In music, an arrangement is a musical reconceptualization of a previously composed work. It may differ from the original work by means of reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or development of the formal structure. Arranging differs from orchestration in that the latter process is limited to the assignment of notes to instruments for performance by an orchestra, concert band, or other musical ensemble. Arranging "involves adding compositional techniques, such as new thematic material for introductions, transitions, or modulations, and endings...Arranging is the art of giving an existing melody musical variety."
When arranging music, it is important to consider many elements such as instrumentation, balance, style, and much more. Oftentimes arrangements are of pieces that were written as solos for a single instrument and piano. When arranging such solos, the arranger must not only come up with other lines and melodies and harmonies, but he or she must also consider the instrumentation. If you write a part for too many instruments, the balance will be thrown off and the piece will not sound very sophisticated or good. Another important thing to consider when arranging a piece is style. Unless the arranger intends to change the style of the song drastically, he or she must pay very close attention to the articulations and styles the original composer used in the original piece. Keeping consistent articulations and tempos helps aid this process.
Overall, arranging is very hard work and it takes a lot of skill and time to master it. I hope to be able to learn how to compose and arrange music proficiently some day, but I still have a lot left to learn. :)
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Honor Bands
Honor bands are a large part of the concert band season. These select bands range from informal to very prestigious. Many students apply and only the very best from each school are chosen to participate. Students from many different high schools are selected as a part of these honor bands. In order to participate in an honor band, you have to fill out an application and compete for a certain number of spots in the ensemble. If selected, a set of music is sent to the director and he or she will pass it out to the students. This usually happens around a month to a month and a half before the actual honor band takes place. The students are to practice and prepare the music ahead of time before they come to the honor band. Once at the actual honor band, auditions are held for each instrument to determine their chair placement. For younger students, such as sixth and maybe seventh grade, they usually just sit the students alphabetically. However, once you get older you are required to participate in the auditions. During the auditions, you are usually asked to play a short section of each piece you received in your folder. If there are solos, the judges typically ask you to play the solo section of the piece. The judge then determines the order of chair placement, seating the best players at the top of the section. Then, the day commences.
Honor bands are extremely taxing on all players. You will be playing your instrument upwards of around eight hours a day. Most students are not accustomed to playing their instruments this long and they will fatigue very easily. It is important to take frequent breaks and not over-do it. It is not the end of the world if you lay out on a few sections throughout the day to save your chops for the concert.
At single day honor bands, the students simply come in the morning, have their auditions, and rehearse all day to perform a concert that night. There is often a lunch provided, but dinner mostly happens after the concert. Some of the more prestigious honor bands last multiple days over the weekend. Students usually leave school around half way through the day on Thursday and arrive that night. They then rehearse all of Friday and Saturday and have a concert Saturday afternoon or evening. These honor bands are especially fun because you get to stay overnight at a hotel with all the other students attending the honor band from your school.
Many students are afraid to try out for honor bands because they are worried about getting in or they do not think it will be fun. I love honor bands and I suggest that everyone try some out some time!
Honor bands are extremely taxing on all players. You will be playing your instrument upwards of around eight hours a day. Most students are not accustomed to playing their instruments this long and they will fatigue very easily. It is important to take frequent breaks and not over-do it. It is not the end of the world if you lay out on a few sections throughout the day to save your chops for the concert.
At single day honor bands, the students simply come in the morning, have their auditions, and rehearse all day to perform a concert that night. There is often a lunch provided, but dinner mostly happens after the concert. Some of the more prestigious honor bands last multiple days over the weekend. Students usually leave school around half way through the day on Thursday and arrive that night. They then rehearse all of Friday and Saturday and have a concert Saturday afternoon or evening. These honor bands are especially fun because you get to stay overnight at a hotel with all the other students attending the honor band from your school.
Many students are afraid to try out for honor bands because they are worried about getting in or they do not think it will be fun. I love honor bands and I suggest that everyone try some out some time!
DCI Drum Corps Auditions
With the 2015 Drum Corps International in the history books, drum corps throughout the country are already preparing for a wave of new recruits, which means one thing-auditions. Every fall and winter thousands of marching musicians vie for a limited number of positions in Drum Corps International ensembles across the United States. Traveling to new locations, navigating crowds of unfamiliar faces, learning new techniques and overcoming nervousness; the audition process can sometimes be a daunting task! For those wishing to join a drum corps, preparation is essential. Fortunately, most corps offer materials online detailing all of their technical requirements and explaining their respective audition processes.
