Sunday, September 27, 2015
The Appeal of Music
Music is a part of almost everyone's life almost every single day. There are so many different types of music it is nearly impossible for someone to not find something they like. Hundreds of genres exist with more and more being created every generation. Music relaxes, inspires, and entices humans all the time, sometimes without their knowledge. If there is one thing that can be common amongst all people, my first guess would be music. Music is beautiful in itself, but its ability to unite so many is also extremely beautiful.
Corps Style Marching Band Ft. The JFK Marching Band
There are three different styles of marching band: military, show, and corps. My school performs using the corps style marching show. There are, of course, some variations in this style depending on where you are along with other factors, but the fundamentals remain basically the same for the most part.
My marching band has had an average of around 150 members for the past few years. This number has been slowly increasing for the past five years or so though. We typically consider marching season to begin in early August and go through the end of October. Our competition season usually starts around mid to late September. Prior to competitions, we still do many performances. Our band performs our half-time show at every home football game. The environment is not as pleasant, but it is still good practice for the real deal. Unlike most college bands, we learn and rehearse one show the entire season with the same music and drill throughout. College bands typically learn one show per week and perform using flip-folders to read the music. Once all the music and drill has been put on the field, we clean it and rehearse it over and over to make it better every time we perform. We also add in visuals to make our show more entertaining. Now that you have a basic overview of my band and high school corps style marching, it is time to discuss what distinguishes this style from the others.
As I previously mentioned, corps style marching bands typically march on football fields using drill. Drill is the movements or pictures that are created while the band is playing. The music is sent to drill writers and they create moving pictures that align perfectly with the music to produce an entrancing and effective performance. Each member of the band is assigned a number or letter that they keep the entire season. This is how each person knows how to move and where to go. They look at two different sheets of drill and see where they need to go next in order to fit the picture. Because each set of drill is different, each move will also be different. The number of counts, direction, step size, and step style are different for each picture. This is drastically different from military style marching, in which the members form straight lines and simply march forward the entire time down a street during a parade, for example.
Corps style marching bands also incorporate the use of a color guard. Members of this section use different styles to spin flags, rifles, sabres, and/or dance during the show. Color guards add an extra level of entertaining visuals and flare to the performance. The guard routine is choreographed to fit the music as well as the drill. During competitions, there is a specific color guard judge who watches just them and gives them a score that contributes to the overall score of the performance. Oftentimes an award for best color guard is also awarded to the band with the most outstanding guard.
Another addition to corps style bands is the use of a front ensemble, commonly referred to as the pit. Since the band performs on a football field, it is acceptable to have stationary instruments at the front that do not move throughout the show. Pit instruments consist of percussion instruments that cannot be strapped onto the body and carried around. These would include: all keyboard instruments, a concert bass drum, auxiliary percussion, timpani, and sometimes a drum set. Electronic instruments such as synthesizers, guitars, and basses are also sometimes placed in the pit. The front ensemble adds the icing on the cake to the band.
The corps style of marching is constantly evolving due to contributions from high schools and colleges all across the nation. I love the way my band is run and I wouldn't have it any other way.
My marching band has had an average of around 150 members for the past few years. This number has been slowly increasing for the past five years or so though. We typically consider marching season to begin in early August and go through the end of October. Our competition season usually starts around mid to late September. Prior to competitions, we still do many performances. Our band performs our half-time show at every home football game. The environment is not as pleasant, but it is still good practice for the real deal. Unlike most college bands, we learn and rehearse one show the entire season with the same music and drill throughout. College bands typically learn one show per week and perform using flip-folders to read the music. Once all the music and drill has been put on the field, we clean it and rehearse it over and over to make it better every time we perform. We also add in visuals to make our show more entertaining. Now that you have a basic overview of my band and high school corps style marching, it is time to discuss what distinguishes this style from the others.
As I previously mentioned, corps style marching bands typically march on football fields using drill. Drill is the movements or pictures that are created while the band is playing. The music is sent to drill writers and they create moving pictures that align perfectly with the music to produce an entrancing and effective performance. Each member of the band is assigned a number or letter that they keep the entire season. This is how each person knows how to move and where to go. They look at two different sheets of drill and see where they need to go next in order to fit the picture. Because each set of drill is different, each move will also be different. The number of counts, direction, step size, and step style are different for each picture. This is drastically different from military style marching, in which the members form straight lines and simply march forward the entire time down a street during a parade, for example.
