Handel Brothers Get A Handle On Musical Careers
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
When "Blast!" hits the Honeywell Center in Wabash March 20 and the South Bend Morris Civic Auditorium March 21-22, the show will include another Warsaw hometown boy.
The two Warsaw Community High School graduates also are brothers.
Jeff Handel, a 1995 WCHS graduate, is the percussionist for the Dallas Brass. Ben Handel, a 1998 WCHS graduate and percussionist, is on tour with the show "Blast!" They are the sons of Jake and Susan Handel, Warsaw.
Dallas Brass will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at the WCHS Performing Arts Center as part of the Dallas Brass "American Musical Journey." Tickets are $10, and can be purchased at the box office 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by calling 574-371-5040.
In an e-mail interview Monday, Jeff said he first got interested in music as a young child. He started piano lessons when he was 5, but his whole family sang, danced and listened to music growing up.
"I chose percussion because I always admired a babysitter that was a drummer, and he would never let me play his drums," e-mailed Jeff. "Also, we had a toy drum kit when I was a kid, and I just loved playing them. What I like most about percussion is the wide range of instruments I can choose from. There are percussion instruments in every culture around the world, and there is always a new technique to learn, and always something to get better at. Also, I love being the 'heartbeat' of the music."
Jeff said his earliest musical influences were his parents. He also cited his band directors, Mike Scheiber and Marty Becker, as being the guys who helped him start on the right path to a musical career.
"But Mickey Ratliff was really my first role model, and made me really start to love percussion, and realize the possibilities that there were in music," Jeff said.
After high school, Jeff attended Indiana University, Bloomington, where he studied music education and received his bachelor's degree in music education in 2000. In college, he said he participated in just about every ensemble that he could. He played in the Marching Hundred and later instructed and wrote music for the drumline.
"My first real professional job was probably teaching the Marching Hundred, although it was a school-based activity, the expectation and workload was definitely high," Jeff said. "I learned through that experience that I was expected to produce results regardless of what was going on in my regular life, and it really helped to build my work ethic. After two years of teaching the Marching Hundred Drumline and my first year of graduate school, though, I decided to leave the academic world behind, and joined what was my first professional playing job, touring with the first national tour of 'Blast!.' I learned through this experience that the world of music performance can be draining, and keeps you away from home, but I sure had a great time touring the world."
Ben also went to I.U. He graduated in 2003 because he took 1-1/2 years off to do "Blast!" The show closed on Broadway after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Ben then went back to school, earning a degree in telecommunications.
Ben rejoined "Blast!" in 2005 for a U.S. nine-month tour, he said in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon. Afterward, he moved to New York and performed in the show "Drumstruck" off-Broadway. He also performed in various band gigs while in the Big Apple.
Once his "Blast!" tour ended, Jeff ended up working at Target for 1-1/2 years. It wasn't long before he was yearning to play with his Indianapolis rock band, Peal, more than being at work.
"I hated every moment of working, yet was perfectly happy driving three hours to play a horrible gig for no money in some stinky club in Ohio. I soon realized that I needed to get back into playing music for a living. I just thrived on the rush of creating music, and being on stage," said Jeff.
He joined the Dallas Brass almost by chance.
During a "Blast!" show in Owensboro, Ky., Jeff met Dallas Brass leader Mike Levine.
"I wasn't in the cast, had recently moved to South Carolina, and was in the front row, when he started talking to me about the group, and that they were looking for a drummer. I didn't even give it a thought that I might be that guy. A week later, some friends in the cast had recommended me, told me about the details of the gig, and I found myself driving to Orlando to audition," according to Handel. "I saw the show, listened to their CDs, was extremely impressed, and one month later I was on tour with the guys recording another CD, and having a great time."
With the Dallas Brass, Jeff said he plays all types of instruments.
He said, "I enjoy the group because I get to explore all the areas that I enjoy. I get to play a variety of all percussion, and with the format of the show, I could bring in any type of music that I might like to play, and we could add it in. So the show takes advantage of all my strengths, while giving me a great chance to constantly improve on my weaknesses."