Many corps start their audition processes very early, usually beginning around this time of the year. The season takes place during the summer, so the groups begin auditions very early so they can start having weekend camps throughout the year to prepare for the summer season. Oftentimes the first two or three camps are just introductory camps so students can come and experience what the audition camps will be like and if they are really cut out for drum corps. These camps are typically overnight and last two to three days during the weekend. Then, there are a few real audition camps. Staff members watch the recruits all weekend long, not just during their individual auditions. Along with playing and marching ability, the staff also watches things like how well the prospect marchers interact with instructors and other students auditioning. You can be the best player and marcher at the camp, but you will not get a contract if you do not act like you want to be there. After the first one or two audition camps, some recruits will be cut from the auditions, while others will receive a callback and will be asked to return for the next round of auditions. There are usually a series of these and then finally the final members are set and contracts are sent out.
It is important to always stay relaxed when you are auditioning for a drum corps. Be confident and act like you are excited to be there, because it truly is a good opportunity and experience even if you do not get selected to participate with the corps that summer. It is always a great idea to listen to the instructors and take their advice because they are not criticizing you, they are only trying to help you improve. Auditioning is typically very nerve-racking for everyone, but you should always approach that nervousness with a good attitude and be open to stepping outside your shell.
Good luck to everyone who is auditioning these season, I hope you do well!
Many corps start their audition processes very early, usually beginning around this time of the year. The season takes place during the summer, so the groups begin auditions very early so they can start having weekend camps throughout the year to prepare for the summer season. Oftentimes the first two or three camps are just introductory camps so students can come and experience what the audition camps will be like and if they are really cut out for drum corps. These camps are typically overnight and last two to three days during the weekend. Then, there are a few real audition camps. Staff members watch the recruits all weekend long, not just during their individual auditions. Along with playing and marching ability, the staff also watches things like how well the prospect marchers interact with instructors and other students auditioning. You can be the best player and marcher at the camp, but you will not get a contract if you do not act like you want to be there. After the first one or two audition camps, some recruits will be cut from the auditions, while others will receive a callback and will be asked to return for the next round of auditions. There are usually a series of these and then finally the final members are set and contracts are sent out.
It is important to always stay relaxed when you are auditioning for a drum corps. Be confident and act like you are excited to be there, because it truly is a good opportunity and experience even if you do not get selected to participate with the corps that summer. It is always a great idea to listen to the instructors and take their advice because they are not criticizing you, they are only trying to help you improve. Auditioning is typically very nerve-racking for everyone, but you should always approach that nervousness with a good attitude and be open to stepping outside your shell.
Good luck to everyone who is auditioning these season, I hope you do well!
Sunday, November 22, 2015
The Band Hall
The band hall is a very special place for many high school students involved in band. It is not just a hall to the musicians, it is like a second home. Countless hours have been spent in that hall during lunch, before and after competitions, with friends, and many other times. Memories are made in this place every day. Band is considered to be your second family, so it is only fitting that the family needs a home.
Other performing arts and sports activities also have hallways in the school that are considered their own. For example, the hallway that leads to the main and west gyms is often referred to as the sports hallway. In this hallway, there are the gyms of course, but there are also meeting rooms for the teams' debriefs. It also leads to the weight room and multiple other small, miscillaneous rooms that are used for sports teams. Students involved in sports use these rooms and hallways quite often during the season, but they do not hang out there much any other time. It is not as special to them as the band hallway is to band students. Similarly, there is a small hallway near the cafeteria that leads to the orchestra and choir rooms. It is most commonly referred to as the choir hallway. More students hang out here throughout the day, but there are still not many because it does not have a lot of space. Most choir and orchestra students prefer to sit in the choir room or somewhere else throughout the school.
Clearly, the students involved in other activities do not care for their hallways as much as the band students do. The band hallway is much more important to band students because it is not just a hallway, it truly is like a second home.
Other performing arts and sports activities also have hallways in the school that are considered their own. For example, the hallway that leads to the main and west gyms is often referred to as the sports hallway. In this hallway, there are the gyms of course, but there are also meeting rooms for the teams' debriefs. It also leads to the weight room and multiple other small, miscillaneous rooms that are used for sports teams. Students involved in sports use these rooms and hallways quite often during the season, but they do not hang out there much any other time. It is not as special to them as the band hallway is to band students. Similarly, there is a small hallway near the cafeteria that leads to the orchestra and choir rooms. It is most commonly referred to as the choir hallway. More students hang out here throughout the day, but there are still not many because it does not have a lot of space. Most choir and orchestra students prefer to sit in the choir room or somewhere else throughout the school.
Clearly, the students involved in other activities do not care for their hallways as much as the band students do. The band hallway is much more important to band students because it is not just a hallway, it truly is like a second home.
Clarinet/Saxophone Reeds
In my previous post, I explained the workings and mechanics of an oboe reed. This time around I will be discussing saxophone and clarinet reeds. Unlike oboes and bassoons, saxophone and clarinet reeds are single-reed instruments. The reeds for these two instruments are much more similar to each other than to any other reeds. The way they are designed makes it easier to change between the two instruments since they are fairly similar. Many saxophone players can also play clarinet very well and many clarinet players are able to play saxophone.
