Rhythm is defined as "a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound". In music, rhythm is typically very uniform and set and there is not much lenience. The rhythms are divided up perfectly and mathematically with the tempo so they are extremely precise and always accurate. However, we as humans are not robots, so it is impossible to make everything we play mechanical and perfect with math. We can get pretty darn close, but in actuality our rhythms and what we play will never be absolutely in time and flawless. It is simply impossible. This is part of how we get rhythmic interpretation.
It becomes harder to play perfectly in time the more complicated the rhythms become. Half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, or basically any multiple of four not rhythms are typically easier to play in time. More difficulty comes with groupings of three or five or some other odd number. Since the rhythms are more complicated, it is easier to interpret them in more different ways. Although not everything is perfectly in time, there are multiple ways that can be correct.
Oftentimes musicians stretch or emphasize rhythms during solos. It is their time to shine, and it shows musicality if you do it correctly. Certain notes in a phrase are more important than others, so it makes sense to hold on to those a little longer than written. Doing such makes the piece more musical and that shows great skill and understanding of music.
In music, there is no right or wrong way to be musical or interpretive. The ability to improvise or slightly change things is what makes music interesting and beautiful.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Professional Musicians
Many young children dream of becoming professional sports players, firefighters, or astronauts when they grow up. But how often do you hear them saying they dream of becoming a professional musician? The answer is not very often. It is extremely hard to strive in the area of music. The truly gifted soar to fame and are asked to perform at every high class event, while the rest fight viciously for a lowly spot at the local bar. Despite the constant stress and struggles, somehow there are many people who are willing to accept the difficult lifestyle of becoming a musician.
There is no doubt money is a major issue. It is sometimes hard to get by as a musician because often times there is not a stable source of income. Landing a seat in a band or orchestra is ideal, but that does not always happen as planned. Players may jump around from gig to gig taking whatever they can get their hands on. Many college students aspiring to perform as an occupation are faced with a shocking realization somewhere along the way: it is going to be really, really hard to succeed. However, a simple solution to this problem can be found. Many professional musicians decide to also take up another job related to music. These could include becoming a band instructor, teaching private lessons, or working in an instrument repair business. By taking up another job, musicians are able to feel more secure regarding money. Unfortunately, having another job does not allow for as much freedom as some would like. Musicians are no longer able to completely devote themselves to performing and finding opportunities to play. Despite this, happiness can still be found through these other occupations. The truly dedicated also find time to perform no matter how busy they are.
Music has the capacity to bring joy to everyone, whether it be through performing or teaching. Performing for others creates a special and unique feeling of connection amongst the performer and the audience. They may have never met before and may not ever meet again, but there is still a connection between them because of the music. Similarly, a special bond is created between a teacher and student. Giving someone the tools and instruction to succeed is one of the most amazing feelings in the world. Knowing that you helped someone and shaped his or her life in some way feels great. Life as a professional musician can be very difficult, but it can also be pretty wonderful, if you choose to make it that way.
There is no doubt money is a major issue. It is sometimes hard to get by as a musician because often times there is not a stable source of income. Landing a seat in a band or orchestra is ideal, but that does not always happen as planned. Players may jump around from gig to gig taking whatever they can get their hands on. Many college students aspiring to perform as an occupation are faced with a shocking realization somewhere along the way: it is going to be really, really hard to succeed. However, a simple solution to this problem can be found. Many professional musicians decide to also take up another job related to music. These could include becoming a band instructor, teaching private lessons, or working in an instrument repair business. By taking up another job, musicians are able to feel more secure regarding money. Unfortunately, having another job does not allow for as much freedom as some would like. Musicians are no longer able to completely devote themselves to performing and finding opportunities to play. Despite this, happiness can still be found through these other occupations. The truly dedicated also find time to perform no matter how busy they are.
Music has the capacity to bring joy to everyone, whether it be through performing or teaching. Performing for others creates a special and unique feeling of connection amongst the performer and the audience. They may have never met before and may not ever meet again, but there is still a connection between them because of the music. Similarly, a special bond is created between a teacher and student. Giving someone the tools and instruction to succeed is one of the most amazing feelings in the world. Knowing that you helped someone and shaped his or her life in some way feels great. Life as a professional musician can be very difficult, but it can also be pretty wonderful, if you choose to make it that way.