Jeff and Ben did a tour of "Blast!" in Japan together in summer 2007.
Ben said, "It was fantastic. We both had been with the show. We both had some seniority with the show."
Ben said it was really fun and great to have Jeff with him on the tour to look up to. "It was great to work with him, see him play," Ben said.
Ben will be in Warsaw Jan. 27 to see his brother perform. Jeff said he is looking forward to the Jan. 27 show in Warsaw.
"I'm excited to perform with Dallas Brass in Warsaw, just so people can see why I've been absent from so many hometown events since I left for college after high school," he said. "I imagine it will be fun to see a bunch of old friends, and have a chance to show the group my old stomping grounds."
But he won't be nervous, Jeff said. Just excited.
"I'm more excited to perform for and with my old directors rather than being nervous. I've found over time that being nervous just doesn't help me at all, and after performing for thousands of people around the world, I get more excited than nervous anymore. I try and convert any nervous feelings into positive energy that will help me," he said.
As part of the Dallas Brass' visit to Warsaw, the group will work with local middle and high school students, who also will perform with the Dallas Brass.
Handel offered some advice to them, saying, "The best advice I can give is to practice until you're tired, then practice about two more hours each day. Whatever you can do, there is always someone out there who can do it better, faster and stronger.
"What we have to do as musicians is establish strong relationships in the industry, and make sure the skills we can offer a group are diverse, unique and useful. Also, it helps to be a fun person to hang around with. Especially if you happen to be in a group that tours together 160+ days a year.
"The best thing about my career path has been that I have had a great deal of awesome opportunities, and have met a bunch of great people. The most difficult has been the times between gigs, waiting tables, trying to make ends meet. It's taken a lot of faith, a lot of guts, and a lot of work to make a living as a musician."
Ben, who played on Broadway at 21 years old, said he just looks forward to improving and making music.
"It's been a wild ride and I'm really lucky," Ben said.
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When "Blast!" hits the Honeywell Center in Wabash March 20 and the South Bend Morris Civic Auditorium March 21-22, the show will include another Warsaw hometown boy.
The two Warsaw Community High School graduates also are brothers.
Jeff Handel, a 1995 WCHS graduate, is the percussionist for the Dallas Brass. Ben Handel, a 1998 WCHS graduate and percussionist, is on tour with the show "Blast!" They are the sons of Jake and Susan Handel, Warsaw.
Dallas Brass will perform at 7 p.m. Jan. 27 at the WCHS Performing Arts Center as part of the Dallas Brass "American Musical Journey." Tickets are $10, and can be purchased at the box office 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by calling 574-371-5040.
In an e-mail interview Monday, Jeff said he first got interested in music as a young child. He started piano lessons when he was 5, but his whole family sang, danced and listened to music growing up.
"I chose percussion because I always admired a babysitter that was a drummer, and he would never let me play his drums," e-mailed Jeff. "Also, we had a toy drum kit when I was a kid, and I just loved playing them. What I like most about percussion is the wide range of instruments I can choose from. There are percussion instruments in every culture around the world, and there is always a new technique to learn, and always something to get better at. Also, I love being the 'heartbeat' of the music."
Jeff said his earliest musical influences were his parents. He also cited his band directors, Mike Scheiber and Marty Becker, as being the guys who helped him start on the right path to a musical career.
"But Mickey Ratliff was really my first role model, and made me really start to love percussion, and realize the possibilities that there were in music," Jeff said.
After high school, Jeff attended Indiana University, Bloomington, where he studied music education and received his bachelor's degree in music education in 2000. In college, he said he participated in just about every ensemble that he could. He played in the Marching Hundred and later instructed and wrote music for the drumline.
"My first real professional job was probably teaching the Marching Hundred, although it was a school-based activity, the expectation and workload was definitely high," Jeff said. "I learned through that experience that I was expected to produce results regardless of what was going on in my regular life, and it really helped to build my work ethic. After two years of teaching the Marching Hundred Drumline and my first year of graduate school, though, I decided to leave the academic world behind, and joined what was my first professional playing job, touring with the first national tour of 'Blast!.' I learned through this experience that the world of music performance can be draining, and keeps you away from home, but I sure had a great time touring the world."