Corps style marching bands also incorporate the use of a color guard. Members of this section use different styles to spin flags, rifles, sabres, and/or dance during the show. Color guards add an extra level of entertaining visuals and flare to the performance. The guard routine is choreographed to fit the music as well as the drill. During competitions, there is a specific color guard judge who watches just them and gives them a score that contributes to the overall score of the performance. Oftentimes an award for best color guard is also awarded to the band with the most outstanding guard.
Another addition to corps style bands is the use of a front ensemble, commonly referred to as the pit. Since the band performs on a football field, it is acceptable to have stationary instruments at the front that do not move throughout the show. Pit instruments consist of percussion instruments that cannot be strapped onto the body and carried around. These would include: all keyboard instruments, a concert bass drum, auxiliary percussion, timpani, and sometimes a drum set. Electronic instruments such as synthesizers, guitars, and basses are also sometimes placed in the pit. The front ensemble adds the icing on the cake to the band.
The corps style of marching is constantly evolving due to contributions from high schools and colleges all across the nation. I love the way my band is run and I wouldn't have it any other way.
Contrasting Band and Orchestra
While band and orchestra are somewhat similar, there are many key differences between them. As the top oboist in the top band at my school, I am given the opportunity to play in orchestra as well as band. Wind players are much more exposed when playing in a symphonic orchestra. Usually, there are multiple players on a part in a concert band. In orchestra, there is typically one person per part, while some instruments do not even have multiple parts. This forces wind players to create a louder, more confident sound than they are used to playing with. While it might seem nerve-racking, this ultimately increases the player's skill level. They will more than likely begin to transfer this improved, confident sound to concert band. As a result, this increases the overall level of quality sound the band produces.
One of the largest differences between band and orchestra instruments is the way you produce sound. Wind players use their air to make sound vibrations, whereas string players run their bows across the strings to make them vibrate, also creating sound waves. Breathing and controlling your air stream is extremely important in making a wind instrument sound. Musicians must be able to find the correct balance of air pressure and intensity in order to produce notes. Sting players, however, concentrate solely on the technique used to drag the bow across the strings. There are many ways to make the strings vibrate, the most common being plucking, bowing, and striking. This results in an advantage for string players. While wind players have to practice very conservatively in order to not wear out their lips too much, string players can play for hours on end before reaching even the slightest fatigue.
There are many different types of instruments in band. These can be broken down into three sections: woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Woodwind instruments include flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and saxophones. The brass category, on the other hand, consists of trumpets, french horns, trombones, baritones, and tubas. The percussion section can include many different types of odd, uncommon instruments only needed for a few specific songs. However, almost all percussion sections include a snare drum, bass drum, suspended or crash cymbals, timpani, marimbas, vibraphones, xylophones, and bells. The range of instruments is much smaller for orchestra. A string orchestra includes violins, violas, cellos, and basses. A symphonic orchestra incorporates all the band instruments except saxophones into the orchestra. The reason they are excluded is because their sound is too similar to those of string instruments to be needed in a full orchestra.
The types of music played by an orchestra and band may be the same or it may differ dramatically. Some music is arranged just for string orchestras, like famous symphonic work by Mozart, or just for marching bands, like the marches of Sousa. Other compositions are made for orchestra and band alike, with the individual conductor deciding which musicians will perform which parts.
One of the largest differences between band and orchestra instruments is the way you produce sound. Wind players use their air to make sound vibrations, whereas string players run their bows across the strings to make them vibrate, also creating sound waves. Breathing and controlling your air stream is extremely important in making a wind instrument sound. Musicians must be able to find the correct balance of air pressure and intensity in order to produce notes. Sting players, however, concentrate solely on the technique used to drag the bow across the strings. There are many ways to make the strings vibrate, the most common being plucking, bowing, and striking. This results in an advantage for string players. While wind players have to practice very conservatively in order to not wear out their lips too much, string players can play for hours on end before reaching even the slightest fatigue.
There are many different types of instruments in band. These can be broken down into three sections: woodwinds, brass, and percussion. Woodwind instruments include flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, and saxophones. The brass category, on the other hand, consists of trumpets, french horns, trombones, baritones, and tubas. The percussion section can include many different types of odd, uncommon instruments only needed for a few specific songs. However, almost all percussion sections include a snare drum, bass drum, suspended or crash cymbals, timpani, marimbas, vibraphones, xylophones, and bells. The range of instruments is much smaller for orchestra. A string orchestra includes violins, violas, cellos, and basses. A symphonic orchestra incorporates all the band instruments except saxophones into the orchestra. The reason they are excluded is because their sound is too similar to those of string instruments to be needed in a full orchestra.
