Trey Blaser

Hometown:  Forest City, IA
Major:  Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition
Hobbies:  Listening to music; playing chess; seeing friends; playing video games
Career Goals:  Achieve a master's degree as well as a doctorate in Music Theory/Composition (with a possible minor in conducting) after attaining my current degree, and become a composition/music theory professor at the university level
Favorite Trumpet Players:  Thad Jones & Roy Hargrove
Favorite Trumpet Recording: Halsey Stevens Sonata (Tom Stevens) and Robert Planel Concerto(Andre)
Favorite Food:  Pizza, Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, Mac & Cheese, Chicken, Apples, Sandwiches
Favorite Book:  Music related: Steal Like an Artist (Kleon); Non-music related: The Book of Joy (Lama, Tutu, Abrams)
Strangest Fact About Me: I wash my hands approximately 8-10 times a day (this isn't so much about avoiding germs but more to feel clean as I work at my computer)
Coolest/Oddest Musical Experience:  I have had some very cool musical experiences during my time at UNI. Two of my favorites included being able to travel outside the country for the first time with Jazz Band One on our tour to South Africa and hearing my own original music performed at a production through Theatre UNI - something that I would never have expected to happen
If you could create music with another musician (local, famous, dead/alive), who would it be and why?  I would have an incredible time making music (playing) with the current 8-Bit Big Band under Charlie Rosen. They have some really awesome arrangements of great video game tunes! If I were to compose with someone else, I would choose to collaborate with either my favorite composer Takashi Yoshimatsu, or Maurice Ravel. I love both of their music, and really appreciate how much character they include in their works!
What is the one thing that instantly makes your day better?  Having in-depth musical conversations during private lessons with the faculty is a part of my days that always makes them better. I always leave their offices feeling inspired and like my most musical self - which is a very neat feeling
What is your favorite random fact (NOT something about you)? We humans are able to smell the scent of rain 1000x better than a shark's ability to smell blood. This is my favorite fact because I learned it as I was holding a shark's dissected heart!
Why do you think it's important to teach the younger generation music? Not only is music an integral part of our culture that should always be kept up by those in the younger generation, but I also think it is an important topic to address with the younger generation as it is an extremely enjoyable, beneficial, and fulfilling process that allows one to express themselves in a multitude of ways. Music inherently has this beautiful sense of introspection that allows for anyone in the world to find music in which they enjoy, even if it doesn't necessarily confine with what may be typically liked by the average person. I think the younger generation deserves to be exposed to this expression and introspection sooner than later, because ultimately, teaching the younger generation about music is about more than just imparting musical skills. It's about nurturing well-rounded individuals with a deep appreciation for the arts, a strong sense of self, and the ability to connect with others on a profound level
What is the most unexpected thing you have learned while studying music?  Just how much of it there is in the world! Growing up in a community that was fairly consistent with the kind of music that would be played and talked about led me to believe that music as a whole wasn't really all that vast or important, and I had quickly decided for myself what I did and didn't like based on these preconceived notions. I learned fairly quickly at UNI that there is so much more out there than I could have imagined! I found out that I enjoy so many more genres and sounds of music than I knew even existed, and I would never have come to hear this music had I been content letting myself remain complacent with the kind of music I listened to
Search