Instead of just relying on the reed alone to produce vibrations, the single reed is placed in a mouthpiece that holds it in tightly. This is done by placing the reed against the mouthpiece and then sliding a piece of metal called a ligature around both the reed and the mouthpiece. The ligature is then tightened and it holds the two pieces together. Sound is created when the player blows air into the mouthpiece and the reed rubs against it, producing vibrations that make sound. Much less air pressure is required to play clarinet and saxophone than oboe or bassoon. It is easier to get the reed to vibrate against a mouthpiece, so you do not need to blow as hard to make a sound.
Unlike oboe reeds, you do not adjust saxophone or clarinet reeds at all with your own tools. The reeds are bought in a store in packages and you can simply pull a reed out and start playing without any adjustment. Due to this, these reeds also last much longer than oboe reeds. Students have claimed to have used the same reed for the entire marching season in past years. In my opinion, this is an absolutely gross habit and I do not recommend doing the same. When buying packages of reeds, there are many different strengths you can choose from. The strengths range from one to five in half increments. The lower the strength, the softer the reed will be. The higher the strength, the harder the reed will be. Generally younger students start out on softer reeds and build their way up to harder ones as they mature as a player.
The top section of saxophone and clarinet reeds are similar to oboe reeds. The top section contains a tip, a heart, a set of rails, and a shoulder. The shoulder is equivalent to the back on oboe reeds. This is the entirety of an oboe reed. However, this is only the top section of a saxophone/clarinet reed and it has a whole second part below that. The majority of the bottom section is plain bark that has been untouched and left on the reed. This is called the stock. At the very bottom of the reed, there is a short edge called the heel of the reed.
While many reeds are fairly unalike, saxophone and clarinet reeds are extremely similar in mechanism. They are also complex and interesting to analyze.
Instead of just relying on the reed alone to produce vibrations, the single reed is placed in a mouthpiece that holds it in tightly. This is done by placing the reed against the mouthpiece and then sliding a piece of metal called a ligature around both the reed and the mouthpiece. The ligature is then tightened and it holds the two pieces together. Sound is created when the player blows air into the mouthpiece and the reed rubs against it, producing vibrations that make sound. Much less air pressure is required to play clarinet and saxophone than oboe or bassoon. It is easier to get the reed to vibrate against a mouthpiece, so you do not need to blow as hard to make a sound.
Unlike oboe reeds, you do not adjust saxophone or clarinet reeds at all with your own tools. The reeds are bought in a store in packages and you can simply pull a reed out and start playing without any adjustment. Due to this, these reeds also last much longer than oboe reeds. Students have claimed to have used the same reed for the entire marching season in past years. In my opinion, this is an absolutely gross habit and I do not recommend doing the same. When buying packages of reeds, there are many different strengths you can choose from. The strengths range from one to five in half increments. The lower the strength, the softer the reed will be. The higher the strength, the harder the reed will be. Generally younger students start out on softer reeds and build their way up to harder ones as they mature as a player.
The top section of saxophone and clarinet reeds are similar to oboe reeds. The top section contains a tip, a heart, a set of rails, and a shoulder. The shoulder is equivalent to the back on oboe reeds. This is the entirety of an oboe reed. However, this is only the top section of a saxophone/clarinet reed and it has a whole second part below that. The majority of the bottom section is plain bark that has been untouched and left on the reed. This is called the stock. At the very bottom of the reed, there is a short edge called the heel of the reed.
While many reeds are fairly unalike, saxophone and clarinet reeds are extremely similar in mechanism. They are also complex and interesting to analyze.
Oboe Reeds
Many woodwind instruments require the use of a reed, such as oboe, clarinet, bassoon, and saxophone. However, oboe reeds are far different than any of these other types. It is most similar to a bassoon reed because they are both classified as double reeds, but they are still not that much alike.
Oboe is a double reed instrument. This means that instead of just having one sliver of wood vibrating against a mouthpiece to make sound, there are two slivers of wood that are pressed up against each other. These two pieces of wood are made out of cane. Sound is produced when air pressure is applied to make these two pieces of wood vibrate against each other. The two pieces of can are held together by wrapping them with string around a tube that is connected to a piece of cork. The two pieces of cane are held together around the tube very carefully while they are wrapped and tied off with the string. The piece of cork on the end is then inserted into the top of the oboe and it is ready to be played.
There are three main parts of an oboe reed: the tip, the heart, and the back. The tip controls the vibration and response of the reed. The heart provides stability and control for the sound. Finally, the back controls the tone and sound the oboe produces. These three parts are very distinguished and the place to go when something is not working right. There are also more, less known parts that you can go to work on when something is not right, also. The rails are the parts on the very end of the sides of the reed that provide support and hold the two pieces of cane together. In the middle of the reed on both sides there is a thin layer of bark that is thicker than the rest. This is the spine. The spine also provides support and stability for the reed.