All-State
For most high school students involved in music, all-state is a huge deal. The All-State Band and Orchestras are composed of the best of the best players in the state. The competition is cutthroat. With all-state auditions right around the corner in less than a month, I think it is a good time to explain exactly what it takes to be a part of one of these outstanding ensembles.
There are three parts to the all-state audition: a solo, two etudes, and scales. Each year students are asked to choose a minute to minute and a half excerpt from a solo to perform for the judge. The solo is always performed first, so it is extremely important that it be very solid. It needs to be especially good because it is the first thing you will play when you walk into the room, so it serves as a first impression for the judge. No matter how good anything else sounds, if you walk in and play your solo poorly, the chances of getting selected are very low.
The next portion of the audition is the etudes. Each year two etudes are selected from a specific book for the all-state auditions. Typically there will be one fast and one slow etude chosen to give players a chance to show off both aspects of their playing. It is important for musicians to have the ability to play both technically and beautifully at different tempos.
The final section of the auditions is arguably the most important: scales. Scales are said to be the things that either make or break your audition. There are twelve major scales total that must be memorized and played at a certain tempo. However, you only play three scales in the audition. Each student walks in and picks up a card that has two scales written on it. These are the two scales that are performed in the audition. The third is the player's choice scale. Everyone is given the opportunity to play their favorite scale that they feel most comfortable with for the judge. If your choice scale is written on the card you select, however, you cannot play that scale again as your choice scale. This is why it is important to have a number two choice scale. Some instructors even say to have a third just in case both of your choice scales are written on the card you choose. The last scale performed in the audition is the chromatic scale. The chromatic scale consists of every note you are capable of playing on your instrument; from the lowest to the absolute highest and back down. In order to make it into all-state, your scales must be near perfect.
This is my third year auditioning for all-state and I feel more prepared than I ever have. I hope all my hard work pays off and I am given the opportunity to play in one of these outstanding all-state ensembles.
There are three parts to the all-state audition: a solo, two etudes, and scales. Each year students are asked to choose a minute to minute and a half excerpt from a solo to perform for the judge. The solo is always performed first, so it is extremely important that it be very solid. It needs to be especially good because it is the first thing you will play when you walk into the room, so it serves as a first impression for the judge. No matter how good anything else sounds, if you walk in and play your solo poorly, the chances of getting selected are very low.
The next portion of the audition is the etudes. Each year two etudes are selected from a specific book for the all-state auditions. Typically there will be one fast and one slow etude chosen to give players a chance to show off both aspects of their playing. It is important for musicians to have the ability to play both technically and beautifully at different tempos.
The final section of the auditions is arguably the most important: scales. Scales are said to be the things that either make or break your audition. There are twelve major scales total that must be memorized and played at a certain tempo. However, you only play three scales in the audition. Each student walks in and picks up a card that has two scales written on it. These are the two scales that are performed in the audition. The third is the player's choice scale. Everyone is given the opportunity to play their favorite scale that they feel most comfortable with for the judge. If your choice scale is written on the card you select, however, you cannot play that scale again as your choice scale. This is why it is important to have a number two choice scale. Some instructors even say to have a third just in case both of your choice scales are written on the card you choose. The last scale performed in the audition is the chromatic scale. The chromatic scale consists of every note you are capable of playing on your instrument; from the lowest to the absolute highest and back down. In order to make it into all-state, your scales must be near perfect.
This is my third year auditioning for all-state and I feel more prepared than I ever have. I hope all my hard work pays off and I am given the opportunity to play in one of these outstanding all-state ensembles.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Singing
The definition of diction is "the choice and use of words and phrases in speaking or writing". We have learned about this term a lot over the past semester in my AP Language and Composition class. However, this term has a slightly different meaning in music. In music, diction can be defined as "the pronunciation and enunciation of words in singing". Oftentimes, when singers are singing their lines they are told to use their diction to enunciate the words they are singing. This is especially stressed in show choir. During the concert choir season, the directors often tell their students to use 'show choir diction'.
When young students sing, they do not always think about how their words sound to their audience. The students know the lyrics and the words they are singing, so they do not think about if their audience can understand them and what they are saying. Sometimes singers do not concentrate on pronunciation and it just sounds like they are singing mush. The words are not distinct or clear and it is impossible to decipher the lyrics. To avoid this the singers must be sure to always make sure they pronounce both the beginnings and the ends of their words. Perhaps the hardest words to do this with are words that end with the letter 't'. It is easy to simply run the middle of these words into the beginning of the next word without fully pronouncing the 't' sound. However, if you actually take the time to think about it, it is easy to make your words sound clear and crisp to the audience.
