
always good it’s not always a happy
always good it’s not always a happy ending but it’s always interesting so
ending but it’s always interesting so
ending but it’s always interesting so all the while I was playing I was being
all the while I was playing I was being
all the while I was playing I was being asked to do other things you want to
asked to do other things you want to
asked to do other things you want to teach yeah I mean that was obvious I
teach yeah I mean that was obvious I
teach yeah I mean that was obvious I love teaching I’d always wanted to that
love teaching I’d always wanted to that
love teaching I’d always wanted to that made sense do you want to do some
made sense do you want to do some
made sense do you want to do some education work yes so on my days off in
education work yes so on my days off in
education work yes so on my days off in the orchestra I’d find myself sitting on
the orchestra I’d find myself sitting on
the orchestra I’d find myself sitting on the floor with 36 7 year-olds banging
the floor with 36 7 year-olds banging
the floor with 36 7 year-olds banging out rhythms on our laps changing the
out rhythms on our laps changing the
out rhythms on our laps changing the dynamic of a class sometimes changing
dynamic of a class sometimes changing
dynamic of a class sometimes changing the dynamic of a community sometimes
the dynamic of a community sometimes
the dynamic of a community sometimes just creating for the sake of creativity
just creating for the sake of creativity
just creating for the sake of creativity and each time realizing that that was
and each time realizing that that was
and each time realizing that that was changing lives now from that I was asked
changing lives now from that I was asked
changing lives now from that I was asked to do more I was asked to present a
to do more I was asked to present a
to do more I was asked to present a concert you want to do that yeah it was
concert you want to do that yeah it was
concert you want to do that yeah it was a school’s concert and it just kept
a school’s concert and it just kept
a school’s concert and it just kept growing from there a school’s concert
growing from there a school’s concert
growing from there a school’s concert led to a family concert led to a Pops
led to a family concert led to a Pops
led to a family concert led to a Pops concert for adults and eventually
concert for adults and eventually
concert for adults and eventually leading to working as a broadcaster
leading to working as a broadcaster
leading to working as a broadcaster hosting live concerts on the radio now I
hosting live concerts on the radio now I
hosting live concerts on the radio now I never meant any of that to happen
never meant any of that to happen
never meant any of that to happen it was all an accident of saying yes I
it was all an accident of saying yes I
it was all an accident of saying yes I was a home play this other stuff just
was a home play this other stuff just
was a home play this other stuff just seemed to take place it just kind of
seemed to take place it just kind of
seemed to take place it just kind of snowballed but what I realized is
snowballed but what I realized is
snowballed but what I realized is increasingly that side of my work was as
increasingly that side of my work was as
increasingly that side of my work was as important as that thing that coiled up
important as that thing that coiled up
important as that thing that coiled up piece of metal and that was a shock
piece of metal and that was a shock
piece of metal and that was a shock because my heart had always been a horn
because my heart had always been a horn
because my heart had always been a horn player and ultimately I’d reached a
player and ultimately I’d reached a
player and ultimately I’d reached a point where I couldn’t carry on doing
point where I couldn’t carry on doing
point where I couldn’t carry on doing both lots of work I was going to burn
both lots of work I was going to burn
both lots of work I was going to burn out I didn’t have the space the time to
out I didn’t have the space the time to
out I didn’t have the space the time to do everything the way I wanted to I was
do everything the way I wanted to I was
do everything the way I wanted to I was doing it well but it wasn’t right so I
doing it well but it wasn’t right so I
doing it well but it wasn’t right so I had to step back
had to step back
had to step back I had to assess I had to work out what
I had to assess I had to work out what
I had to assess I had to work out what to do so the Hammond couldn’t have been
to do so the Hammond couldn’t have been
to do so the Hammond couldn’t have been more supportive they gave me a
more supportive they gave me a
more supportive they gave me a sabbatical I took 12 months to go and
sabbatical I took 12 months to go and
sabbatical I took 12 months to go and think about things work out what I was
think about things work out what I was
think about things work out what I was going to do in these other directions
going to do in these other directions
going to do in these other directions now with the theme of their unknown of
now with the theme of their unknown of
now with the theme of their unknown of stepping into the unknown did you know
stepping into the unknown did you know
stepping into the unknown did you know this would be the obvious point to talk
this would be the obvious point to talk
this would be the obvious point to talk about these other career paths but they
about these other career paths but they
about these other career paths but they weren’t unknown they were organic they
weren’t unknown they were organic they
weren’t unknown they were organic they were just constantly in motion and I’d
were just constantly in motion and I’d