The reed is one of, if not the most, important parts of the oboe. Without it, there is no way to produce a sound. It controls the pitch, tone, volume, and many other things. The reed is very complex and difficult to understand, but I hope I made it a bit easier!
There are three main parts of an oboe reed: the tip, the heart, and the back. The tip controls the vibration and response of the reed. The heart provides stability and control for the sound. Finally, the back controls the tone and sound the oboe produces. These three parts are very distinguished and the place to go when something is not working right. There are also more, less known parts that you can go to work on when something is not right, also. The rails are the parts on the very end of the sides of the reed that provide support and hold the two pieces of cane together. In the middle of the reed on both sides there is a thin layer of bark that is thicker than the rest. This is the spine. The spine also provides support and stability for the reed.
The reed is one of, if not the most, important parts of the oboe. Without it, there is no way to produce a sound. It controls the pitch, tone, volume, and many other things. The reed is very complex and difficult to understand, but I hope I made it a bit easier!
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Gold Instruments
Wood may never be replaced as the material of choice for violins, and there may never be a more appropriate material than brass for constructing trumpets and horns. Still, instrument makers use materials as a way to differentiate their products from others, and even traditional craftspeople have been known to tinker with advanced materials for better sound quality—if only in the details of an instrument.
While materials selection plays a role in all instrument production, the extent of a material’s effect on the sound varies from one instrument to the next. “In some instances, the material is directly involved in sound generation, while in other instruments, this is not the case,” said Gregor Widholm of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. “For the violin, the material is extremely important, because the body generates the sound that we hear. The other extreme is the clarinet, where the air column inside generates the sound and the material is only needed to form the shape of the air column. In this case, you can take any material.”
From wind instruments to violins, scientists and musical instrument makers continue to test the use of traditional materials, while looking for ways to integrate new ones.
While materials selection plays a role in all instrument production, the extent of a material’s effect on the sound varies from one instrument to the next. “In some instances, the material is directly involved in sound generation, while in other instruments, this is not the case,” said Gregor Widholm of the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna. “For the violin, the material is extremely important, because the body generates the sound that we hear. The other extreme is the clarinet, where the air column inside generates the sound and the material is only needed to form the shape of the air column. In this case, you can take any material.”
From wind instruments to violins, scientists and musical instrument makers continue to test the use of traditional materials, while looking for ways to integrate new ones.
University of Iowa Double Reed Day
Every year, the University of Iowa Music School hosts an event for middle and high school age students who play double reed instruments. At this event, the professors for oboe and bassoon organize many fun events for the students to participate in. Along with the professors, both undergraduate and graduate students studying oboe or bassoon also help out throughout the day and play along with the younger students. I attended this event both last year and this year, and it was a very exciting and educational experience both times.
At the beginning of the day there is always a short introduction activity that gets everyone acquainted with each other and a few brief speeches are made. Then the playing starts. The first playing activity involves every one attending the event. This year, there were many students who signed up and came down to Iowa City. There were about twenty students for both oboe and bassoon, so the entire group consisted of about forty students. In addition, there were around twenty University of Iowa students. This combination of students made for a very large double reed choir. It was not the prettiest thing I have ever heard. After an hour of reading through some oboe and bassoon pieces, we split up into small sectionals which were led by graduate students. My group consisted of four oboe players total. We also sight read through some oboe duets and trios for an hour and a half. At the end of the day there was going to be a concert and during this small group time we were supposed to choose two or three short selections that our group would play at that performance.
During this time, a few oboe and bassoon students did not participate in the small groups. Some students signed up to audition for the solo artist competition. Each of these students prepared a solo prior to coming to the event and they performed it for a panel of judges. One oboist and one bassoonist were selected as winners and they were to perform their solos at the concert that night. After the sectionals, there were a few master classes conducted by the professors. There was a playing master class before lunch and a reed making class after. I enjoyed listening to both master classes because it gave me an opportunity to get to know the new oboe professor better. After listening to her teach, I have decided that I like her. :)
Unfortunately, I had to depart after the second master class. Overall, it was a very educational experience and I am glad I had the opportunity to attend. I highly recommend the Double Reed Day and I suggest that everyone should go to it.
Show Choir Premiere Concert
The Kennedy High School Show Choir Premiere Concert took place this week, and it was a very big event. Show Choir is a very popular activity in my school and in schools around the area, so it is quite competitive. At the premiere concert the show choirs do exactly what the name suggests; they perform their full shows for the first time for an audience.