When young students sing, they do not always think about how their words sound to their audience. The students know the lyrics and the words they are singing, so they do not think about if their audience can understand them and what they are saying. Sometimes singers do not concentrate on pronunciation and it just sounds like they are singing mush. The words are not distinct or clear and it is impossible to decipher the lyrics. To avoid this the singers must be sure to always make sure they pronounce both the beginnings and the ends of their words. Perhaps the hardest words to do this with are words that end with the letter 't'. It is easy to simply run the middle of these words into the beginning of the next word without fully pronouncing the 't' sound. However, if you actually take the time to think about it, it is easy to make your words sound clear and crisp to the audience.
Composing Music
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. :)
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. :)
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, April 10, 2016
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!
Band Room
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.
Woodwind 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.
Sunday, April 3, 2016
Basketball Games
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. :)
Show Choir
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!
Dance
I recently viewed a video that illustrated cartoon birds dancing to a classical overture and I was highly amused by it. Typically I associate dancing with more modern, hip-hop music. However, this video opened my eyes and made me remember that dancing is not exclusive and it can be done using any kind of music.
Dictionary.com defines dancing as "to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, especially to the accompaniment of music". I think this is an excellent definition. Dancing can be done with or without music, but I personally find it more effective with music. Dancing, just like music, is an art. It can be used to express actions or emotions that are difficult to express using other forms of communication. While it can be used to express, dancing can also be more informal and it can be performed simply for the pleasure or enjoyment of oneself or others.
As in the video of the birds dancing to the classical overture, dancing can be used to help illustrate music. Music stimulates the auditory senses and systems of the brain. Dancing adds another element to this and stimulates the visual senses and system of the brain as well. Engaging multiple areas of the brain is much more exciting and beneficial than just stimulating one or two. I believe this is why many people enjoy going to see ballets or other types of dancing shows or performances. I enjoy going to see performances like those as well because they are very entertaining and they do indeed stimulate many areas of my brain.
I would like to recommend that everyone consider going to a dancing performance or show sometime soon. You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it!
Dictionary.com defines dancing as "to move one's feet or body, or both, rhythmically in a pattern of steps, especially to the accompaniment of music". I think this is an excellent definition. Dancing can be done with or without music, but I personally find it more effective with music. Dancing, just like music, is an art. It can be used to express actions or emotions that are difficult to express using other forms of communication. While it can be used to express, dancing can also be more informal and it can be performed simply for the pleasure or enjoyment of oneself or others.
As in the video of the birds dancing to the classical overture, dancing can be used to help illustrate music. Music stimulates the auditory senses and systems of the brain. Dancing adds another element to this and stimulates the visual senses and system of the brain as well. Engaging multiple areas of the brain is much more exciting and beneficial than just stimulating one or two. I believe this is why many people enjoy going to see ballets or other types of dancing shows or performances. I enjoy going to see performances like those as well because they are very entertaining and they do indeed stimulate many areas of my brain.
I would like to recommend that everyone consider going to a dancing performance or show sometime soon. You might be surprised by how much you enjoy it!
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Rehearsals
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.
The Differences Between College and High School Marching Band
Marching band is very different in college than it is in high school. There are many who say college marching band is much harder, but there are also some who disagree and say high school marching is far more difficult. I am only a junior in high school, so I have not experienced college marching band yet and I do not know what it is like from personal experience. However, I would say that both are difficult in different ways.
Learning music is much easier in high school marching band in my opinion. Generally, there is one show throughout the season that the band will perform at games and competitions. The students only have to learn one set of music and they will continue to perfect it throughout the season. The music is often passed out sometime during August during band camp and it is pretty well learned by the first competition. College marching bands, however, have a large variety of shows they perform throughout the season. Each week, new music is passed out and a different show is performed at the football games. This is not as difficult though because the college students have the ability to perform using music. There are little contraptions called lyres designed specifically for each instrument that you can put music into and attach to your instrument. Almost all the members of the band use lyres and can read the music as they perform. Not being required to memorize new music every week takes lots of pressure off of the players. They still have to work very hard and practice the music, though. Overall, despite having the ability to perform using music, I think learning a new set of music each week is harder than learning one set for the entire season.