The types of music played by an orchestra and band may be the same or it may differ dramatically. Some music is arranged just for string orchestras, like famous symphonic work by Mozart, or just for marching bands, like the marches of Sousa. Other compositions are made for orchestra and band alike, with the individual conductor deciding which musicians will perform which parts.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
The Benefits of Private Lessons
Private lessons are highly encouraged in the musical world. When starting kids on an instrument, middle school band directors try to do as much as possible to promote private lessons. Often times students who participate in private lessons do not have to attend school lessons, which is a big perk. School lessons are annoying and not very helpful. They are often very short, around 15-20 minutes long, and are held with multiple students. If there are three students having a lesson at a time, each student only gets 5 to 6 minutes of attention before they are sent back to class. These sessions are not very helpful at all.
Private lessons are between one student and one instructor. This is beneficial because the teacher can focus on the student's individual issues and fix them. Students learn many important things in band, such as listening to others and making your sound blend in with the ensemble. However, it is also very important to address individual problems and eliminate them. This is why one on one help is good. Students do not usually receive much attention during band, but they are given lots during their lessons. It is vital that students feel valued and appreciated. Working with a student individually reinforces appreciation and makes him/her feel like a vital part of the band.
Private lesson teachers can also offer useful tips for practicing. Many students do not know how to practice very wisely. Instructors can explain how and what to practice to yield the best results. These teachers are often specialists for a certain instrument as well. This means they can help with problems or questions regarding something specific to the instrument. All band directors are trained to play every instrument, but it is better to have someone whose main instrument is the same as yours.
As you can see, private lessons are very important to many band programs. By increasing the individual levels of students, the overall level of the band also increases. I hope everyone takes the time to consider signing up for private lessons!
Private lessons are between one student and one instructor. This is beneficial because the teacher can focus on the student's individual issues and fix them. Students learn many important things in band, such as listening to others and making your sound blend in with the ensemble. However, it is also very important to address individual problems and eliminate them. This is why one on one help is good. Students do not usually receive much attention during band, but they are given lots during their lessons. It is vital that students feel valued and appreciated. Working with a student individually reinforces appreciation and makes him/her feel like a vital part of the band.
Private lesson teachers can also offer useful tips for practicing. Many students do not know how to practice very wisely. Instructors can explain how and what to practice to yield the best results. These teachers are often specialists for a certain instrument as well. This means they can help with problems or questions regarding something specific to the instrument. All band directors are trained to play every instrument, but it is better to have someone whose main instrument is the same as yours.
As you can see, private lessons are very important to many band programs. By increasing the individual levels of students, the overall level of the band also increases. I hope everyone takes the time to consider signing up for private lessons!
Efficient and Effective Practicing
Practicing your instrument is a necessary action in order to improve your skill level. This applies to almost everything, not just music. Failure to practice results in no forward progress. If you never practice, how can you expect to ever get any better? If anything, you will probably get worse.
However, it is very hard to force yourself to practice sometimes. It is very tedious work. Playing the same passage over and over again is not very appealing to most people. Practicing can also be very frustrating. Some days, everything seems to go wrong. You can't concentrate, your fingers absolutely will not cooperate, and you just sound terrible. Days like these are very tough and test you both mentally and physically.
Despite having these days sometimes, practicing can be very fun and rewarding. The feeling of accomplishment after nailing a particularly hard section is outstanding. It feels great knowing you have made improvement. The problem is, most people do not improve as much as they would like due to ineffective practicing.
The first step of improving the way you practice is to understand the difference between practicing and playing. Many people like to go and sit in a practice room to play their instrument. They may pull out a song and play through it a few times and call it good. This is not the same as practicing. Practicing involves breaking tunes up into smaller sections and working through them until they are rock solid. Once you have mastered a small section, you may move on to the next section. Once that is finished, it is time to put the two sections together and work out the transitions between them. This is often challenging and may force you to break the pieces down into even smaller sections to drill those into your memory. It is an extremely boring and annoying process. However, this is how you truly master a piece of music. Playing through a song over and over and repeating the same mistakes is not going to get you anywhere. Breaking a passage down and finding out where it is weak is what really helps.
Another way to improve your practicing is to change things up. Sometimes a passage has been broken up into the smallest possible sections and you still cannot get it right. When this happens, it is a good idea to play something other than what is written on the page. It helps to change articulations and rhythms while keeping the notes the same. For example, if there are four slurred notes that you are struggling with, it would benefit to instead play the first two notes slurred and the second two tongued. You might do it that way once or twice and then switch it and play the first two notes tongued and the second two slurred. Similarly, you can change the rhythms while keeping the notes and articulations the same. It is very important to always do the opposite of something you change. With my previous example, I would not change the articulation to slurring the first two notes and tonguing the second two notes without following it with the opposite. Once you have changed a passage and played it and its opposite, try going back and playing the original passage as written. By modifying the section, it makes it stronger when you return to the original.