There are three show choirs at my school: Chaunteurs, Protege, and Happiness. Chaunteurs is the freshmen-only show choir, so no older participants are members of that choir. In preparation for the year, middle schools hold auditions for this show choir as a chance for current eighth graders to seize a spot and begin rehearsing over the summer. Directors from Kennedy go to each of the feeder middle schools and have auditions. The auditions generally have two parts: a singing portion and a dancing portion. If the prospect eighth grader demonstrates the required skill level, he or she is awarded a spot in Chaunteurs. Many students audition, but not everyone makes the cut. The directors have to choose their choir using students from multiple middle schools, so the chances are slimmer.
Protege is the second show choir at my school. This group mainly consists of sophomores, but there are a few juniors sprinkled in the mix as well. I have never heard of a senior being in Protege, but that does not mean it is not impossible. Again, freshmen in Chaunteurs have to audition for the following year in order to secure a spot in Protege. Just because you made it into Chaunteurs does not guarantee you a spot in Protege for next year. In addition to the sophomores, the directors have to account for some juniors in the group as well. The auditions run basically the same as they did the previous year and students are selected for the middle show choir group.
Happiness is the top show choir at Kennedy. Every incoming freshmen dreams of becoming a member of this group some day. This choir consists of juniors and seniors. Very rarely, there is an outstanding sophomore who is placed in this group as well. Happiness has been ranked the number one show choir in the nation multiple times and consistently achieves great success. Members of this show choir are easily recognizable by their famous yellow jackets. Happiness members wear their gaudy bright jackets whenever they have a performance later that night or a competition on the weekend.
All three show choirs began rehearsing in the summer and they have been learning and perfecting their show for many months now. The premiere concert was the first time all three groups performed their whole show for an audience. Competition season is right around the corner, so that will be the next set of performances the groups will be gearing up for!
All three show choirs began rehearsing in the summer and they have been learning and perfecting their show for many months now. The premiere concert was the first time all three groups performed their whole show for an audience. Competition season is right around the corner, so that will be the next set of performances the groups will be gearing up for!
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Christmas Music
Perhaps the most famous holiday of the year, Christmas, is only a little over a month and a half away. You know what that means; it is time for Christmas music. Many people absolutely despise Christmas music and they find it extremely annoying. I do not share this opinion, but I do not love it with all my heart, either. I think Christmas music is very happy and it is intended to put people into the holiday spirit, but I do agree that it gets a little boring after listening to it for almost two months.
Every year it seems like the malls and grocery stores and the radio stations start playing the Christmas music earlier and earlier. This year, the biggest complaint I have heard is when people say, "It is not even Thanksgiving yet!". It is a bit outrageous when you think about it, but this has been going on for years now. Some holidays are so close together that stores feel the need to start advertising for a later one before the earlier even finishes. For example, Valentine's Day is only two months after New Years' Eve. This may seem like a long time, but in past years I remember stores have started to set out Valentine's Day decorations and chocolate before Christmas even came! I understand that occurrences like this do not please many people, but they have become social norms. In situations like this where it is impossible to change everything, it is easiest to simply rest your case and try to accept what is going on around you.
Christmas music is often very popular and easily recognizable by almost everyone. The songs are catchy and often end up driving people crazy when they get stuck in their heads. The music associated with this holiday might be one of the reasons Christmas is one of, if not the most, popular holidays in the United States. Other holidays have some music associated with them, but none to the extent that Christmas does. Music is a way of bringing people together, so it makes sense that everyone is very family oriented around Christmas time. Studies have also shown that using songs and music helps you remember things better. This is why teachers often use songs in order to teach young children topics in school. Perhaps the presence of so much music around Christmas time helps make the holiday that much more memorable in people's minds.
I hope everyone has a wonderful, fun-filled Christmas this year! :)
Every year it seems like the malls and grocery stores and the radio stations start playing the Christmas music earlier and earlier. This year, the biggest complaint I have heard is when people say, "It is not even Thanksgiving yet!". It is a bit outrageous when you think about it, but this has been going on for years now. Some holidays are so close together that stores feel the need to start advertising for a later one before the earlier even finishes. For example, Valentine's Day is only two months after New Years' Eve. This may seem like a long time, but in past years I remember stores have started to set out Valentine's Day decorations and chocolate before Christmas even came! I understand that occurrences like this do not please many people, but they have become social norms. In situations like this where it is impossible to change everything, it is easiest to simply rest your case and try to accept what is going on around you.
Christmas music is often very popular and easily recognizable by almost everyone. The songs are catchy and often end up driving people crazy when they get stuck in their heads. The music associated with this holiday might be one of the reasons Christmas is one of, if not the most, popular holidays in the United States. Other holidays have some music associated with them, but none to the extent that Christmas does. Music is a way of bringing people together, so it makes sense that everyone is very family oriented around Christmas time. Studies have also shown that using songs and music helps you remember things better. This is why teachers often use songs in order to teach young children topics in school. Perhaps the presence of so much music around Christmas time helps make the holiday that much more memorable in people's minds.