The drill in high school has different difficulty levels depending on the skill level of the band. Some high schools marching bands have very simple, easy drill whereas others have complicated, complex drill that is very impressive when executed well. Like the music, high school bands only learn one set of drill throughout the whole season. Since they have many different shows throughout the season, college marching bands also have many different sets of drill to fit the show. Unlike the music, however, the students cannot read drill as they are marching. This means they have to memorize the new drill each week. The drill in college marching band is much easier because of this. The band often moves very little and stands in one place while playing. This lightens the load on the players. I think the drill is about equally as difficult at the high school and college levels. This depends on the high school, but generally they have more complicated drill. College bands have easier drill, but they also have to learn new drill every week. Therefore, it is hard to tell which level of band has a higher difficulty level regarding drill.
The time commitment for college marching band is far greater than that of high school. Most college bands rehearse around three hours a day throughout the season. Keep in mind, the marching season for college is much longer than that of high school. They typically do not participate in competitions, but the bands have to play for all the football games, both home and away. The games take a large amount of time out of each day. The time spent rehearsing outside of the school day for high school marching band varies, but it typically is not as demanding as the time commitment for college. My band only rehearsed for two nights a week during marching season, each being three hours. High school bands in my region generally only send the band to home football games, which are much shorter than college games. We simply have to play our show during halftime and sit for the rest of the time playing pep band tunes. However, high school bands participate in competitions. Most competitions run for half a day, usually on a Saturday. This is still less than college football games. Therefore, the time commitment is far greater for marching band at the college level.
I enjoy watching both high school and college marching bands and I like assessing the differences between them. It is fun to watch both types and learn from them.
Learning music is much easier in high school marching band in my opinion. Generally, there is one show throughout the season that the band will perform at games and competitions. The students only have to learn one set of music and they will continue to perfect it throughout the season. The music is often passed out sometime during August during band camp and it is pretty well learned by the first competition. College marching bands, however, have a large variety of shows they perform throughout the season. Each week, new music is passed out and a different show is performed at the football games. This is not as difficult though because the college students have the ability to perform using music. There are little contraptions called lyres designed specifically for each instrument that you can put music into and attach to your instrument. Almost all the members of the band use lyres and can read the music as they perform. Not being required to memorize new music every week takes lots of pressure off of the players. They still have to work very hard and practice the music, though. Overall, despite having the ability to perform using music, I think learning a new set of music each week is harder than learning one set for the entire season.
The drill in high school has different difficulty levels depending on the skill level of the band. Some high schools marching bands have very simple, easy drill whereas others have complicated, complex drill that is very impressive when executed well. Like the music, high school bands only learn one set of drill throughout the whole season. Since they have many different shows throughout the season, college marching bands also have many different sets of drill to fit the show. Unlike the music, however, the students cannot read drill as they are marching. This means they have to memorize the new drill each week. The drill in college marching band is much easier because of this. The band often moves very little and stands in one place while playing. This lightens the load on the players. I think the drill is about equally as difficult at the high school and college levels. This depends on the high school, but generally they have more complicated drill. College bands have easier drill, but they also have to learn new drill every week. Therefore, it is hard to tell which level of band has a higher difficulty level regarding drill.
The time commitment for college marching band is far greater than that of high school. Most college bands rehearse around three hours a day throughout the season. Keep in mind, the marching season for college is much longer than that of high school. They typically do not participate in competitions, but the bands have to play for all the football games, both home and away. The games take a large amount of time out of each day. The time spent rehearsing outside of the school day for high school marching band varies, but it typically is not as demanding as the time commitment for college. My band only rehearsed for two nights a week during marching season, each being three hours. High school bands in my region generally only send the band to home football games, which are much shorter than college games. We simply have to play our show during halftime and sit for the rest of the time playing pep band tunes. However, high school bands participate in competitions. Most competitions run for half a day, usually on a Saturday. This is still less than college football games. Therefore, the time commitment is far greater for marching band at the college level.
I enjoy watching both high school and college marching bands and I like assessing the differences between them. It is fun to watch both types and learn from them.
Scales
Music revolves around scales. They make up everything and it is impossible to not use them. There are many types of scales such as major, minor, melodic, harmonic, and more. In this blog, I will be discussing the importance of the 12 major scales.