were just constantly in motion and I’d been doing them for quite a long time
been doing them for quite a long time
been doing them for quite a long time when I reached this point the unknown
when I reached this point the unknown
when I reached this point the unknown the most difficult thing I had to do was
the most difficult thing I had to do was
the most difficult thing I had to do was to stop playing the horn that thing has
to stop playing the horn that thing has
to stop playing the horn that thing has been my companion since I was nine years
been my companion since I was nine years
been my companion since I was nine years old for three-quarters of my life I have
old for three-quarters of my life I have
old for three-quarters of my life I have played that instrument and worn it like
played that instrument and worn it like
played that instrument and worn it like a badge Tom the horn player and I wore
a badge Tom the horn player and I wore
a badge Tom the horn player and I wore that band with pride I love that
that band with pride I love that
that band with pride I love that association now any instrumentalists
association now any instrumentalists
association now any instrumentalists will say that their instrument is a
will say that their instrument is a
will say that their instrument is a looking glass into their soul and it is
looking glass into their soul and it is
looking glass into their soul and it is it is a vehicle for expression to put
it is a vehicle for expression to put
it is a vehicle for expression to put into sound what you cannot say with
into sound what you cannot say with
into sound what you cannot say with words because that’s what music is and I
words because that’s what music is and I
words because that’s what music is and I still love doing it you know in the horn
still love doing it you know in the horn
still love doing it you know in the horn is such a powerful such an intimate
is such a powerful such an intimate
is such a powerful such an intimate instrument you know you hold it like
instrument you know you hold it like
instrument you know you hold it like this your hand inside you feel the
this your hand inside you feel the
this your hand inside you feel the warmth of the air the vibration of the
warmth of the air the vibration of the
warmth of the air the vibration of the notes the resonance in your chest you
notes the resonance in your chest you
notes the resonance in your chest you hold this thing against your lips for
hold this thing against your lips for
hold this thing against your lips for six hours every day and I had to stop I
six hours every day and I had to stop I
six hours every day and I had to stop I had to step away because I simply didn’t
had to step away because I simply didn’t
had to step away because I simply didn’t have the time to do this other work as
have the time to do this other work as
have the time to do this other work as effectively as creatively as I wanted it
effectively as creatively as I wanted it
effectively as creatively as I wanted it was the most difficult thing the most
was the most difficult thing the most
was the most difficult thing the most liberating and the most revelatory thing
liberating and the most revelatory thing
liberating and the most revelatory thing I’ve done in this whole extraordinary
I’ve done in this whole extraordinary
I’ve done in this whole extraordinary journey liberating because though I am
journey liberating because though I am
journey liberating because though I am proud to be defined by that instrument
proud to be defined by that instrument
proud to be defined by that instrument there is a negative that goes with it as
there is a negative that goes with it as
there is a negative that goes with it as well because as a musician you know when
well because as a musician you know when
well because as a musician you know when we make a mistake on our instrument we
we make a mistake on our instrument we
we make a mistake on our instrument we think that reflects on us you know as a
think that reflects on us you know as a
think that reflects on us you know as a horn player you know we split notes and
horn player you know we split notes and
horn player you know we split notes and you go home with that burning inside
you go home with that burning inside
you go home with that burning inside that self-loathing the hatred the shame
that self-loathing the hatred the shame
that self-loathing the hatred the shame that comes with that mistake and I
that comes with that mistake and I
that comes with that mistake and I hadn’t realized how heavily that’s set
hadn’t realized how heavily that’s set
hadn’t realized how heavily that’s set upon me so to walk away from those
upon me so to walk away from those
upon me so to walk away from those feelings that was liberating the
feelings that was liberating the
feelings that was liberating the revelation came when I realized how to
revelation came when I realized how to
revelation came when I realized how to listen which sounds odd you know I had
listen which sounds odd you know I had
listen which sounds odd you know I had worked in a profession for 15 years
worked in a profession for 15 years
worked in a profession for 15 years where listening is such a key part of it
where listening is such a key part of it
where listening is such a key part of it but I was going to present concerts on
but I was going to present concerts on
but I was going to present concerts on the radio where orchestras were
the radio where orchestras were
the radio where orchestras were performing music that I had played 20 30
performing music that I had played 20 30
performing music that I had played 20 30 40 times and yet I had never really
40 times and yet I had never really