I hope everyone has a wonderful, fun-filled Christmas this year! :)
Music Therapy
Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. After assessing the strengths and needs of each client, the qualified music therapist provides the indicated treatment including creating, singing, moving to, and/or listening to music. Through musical involvement in the therapeutic context, clients' abilities are strengthened and transferred to other areas of their lives. Music therapy also provides avenues for communication that can be helpful to those who find it difficult to express themselves in words. Research in music therapy supports its effectiveness in many areas such as: overall physical rehabilitation and facilitating movement, increasing people's motivation to become engaged in their treatment, providing emotional support for clients and their families, and providing an outlet for expression of feelings.
The idea of music as a healing influence which could affect health and behavior is as least as old as the writings of Aristotle and Plato. The 20th century profession formally began after World War I and World War II when community musicians of all types, both amateur and professional, went to Veterans hospitals around the country to play for the thousands of veterans suffering both physical and emotional trauma from the wars. The patients' notable physical and emotional responses to music led the doctors and nurses to request the hiring of musicians by the hospitals. It was soon evident that the hospital musicians needed some prior training before entering the facility and so the demand grew for a college curriculum. Many colleges today offer music therapy programs that show students how to assess the needs of patients and how to design a program of music therapy that meets those needs.
The idea of music as a healing influence which could affect health and behavior is as least as old as the writings of Aristotle and Plato. The 20th century profession formally began after World War I and World War II when community musicians of all types, both amateur and professional, went to Veterans hospitals around the country to play for the thousands of veterans suffering both physical and emotional trauma from the wars. The patients' notable physical and emotional responses to music led the doctors and nurses to request the hiring of musicians by the hospitals. It was soon evident that the hospital musicians needed some prior training before entering the facility and so the demand grew for a college curriculum. Many colleges today offer music therapy programs that show students how to assess the needs of patients and how to design a program of music therapy that meets those needs.
Pep Band
Pep band is something that almost every high school musician will have to go through, even if they do not want to. While some people enjoy playing the popular tunes to pump up the student section and the sports teams, most students find pep band extremely boring and do not like it at all.
During marching season, the band is usually required to perform their halftime show at all the home football games. In addition to playing at halftime, the band is also required to sit in a designated area that is blocked off. Here, they perform short tunes that are intended to energize the student section and the football players. The songs range from around thirty seconds to a little over one minute. The referees do not allow the bands to play while the game is going on, so usually these songs are only played during timeouts, in between quarters, or if a touchdown is scored. At my school, we play the school fight song every time our football team scores a touchdown.
Pep band can be fun for those who enjoy watching the game and hanging out with their friends in band. However, this is usually not the case. Many students do not like watching football or do not care about it. Even if they did not mind it, most people would prefer to sit with the student section because it is more entertaining. I personally do not mind playing in pep band because I like sitting and hanging out with my band friends, but I certainly understand why others would not be pleased. Some nights it is very cold or very hot and it is simply miserable sitting outside for a long period of time. It is also difficult to watch the game if your team is losing and getting pounded pretty badly. The pep band tunes are meant to help encourage them to keep on playing hard and give them spirit, but sometimes this just does not work.
Overall, it does not matter if you like pep band or not. You will have to participate in it either way in order to receive a good grade for band. In these cases all you can do is try to make the best of the situation and have as much fun as you can. :)
During marching season, the band is usually required to perform their halftime show at all the home football games. In addition to playing at halftime, the band is also required to sit in a designated area that is blocked off. Here, they perform short tunes that are intended to energize the student section and the football players. The songs range from around thirty seconds to a little over one minute. The referees do not allow the bands to play while the game is going on, so usually these songs are only played during timeouts, in between quarters, or if a touchdown is scored. At my school, we play the school fight song every time our football team scores a touchdown.
Pep band can be fun for those who enjoy watching the game and hanging out with their friends in band. However, this is usually not the case. Many students do not like watching football or do not care about it. Even if they did not mind it, most people would prefer to sit with the student section because it is more entertaining. I personally do not mind playing in pep band because I like sitting and hanging out with my band friends, but I certainly understand why others would not be pleased. Some nights it is very cold or very hot and it is simply miserable sitting outside for a long period of time. It is also difficult to watch the game if your team is losing and getting pounded pretty badly. The pep band tunes are meant to help encourage them to keep on playing hard and give them spirit, but sometimes this just does not work.
Overall, it does not matter if you like pep band or not. You will have to participate in it either way in order to receive a good grade for band. In these cases all you can do is try to make the best of the situation and have as much fun as you can. :)
Sunday, November 1, 2015
"The Nightmare Before Christmas" Music Review
Halloween was this past weekend, so I thought it would be fitting to discuss some music commonly associated with the holiday. Perhaps one of the most popular Halloween movies is "The Nightmare Before Christmas" produced by Tim Burton. It follows the story of Jack Skellington, the leader of Halloween Town, known as 'The Pumpkin King'. After accidentally discovering a door leading to Christmas Town, Jack formulates a plan to kidnap Santa Claus and take over his job as the leader of Christmas Town.