The 12 major scales include C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, G, D, A, E, B, and F#. Each scale contains a different series of notes starting with the name of the scale. There are five flat scales, six sharp scales, and C, which contains all natural notes. Every piece of music is written in a certain key, which is the same thing as a scale. This determines what notes everyone will play. Each key sounds slightly different, giving each piece of music a unique sound.
It is very important to memorize all 12 major scales if you want to become a serious musician. Music is created by simply developing relationships between notes. Once you reach the point where you can look at a piece of music and analyze the relationships between notes, everything immediately becomes much easier. Instead of seeing random notes, you can see how the notes fit together and are the role they play in the relationships. This is why the major scales are so important to music.
It is very important to memorize all 12 major scales if you want to become a serious musician. Music is created by simply developing relationships between notes. Once you reach the point where you can look at a piece of music and analyze the relationships between notes, everything immediately becomes much easier. Instead of seeing random notes, you can see how the notes fit together and are the role they play in the relationships. This is why the major scales are so important to music.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Judging Marching Band Competitions
Many marching bands go to competitions to perform their show and be judged and ranked against other bands. The rules and scoring guidelines vary from competition to competition, but they are similar across the country. Similarly, the judges are all different, so all the rules are interpreted differently. Despite these variations, there are some basic guidelines that all judges generally follow when judging marching band shows.
The number of judges depends on the individual competition, but there are usually at least five. These include judges for colorguard, percussion, marching and maneuvering (M&M), music execution, and general effect (GE). Each category has an individual score that contributes to the total, which is added up to rank and place the bands. Each score is important and contributes to the total score, so it is not a good idea to neglect a certain category and focus too much on another.
The first two categories are pretty self explanatory. There is a judge who watches and analyzes the colorguard only. This judge is typically on the field with the guard. He or she watches many things such as the complexity of the work, the quality at which it is performed, the basics of colorguard technique, and much more. This judge can comment on other aspects of the performance, but they are supposed to mainly focus on the colorguard. There is also an individual judge who judges the percussion sections, which include the drumline and front ensemble, or pit. This judge is also on the field and has to run back and forth between the front sideline to listen to the pit and the back of the field, which is typically where the drumline is written into the drill. The judge analyzes things such as how well the pit and drumline are lining up, how well they are lining up with the band, how the percussion music complements the music the winds are playing, the complexity of the music, and more. These two categories are specialized, but they still contribute to the overall score and are important.
The next two categories being judged are labeled marching and maneuvering and music execution. These judges are also on the field with the band. The M&M judge focuses on the marching of the band. He or she watches both the group as a whole and specific individuals. This judge comments on marching style, whether individuals are marching in time, upper body orientation, intervals and spacing, and more. Like the colorguard and percussion judges, this judge is free to comment on other aspects of the performance but they usually stick to their assigned area, which would be marching. The music execution judge can also focus on individuals or the sound the group is producing as a whole. This judge walks around and listens to everyone, so they can point out people who are not playing and dock points because of that. He or she also listens to the sound the group is putting out from the field. This does not sound as good as it does in the stands, but the judge can still determine whether it is quality music or not.
The final judge that most competitions have is the general effect judge. This judge sits up in the press box so he or she can observe the performance from above. He or she is free to comment on every aspect of the show. This judge analyzes how the show comes across to the audience, how effective the music and drill are, and how everything works together. All of these judges are very important and play a crucial role in the placement of the bands.
The next two categories being judged are labeled marching and maneuvering and music execution. These judges are also on the field with the band. The M&M judge focuses on the marching of the band. He or she watches both the group as a whole and specific individuals. This judge comments on marching style, whether individuals are marching in time, upper body orientation, intervals and spacing, and more. Like the colorguard and percussion judges, this judge is free to comment on other aspects of the performance but they usually stick to their assigned area, which would be marching. The music execution judge can also focus on individuals or the sound the group is producing as a whole. This judge walks around and listens to everyone, so they can point out people who are not playing and dock points because of that. He or she also listens to the sound the group is putting out from the field. This does not sound as good as it does in the stands, but the judge can still determine whether it is quality music or not.
The final judge that most competitions have is the general effect judge. This judge sits up in the press box so he or she can observe the performance from above. He or she is free to comment on every aspect of the show. This judge analyzes how the show comes across to the audience, how effective the music and drill are, and how everything works together. All of these judges are very important and play a crucial role in the placement of the bands.