40 times and yet I had never really heard I knew how it went I knew how it
heard I knew how it went I knew how it
heard I knew how it went I knew how it worked
worked
worked music had always moved me but I had
music had always moved me but I had
music had always moved me but I had never passively consumed it I was always
never passively consumed it I was always
never passively consumed it I was always actively involved in the performance the
actively involved in the performance the
actively involved in the performance the creation of it and I was amazed at how
creation of it and I was amazed at how
creation of it and I was amazed at how much it moved me and I was increasingly
much it moved me and I was increasingly
much it moved me and I was increasingly aware of the effect it had on other
aware of the effect it had on other
aware of the effect it had on other people as well more than I had allowed
people as well more than I had allowed
people as well more than I had allowed myself to realize before I also started
myself to realize before I also started
myself to realize before I also started to be aware of those incredible skills
to be aware of those incredible skills
to be aware of those incredible skills that we as musicians have musicians that
that we as musicians have musicians that
that we as musicians have musicians that we don’t always think about that work on
we don’t always think about that work on
we don’t always think about that work on the subconscious those skills that allow
the subconscious those skills that allow
the subconscious those skills that allow us to perform things like rhythm and
us to perform things like rhythm and
us to perform things like rhythm and pulse listening and adjusting skills
pulse listening and adjusting skills
pulse listening and adjusting skills that everyone else in the world looks
that everyone else in the world looks
that everyone else in the world looks upon with awe and envy I work with
upon with awe and envy I work with
upon with awe and envy I work with business leaders who are fascinated by
business leaders who are fascinated by
business leaders who are fascinated by the functionality of the orchestra the
the functionality of the orchestra the
the functionality of the orchestra the way we work as a team the layers of
way we work as a team the layers of
way we work as a team the layers of leadership that go in to performance and
leadership that go in to performance and
leadership that go in to performance and we have these skills in abundance but
we have these skills in abundance but
we have these skills in abundance but they operate just so far below the radar
they operate just so far below the radar
they operate just so far below the radar we don’t always know them now at the end
we don’t always know them now at the end
we don’t always know them now at the end of this sort of detachment I realized I
of this sort of detachment I realized I
of this sort of detachment I realized I had to play I needed it I needed those
had to play I needed it I needed those
had to play I needed it I needed those feelings positive and negative because
feelings positive and negative because
feelings positive and negative because they are inside me they are Who I am but
they are inside me they are Who I am but
they are inside me they are Who I am but I couldn’t go back to being in the
I couldn’t go back to being in the
I couldn’t go back to being in the orchestra all the time I had to leave
orchestra all the time I had to leave
orchestra all the time I had to leave and I now sort of broadly speaking can
and I now sort of broadly speaking can
and I now sort of broadly speaking can buy my time playing and teaching
buy my time playing and teaching
buy my time playing and teaching creating and presenting but what evenly
creating and presenting but what evenly
creating and presenting but what evenly balanced but the thing that binds all of
balanced but the thing that binds all of
balanced but the thing that binds all of that
that
that together is a need to communicate more
together is a need to communicate more
together is a need to communicate more effectively more efficiently what music
effectively more efficiently what music
effectively more efficiently what music is and how we can let it change us if we
is and how we can let it change us if we
is and how we can let it change us if we allow it now a few years ago my eldest
allow it now a few years ago my eldest
allow it now a few years ago my eldest brother Ian who is a hugely respected
brother Ian who is a hugely respected
brother Ian who is a hugely respected conservationist gave a TED talk on his
conservationist gave a TED talk on his
conservationist gave a TED talk on his two passions gorillas and elephants it
two passions gorillas and elephants it
two passions gorillas and elephants it was called the Gardeners of the forest
was called the Gardeners of the forest
was called the Gardeners of the forest elephants are interesting you know they
elephants are interesting you know they
elephants are interesting you know they spend their entire time eating and
spend their entire time eating and
spend their entire time eating and everywhere they go to eat they create
everywhere they go to eat they create
everywhere they go to eat they create furrows in the ground they dig up the
furrows in the ground they dig up the
furrows in the ground they dig up the ground with their feet their trunks
ground with their feet their trunks
ground with their feet their trunks their tusks and you know they have a
their tusks and you know they have a
their tusks and you know they have a diet rich in roughage they poop they poo
diet rich in roughage they poop they poo
diet rich in roughage they poop they poo a lot great big grow bags of poo rich
a lot great big grow bags of poo rich