The music in this soundtrack was written by Danny Elfman, a famous composer who also provided the singing voice for Jack. The score was extremely well written. For our Christmas concert this year, my band will be performing selections from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" soundtrack. I am very excited because this is one of my all time favorite movies and I enjoy the music very much. The selections we will be performing in our arrangement are "Overture", "What's This?", "Christmas Eve Montage", "Sally's Song", and "This Is Halloween".
What's This?
In this upbeat, exciting tune, Jack enters Christmas Town by accident after discovering doors deep in the forest leading to many different holiday towns. During this song, Jack discovers many odd and new things he has never seen before, such as Christmas trees and lights, stockings, and Santa Claus (who he believes to be Sandy Claws). Each phrase starts out with the intense melody and slows down and becomes more sincere towards the end as Jack reflects upon how nice all of these Christmas time things are. Then, the melody comes back once he discovers something new and exciting again and his attention is drawn elsewhere. This song is where Jack's fascination with Christmas Town begins. Later on, this fascination becomes an obsession, which is the beginning stage of the rising action of the plot line.
Sally's Song
This song illustrates Sally's conflict with herself regarding Jack. She is in love with him and she cares about him very much, but she worries he does not feel the same way about her. Sally had a vision that Jack's plan to kidnap Christmas will go disastrously wrong and she is scared for him. In this song she is concerned about what she should do because she wants to stay by Jack's side and support him, but she does not want anything to happen to him so she does not want him to follow through with his plans. The more she thinks about it the more she fears Jack does not feel the same way about her and that makes her very sad. This soft tune is very beautiful but also heart-wrenching at the same time. The music is slow and expressive as Sally describes her love for Jack, and it is also filled with dissonance and tension as she expresses her fears that he is not in love with her and that he will get hurt. By the end of the song, Sally is convinced that she is not the right girl for Jack and she will let him move on to find someone else.
This Is Halloween
This song is perhaps the most well known song from "The Nightmare Before Christmas". It takes place at the very beginning of the movie and serves as the introduction to Halloween Town. Throughout the piece, many ghosts and ghouls take turns singing about Halloween Town and what it is all about. During the song many the viewers catch a first glimpse of some of the main characters, such as Sally, the Mayor, and eventually Jack Skellington at the end. Jack is introduced at the end as 'The Pumpkin King' because he is the leader of Halloween Town and all the monsters adore him. This song is very dark and mysterious, yet it is fast-paced. This is not a common pairing of musical elements. Usually dark, mysterious music is slow and eerie, and fast-paced music is often bright and happy. Using this combination helps depict Halloween Town as spooky and creepy yet intense and crazy at the same time. This tune is a perfect introduction to the movie because it grabs the audiences' attention right away and keeps them wanting to find out more about Jack and Halloween Town.
The music in this movie is phenomenal and adds lots of substance to the plot. I highly recommend both this film and the music in it to everyone. If you have not seen "The Nightmare Before Christmas", you should watch it sometime very soon!
The music in this soundtrack was written by Danny Elfman, a famous composer who also provided the singing voice for Jack. The score was extremely well written. For our Christmas concert this year, my band will be performing selections from "The Nightmare Before Christmas" soundtrack. I am very excited because this is one of my all time favorite movies and I enjoy the music very much. The selections we will be performing in our arrangement are "Overture", "What's This?", "Christmas Eve Montage", "Sally's Song", and "This Is Halloween".
What's This?
In this upbeat, exciting tune, Jack enters Christmas Town by accident after discovering doors deep in the forest leading to many different holiday towns. During this song, Jack discovers many odd and new things he has never seen before, such as Christmas trees and lights, stockings, and Santa Claus (who he believes to be Sandy Claws). Each phrase starts out with the intense melody and slows down and becomes more sincere towards the end as Jack reflects upon how nice all of these Christmas time things are. Then, the melody comes back once he discovers something new and exciting again and his attention is drawn elsewhere. This song is where Jack's fascination with Christmas Town begins. Later on, this fascination becomes an obsession, which is the beginning stage of the rising action of the plot line.
Sally's Song
This song illustrates Sally's conflict with herself regarding Jack. She is in love with him and she cares about him very much, but she worries he does not feel the same way about her. Sally had a vision that Jack's plan to kidnap Christmas will go disastrously wrong and she is scared for him. In this song she is concerned about what she should do because she wants to stay by Jack's side and support him, but she does not want anything to happen to him so she does not want him to follow through with his plans. The more she thinks about it the more she fears Jack does not feel the same way about her and that makes her very sad. This soft tune is very beautiful but also heart-wrenching at the same time. The music is slow and expressive as Sally describes her love for Jack, and it is also filled with dissonance and tension as she expresses her fears that he is not in love with her and that he will get hurt. By the end of the song, Sally is convinced that she is not the right girl for Jack and she will let him move on to find someone else.
