Jazz greats Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey were both known for their dedication to the trombone.

But while Corey Wallace is most proficient in playing trombone, he prefers to call himself a "musician."

"I'm a trombonist, yes, but I'm a musician first," he said.

Wallace (senior-music performance) is beginning his sixth semester in Centre Dimensions this fall and will try to demonstrate his personal dedication to music with the Centre Dimensions jazz ensemble -- the most prestigious jazz ensemble on campus -- at 8 p.m. tomorrow at Esber Recital Hall.

Wallace has played trombone for eight years, since his sophomore year in high school in Baltimore, Md., and discovered jazz music a year later.

"[Music is] one of those things that clicks for you," he said. "I fell in love with jazz."

When Wallace was growing up, his father, a high school band director, encouraged him to get involved with music at a young age, but never pushed him too far. Despite this, Wallace became so enamored with jazz that he decided to pursue a music degree in college. After hearing about the reputation of Penn State trombone professor Mark Lusk, Wallace made the trip to State College to try out for the music program.

"I felt that I was good then, but the audition was more like a lesson. He showed me a lot of things in 30 minutes," Wallace said.

Wallace will usually go to his father when he "discovers" music and listens to it for the first time.
"We're naturally excited about music. I don't understand why we are this way -- we just are," he said.

This excitement is evident in how long he practices.

Where most musicians would estimate a number of hours spent practicing, Wallace said it was more important to personally overcome an obstacle and complete a goal when practicing, rather than complete a set time limit."I don't look at it as the quantity, but as what you get done during that time," he said.

Rather than constantly playing, transcribing recorded music has become a part of his practice routine as well so that he can always expand his knowledge of the breadth of jazz.

"[Transcribing] helps you a lot because when you have a developed jazz vocabulary that helps you communicate with other jazz musicians," Wallace said.

He always keeps his trombone nearby, so that when an opportunity to perform is offered by a fellow musician, he is always ready to converse musically with them.

One of those opportunities came up earlier this year when Wallace happened upon one of his favorite trombone players, Vince Gardner, in a Washington, D.C., nightclub.

The two had previously met, but Wallace was surprised when Gardner treated him like an old friend and asked him to play during his last set of the night.

He said a good attitude like that contributes to what makes a musician great.

"The opportunity always presents itself when you're humble about it," Wallace said, "When you put your trombone down, [other musicians] see what kind of person you are."

Basketball and shopping are also hobbies for Wallace, but music is always on his mind.

"Music for me is like breathing. I'm always thinking about music," he said.

Wallace is the president of the Penn State Jazz Club and is a member of the International Association of Jazz Educators. He also plays with the Andrew Jackson Jazz Showcase at Bar Bleu, 114 S. Garner St., every other weekend.

Wallace's biggest influences come from Gardner and J.J. Johnson. He said he is also inspired by the likes of John Coltrane, "Slide" Hampton, Curtis Fuller and Wynton Marsalis.

He said he is also inspired by any creative music, especially "stuff that touches your soul that's creatively done."

As an example, John Denver's "Rocky Mountain High" makes him think of Baltimore when he hears it.

"I've never been to Colorado, but I can rock that because it takes you home," he said.