Ben also went to I.U. He graduated in 2003 because he took 1-1/2 years off to do "Blast!" The show closed on Broadway after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Ben then went back to school, earning a degree in telecommunications.
Ben rejoined "Blast!" in 2005 for a U.S. nine-month tour, he said in a telephone interview Tuesday afternoon. Afterward, he moved to New York and performed in the show "Drumstruck" off-Broadway. He also performed in various band gigs while in the Big Apple.
Once his "Blast!" tour ended, Jeff ended up working at Target for 1-1/2 years. It wasn't long before he was yearning to play with his Indianapolis rock band, Peal, more than being at work.
"I hated every moment of working, yet was perfectly happy driving three hours to play a horrible gig for no money in some stinky club in Ohio. I soon realized that I needed to get back into playing music for a living. I just thrived on the rush of creating music, and being on stage," said Jeff.
He joined the Dallas Brass almost by chance.
During a "Blast!" show in Owensboro, Ky., Jeff met Dallas Brass leader Mike Levine.
"I wasn't in the cast, had recently moved to South Carolina, and was in the front row, when he started talking to me about the group, and that they were looking for a drummer. I didn't even give it a thought that I might be that guy. A week later, some friends in the cast had recommended me, told me about the details of the gig, and I found myself driving to Orlando to audition," according to Handel. "I saw the show, listened to their CDs, was extremely impressed, and one month later I was on tour with the guys recording another CD, and having a great time."
With the Dallas Brass, Jeff said he plays all types of instruments.
He said, "I enjoy the group because I get to explore all the areas that I enjoy. I get to play a variety of all percussion, and with the format of the show, I could bring in any type of music that I might like to play, and we could add it in. So the show takes advantage of all my strengths, while giving me a great chance to constantly improve on my weaknesses."
Jeff and Ben did a tour of "Blast!" in Japan together in summer 2007.
Ben said, "It was fantastic. We both had been with the show. We both had some seniority with the show."
Ben said it was really fun and great to have Jeff with him on the tour to look up to. "It was great to work with him, see him play," Ben said.
Ben will be in Warsaw Jan. 27 to see his brother perform. Jeff said he is looking forward to the Jan. 27 show in Warsaw.
"I'm excited to perform with Dallas Brass in Warsaw, just so people can see why I've been absent from so many hometown events since I left for college after high school," he said. "I imagine it will be fun to see a bunch of old friends, and have a chance to show the group my old stomping grounds."
But he won't be nervous, Jeff said. Just excited.
"I'm more excited to perform for and with my old directors rather than being nervous. I've found over time that being nervous just doesn't help me at all, and after performing for thousands of people around the world, I get more excited than nervous anymore. I try and convert any nervous feelings into positive energy that will help me," he said.
As part of the Dallas Brass' visit to Warsaw, the group will work with local middle and high school students, who also will perform with the Dallas Brass.
Handel offered some advice to them, saying, "The best advice I can give is to practice until you're tired, then practice about two more hours each day. Whatever you can do, there is always someone out there who can do it better, faster and stronger.
"What we have to do as musicians is establish strong relationships in the industry, and make sure the skills we can offer a group are diverse, unique and useful. Also, it helps to be a fun person to hang around with. Especially if you happen to be in a group that tours together 160+ days a year.
"The best thing about my career path has been that I have had a great deal of awesome opportunities, and have met a bunch of great people. The most difficult has been the times between gigs, waiting tables, trying to make ends meet. It's taken a lot of faith, a lot of guts, and a lot of work to make a living as a musician."
Ben, who played on Broadway at 21 years old, said he just looks forward to improving and making music.
"It's been a wild ride and I'm really lucky," Ben said.
On the Net:
www.dallasbrass.com[[In-content Ad]]
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