This Is Halloween
This song is perhaps the most well known song from "The Nightmare Before Christmas". It takes place at the very beginning of the movie and serves as the introduction to Halloween Town. Throughout the piece, many ghosts and ghouls take turns singing about Halloween Town and what it is all about. During the song many the viewers catch a first glimpse of some of the main characters, such as Sally, the Mayor, and eventually Jack Skellington at the end. Jack is introduced at the end as 'The Pumpkin King' because he is the leader of Halloween Town and all the monsters adore him. This song is very dark and mysterious, yet it is fast-paced. This is not a common pairing of musical elements. Usually dark, mysterious music is slow and eerie, and fast-paced music is often bright and happy. Using this combination helps depict Halloween Town as spooky and creepy yet intense and crazy at the same time. This tune is a perfect introduction to the movie because it grabs the audiences' attention right away and keeps them wanting to find out more about Jack and Halloween Town.
The music in this movie is phenomenal and adds lots of substance to the plot. I highly recommend both this film and the music in it to everyone. If you have not seen "The Nightmare Before Christmas", you should watch it sometime very soon!
"Hello" by Adele
"Hello" is Adele's latest hit single and it is everywhere. You can not go any place without turning on the radio and hearing this song somewhere along the way on your trip. It is a good song with gorgeous music and deep, meaningful lyrics. However, this tune is wayyyy too overplayed. I do not know about everyone else, but I am certainly burned out with this song for a while. Keep in mind, it has only been out on YouTube and the radio for a few weeks! I understand that it is very popular and people like it, but radio stations need to start controlling how much "Hello" is played because I think it is getting a bit outrageous. That is all. Thanks for reading this mini-rant blog. :p
Rehearsal Behavior
Recently, a very highly-respected and professional conductor from around the area came to work with my band because our director had to be absent. All the underclassmen were terrified because the older students told them frightening tales about this director and how cruel he can be. For privacy purposes I will just reference to him by his first name, Steve. Steve is an extremely talented musician and an even better conductor, but sometimes he can be a little intimidating. Sometimes he can even be a little mean. He has never been overly mean to my band any time he has come to work with us, but everyone still knows the stories in which he is quite snippy with other bands. Thanks to the upperclassmen, all the younger students were terrified out of their minds. However, the rehearsal went very smoothly and Steve was very nice and calm. The next day when our director returned, he was very pleased with us. He said Steve was impressed with the rehearsal etiquette we displayed while he was working with us. This may not seem like much, but it is a big compliment. Many high school bands are untrained and disrespectful during rehearsal. This surprises guest conductors when they come in to work with bands because they expected better behavior out of the students. Thanks to our director, my band has been trained well and we know how to behave when it is time to get serious and work.
The first and probably most noticeable thing a band can do is look interested in what they are doing. Before we started the rehearsal with Steve, everyone was reminding each other to make sure they do not yawn, check the clock or a phone, or look bored any time during the rehearsal. Any of these things suggest a lack of interest, which creates a poor environment for learning and improving. If the students do not care about the rehearsal, why should the director? On the other hand, looking interested and being focused sends positive messages to the director and also causes a ripple effect. Students rub off on each other, so if a few people are presenting a great attitude then it will spread to others. It is important that the group as a whole in actively engaged so they are prepared to give the rehearsal their best effort.
Another thing to do is to always give your very best effort no matter where you are or what you are doing. You can not simply decide when you are going to play well, you have to always play well. You should always put the same effort forth for warming up, tuning, to playing actual songs and everything in between. Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. Similarly, practice makes permanent. If you always practice with little effort, you will perform exactly like that. This is why you should always put your best effort into any rehearsal.
The first and probably most noticeable thing a band can do is look interested in what they are doing. Before we started the rehearsal with Steve, everyone was reminding each other to make sure they do not yawn, check the clock or a phone, or look bored any time during the rehearsal. Any of these things suggest a lack of interest, which creates a poor environment for learning and improving. If the students do not care about the rehearsal, why should the director? On the other hand, looking interested and being focused sends positive messages to the director and also causes a ripple effect. Students rub off on each other, so if a few people are presenting a great attitude then it will spread to others. It is important that the group as a whole in actively engaged so they are prepared to give the rehearsal their best effort.
Another thing to do is to always give your very best effort no matter where you are or what you are doing. You can not simply decide when you are going to play well, you have to always play well. You should always put the same effort forth for warming up, tuning, to playing actual songs and everything in between. Practice does not make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect. Similarly, practice makes permanent. If you always practice with little effort, you will perform exactly like that. This is why you should always put your best effort into any rehearsal.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)