a lot great big grow bags of poo rich fertile poo full of seeds so everywhere
fertile poo full of seeds so everywhere
fertile poo full of seeds so everywhere an elephant goes it creates life it
an elephant goes it creates life it
an elephant goes it creates life it creates life in its own ecosystem
creates life in its own ecosystem
creates life in its own ecosystem preserving the place it lives and we as
preserving the place it lives and we as
preserving the place it lives and we as musicians could learn from that you know
musicians could learn from that you know
musicians could learn from that you know there are many parallels between my
there are many parallels between my
there are many parallels between my Lanier’s careers he works with
Lanier’s careers he works with
Lanier’s careers he works with endangered species that are critically
endangered species that are critically
endangered species that are critically endangered mine musicians more cause for
endangered mine musicians more cause for
endangered mine musicians more cause for concern but that idea of planting seeds
concern but that idea of planting seeds
concern but that idea of planting seeds everywhere we go is vital to our own
everywhere we go is vital to our own
everywhere we go is vital to our own ecosystem our own environment that we
ecosystem our own environment that we
ecosystem our own environment that we should be able to create seeds of wonder
should be able to create seeds of wonder
should be able to create seeds of wonder of curiosity of possibility of ambition
of curiosity of possibility of ambition
of curiosity of possibility of ambition in everything that we do but how do that
in everything that we do but how do that
in everything that we do but how do that well obviously first we have to perform
well obviously first we have to perform
well obviously first we have to perform we have to play because that’s what
we have to play because that’s what
we have to play because that’s what music is best you know and we have to
music is best you know and we have to
music is best you know and we have to never lose sight as a musician how much
never lose sight as a musician how much
never lose sight as a musician how much that can affect people I always consider
that can affect people I always consider
that can affect people I always consider myself a fairly unblinking musician but
myself a fairly unblinking musician but
myself a fairly unblinking musician but it turned out I wasn’t I had lost sight
it turned out I wasn’t I had lost sight
it turned out I wasn’t I had lost sight of the life-changing possibilities of
of the life-changing possibilities of
of the life-changing possibilities of music simply to hear it
music simply to hear it
music simply to hear it but the other thing that we can do
but the other thing that we can do
but the other thing that we can do because performers is to draw on those
because performers is to draw on those
because performers is to draw on those key skills those core skills that we
key skills those core skills that we
key skills those core skills that we have inside us of pulse and rhythm to
have inside us of pulse and rhythm to
have inside us of pulse and rhythm to bring people together to change people
bring people together to change people
bring people together to change people because music can I mean take something
because music can I mean take something
because music can I mean take something as simple as a pulse you know if I just
as simple as a pulse you know if I just
as simple as a pulse you know if I just had a pulse like this on the floor
had a pulse like this on the floor
had a pulse like this on the floor and all of you felt that pulse as well
and all of you felt that pulse as well
and all of you felt that pulse as well and you were suddenly compelled to stand
and you were suddenly compelled to stand
and you were suddenly compelled to stand up you were compelled to stand up
and you felt that pulse just on the
and you felt that pulse just on the floor like that it’s there isn’t it it’s
floor like that it’s there isn’t it it’s
floor like that it’s there isn’t it it’s inside us
inside us
inside us what makes us human we all have a pulse
what makes us human we all have a pulse
what makes us human we all have a pulse there’s the pulse
there’s the pulse
there’s the pulse now if we took that pulse we’ll get out
now if we took that pulse we’ll get out
now if we took that pulse we’ll get out of rhythm simple rhythm your own name so
of rhythm simple rhythm your own name so
of rhythm simple rhythm your own name so just with two fingers on your hand tap
just with two fingers on your hand tap
just with two fingers on your hand tap meet the rhythm of your name mine is
meet the rhythm of your name mine is
meet the rhythm of your name mine is simple it’s just Tom red red your name
simple it’s just Tom red red your name
simple it’s just Tom red red your name your rhythm go get loud whole hands
now take that rhythm this time use your
now take that rhythm this time use your whole bodies use the floor use your legs
whole bodies use the floor use your legs
whole bodies use the floor use your legs use your chest use your hand get that
use your chest use your hand get that
use your chest use your hand get that rhythm through your bodies and go
[Applause]
[Applause] good pulse now vocalize them use your
good pulse now vocalize them use your
good pulse now vocalize them use your voices any sound that rhythm bah bah bah
voices any sound that rhythm bah bah bah
voices any sound that rhythm bah bah bah bah stop body percussion this side carry
bah stop body percussion this side carry
bah stop body percussion this side carry on this side vocalize
”
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