Dr. Christine Carter, a clarinet professor at the Manhattan School of Music, also suggests changing your practice schedule. An article titled Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight features her in The Bulletproof Musician. I have not tested this method out yet, but I plan to and I expect to see good results!
By incorporating these changes into your practice routine, you will improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of your practicing.
However, it is very hard to force yourself to practice sometimes. It is very tedious work. Playing the same passage over and over again is not very appealing to most people. Practicing can also be very frustrating. Some days, everything seems to go wrong. You can't concentrate, your fingers absolutely will not cooperate, and you just sound terrible. Days like these are very tough and test you both mentally and physically.
Despite having these days sometimes, practicing can be very fun and rewarding. The feeling of accomplishment after nailing a particularly hard section is outstanding. It feels great knowing you have made improvement. The problem is, most people do not improve as much as they would like due to ineffective practicing.
The first step of improving the way you practice is to understand the difference between practicing and playing. Many people like to go and sit in a practice room to play their instrument. They may pull out a song and play through it a few times and call it good. This is not the same as practicing. Practicing involves breaking tunes up into smaller sections and working through them until they are rock solid. Once you have mastered a small section, you may move on to the next section. Once that is finished, it is time to put the two sections together and work out the transitions between them. This is often challenging and may force you to break the pieces down into even smaller sections to drill those into your memory. It is an extremely boring and annoying process. However, this is how you truly master a piece of music. Playing through a song over and over and repeating the same mistakes is not going to get you anywhere. Breaking a passage down and finding out where it is weak is what really helps.
Another way to improve your practicing is to change things up. Sometimes a passage has been broken up into the smallest possible sections and you still cannot get it right. When this happens, it is a good idea to play something other than what is written on the page. It helps to change articulations and rhythms while keeping the notes the same. For example, if there are four slurred notes that you are struggling with, it would benefit to instead play the first two notes slurred and the second two tongued. You might do it that way once or twice and then switch it and play the first two notes tongued and the second two slurred. Similarly, you can change the rhythms while keeping the notes and articulations the same. It is very important to always do the opposite of something you change. With my previous example, I would not change the articulation to slurring the first two notes and tonguing the second two notes without following it with the opposite. Once you have changed a passage and played it and its opposite, try going back and playing the original passage as written. By modifying the section, it makes it stronger when you return to the original.
Dr. Christine Carter, a clarinet professor at the Manhattan School of Music, also suggests changing your practice schedule. An article titled Why the Progress You Make in the Practice Room Seems to Disappear Overnight features her in The Bulletproof Musician. I have not tested this method out yet, but I plan to and I expect to see good results!
By incorporating these changes into your practice routine, you will improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of your practicing.
An Intoduction to Music
The human body is one of the most complex and wonderful creations in the world. A cubic inch of bone can support 19,000 pounds. New studies have shown it is possible for a human to run up to 40 miles per hour. Eyes have the capacity to collect, focus, and adjust light to form a breathtaking image of incredible clarity. Ears are able to detect and process millions of vibrations and translate them into messages that have meaning. This is what gives us the ability to listen to music.
Music is an enormous part of the lives of billions of people. It follows you wherever you go. Many times, you may not even realize music is even being played because it is so common in everyday life. Music can create a certain mood or be used to describe how one is feeling; it can identify a certain culture or way of life; it can ease pain or be used as therapy; and it can provide pleasure or comfort to those seeking its beauty. The possibilities are endless.
Music plays such a large role in my life. Almost everyone in my family is or once was involved in music of some sort. Everything I do revolves around my love and passion for music. I am extremely excited to explore the depths of this spectacular topic and share my knowledge with others. Thank you for visiting my page and I hope you enjoy!
Music is an enormous part of the lives of billions of people. It follows you wherever you go. Many times, you may not even realize music is even being played because it is so common in everyday life. Music can create a certain mood or be used to describe how one is feeling; it can identify a certain culture or way of life; it can ease pain or be used as therapy; and it can provide pleasure or comfort to those seeking its beauty. The possibilities are endless.
Music plays such a large role in my life. Almost everyone in my family is or once was involved in music of some sort. Everything I do revolves around my love and passion for music. I am extremely excited to explore the depths of this spectacular topic and share my knowledge with others. Thank you for visiting my page and I hope you enjoy!
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