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Planets and horns.
When I was a graduate music student at Arizona State University back around 1995, I became fascinated with this new thing called the “World Wide Web.” The concept of any Joe Schmoe like me publishing information online for the whole world to see blew my frickin’ mind.
It still does.
Back then, web pages were very simple, mostly text and uncolored, gray backgrounds. Since the ‘net was still in its dial-up infancy – remember this sound? – this was about all that it could take. Images and extensive graphics on web pages were virtually unheard of as bandwidth and upload times were a major design issue to be concerned with.
Before the high-speed phenomena, people actually had to wait anywhere from 5-10 seconds to several minutes to view content (gasp!).
HornPlanet and beyond
Nevertheless I saw the potential and began an earnest project to promote my mentor Thomas Bacon utilizing this new medium. Through a long process of experimentation and exploration I learned the basic code of the ‘net – HTML – and hand coded my first web site using free university web space.
Over the next few years the ‘net exploded and we found ourselves riding on top of the wave. The project moved off-campus and over time evolved into “HornPlanet.”
Adopting a “WYSIWYG” web editor, Tom eventually learned how to do most of the work himself, and I moved on to other startup web projects, including sites for Osmun Music and for the International Horn Society.
Supply and demand
Fast forward ahead about 10 years and 50 client projects later to fall 2007. A recent project that I had the pleasure to be involved with, was one for Dennis Houghton at houghtonhornsllc.com.
I met Dennis’ son Mark – a fabulous horn player – while doing some freelance music engagements with the Phoenix Symphony. After Mark had moved on to a new position with the Fort Worth Symphony, he contacted me about a unique project in conjunction with his father.
The Englebert Schmid horn (especially the triple horn) has gained a wide popularity with horn players in America. However, distribution has been a major problem. Horn players interested in trying out a new Schmid horn before buying one had few choices: go to an IHS symposium; try out a friend’s Schmid; buy one second-hand; fly to Boston and try one out at Osmun Music; or fly to the Schmid plant in Germany.
Mark and Dennis saw an opportunity and wanted to fill this void. They found financial backing and developed a much-needed service where a regular supply of Schmid (and Hoyer) horns are kept in stock ready for people to try out and purchase.
They needed a web site, so Mark – knowing me from Phoenix – contacted me. The site launched about 4 weeks before Christmas 2007. This, and the AZOOMA site, are among my most recent projects.
Back to the Future
A lot of time has passed since I have worked with Tom Bacon and although his web site remains one of the premier resources for horn players online, some updating was needed. Recently, he asked me to help redesign HornPlanet, and the first phase has recently been launched – his online store.
Incorporating a simple PayPal account, I have completely overhauled his store with a more simple, concise and clean layout.
Over the next year, there will be many more redesign phases for the HornPlanet. Each area will be systematically overhauled to bring them into the 21st century.
With this return to HornPlanet, my web development career has in effect come full circle. Looking back, I have to say that it has been an incredible journey. With every project, I learn more and more about web development, and become more and more excited about the web’s future.