The Radio
I have never used the old, clunky, beat up radio that sits in my basement before. I'm sure once upon a time it was used quite frequently, but I do not even know how to turn it on. Nowadays everyone simply uses their phone or MP3 player for music. Old fashioned radios are very rare and not likely to be seen in homes. However, many people still use radios every day, just in different forms.
Many people listen to the radio in their car every day on the way to work or school or wherever they are going. In most car radios, there are two settings: AM radio and FM radio. AM radio typically refers to talk show radio stations that you can listen to in the car. FM, on the other hand, consists of music stations, though they may have some talking as well. Of course, there are commercials on both settings, so that adds extra talking no one usually wants to listen to. Listening to the radio while driving is relaxing or entertaining for most people, which is why they turn it on in the first place. Personally, I do not mind driving in silence. However, sometimes I turn on the radio to listen to music as background noise while I am driving places. I generally turn the radio off if there are other people in the car, though.
Similarly, many people listen to music on their phones to provide entertainment for themselves. Some simply buy music from the iTunes store to listen to at their leisure. I think that most people simply use an app to listen to music, though. Common music apps include Pandora, Spotify, and SoundCloud. It may seem obvious, but when using these apps they are pulling different songs from different radio stations. This means that you are indeed using a radio when you use these apps to listen to music, even though it is on your phone.
There are hundreds of different stations and genres on the radio, such as pop, jazz, hip-hop, rap, classical, blues, and so much more. There is a type of music for everyone to listen to thanks to the many radio stations that exist. If you have not found a type of music you enjoy listening to, you simply have not been looking hard enough. Next time you pull out your phone, try going through some of the different music apps so you can browse through the vast amount of stations. I hope you find a type of music you enjoy!
Many people listen to the radio in their car every day on the way to work or school or wherever they are going. In most car radios, there are two settings: AM radio and FM radio. AM radio typically refers to talk show radio stations that you can listen to in the car. FM, on the other hand, consists of music stations, though they may have some talking as well. Of course, there are commercials on both settings, so that adds extra talking no one usually wants to listen to. Listening to the radio while driving is relaxing or entertaining for most people, which is why they turn it on in the first place. Personally, I do not mind driving in silence. However, sometimes I turn on the radio to listen to music as background noise while I am driving places. I generally turn the radio off if there are other people in the car, though.
Similarly, many people listen to music on their phones to provide entertainment for themselves. Some simply buy music from the iTunes store to listen to at their leisure. I think that most people simply use an app to listen to music, though. Common music apps include Pandora, Spotify, and SoundCloud. It may seem obvious, but when using these apps they are pulling different songs from different radio stations. This means that you are indeed using a radio when you use these apps to listen to music, even though it is on your phone.
There are hundreds of different stations and genres on the radio, such as pop, jazz, hip-hop, rap, classical, blues, and so much more. There is a type of music for everyone to listen to thanks to the many radio stations that exist. If you have not found a type of music you enjoy listening to, you simply have not been looking hard enough. Next time you pull out your phone, try going through some of the different music apps so you can browse through the vast amount of stations. I hope you find a type of music you enjoy!
Performing in a Pit Orchestra
Playing in a pit orchestra in a musical is far different from any other type of performance I have been a part of. While it might seem tough at first, it is very fun and rewarding.
My first experience performing in a pit orchestra was performing the musical Jekyll and Hyde. I absolutely loved the music and I had a great time playing. It also helped that the cast and crew were fantastic and did an amazing job making the show come to life. I think Jekyll and Hyde will always be my favorite musical. It was such a great exposure to the world of pit orchestras.
Music in a musical pit is quite different from regular band music. It is typically the same for brass instruments, but there are not certain books for specific woodwind instruments. Instead, the books are simply labeled Reed 1, Reed 2, Reed 3, and so on. Rather than playing one instrument, the musicians playing the different Reed books are usually asked to play multiple instruments. For example, on the first song the Reed 2 book may be marked as clarinet music, but on the third song it may be marked as oboe music. This means the players will have to switch instruments between tunes. Woodwind musicians hoping to be hired to play in a professional musical have a higher chance of being selected if they are capable of playing more than one instrument.
Playing in a musical pit is also much more exposed than playing in a regular concert band. There are typically only one to two players for each instrument with one player on a part if there is more than one part. In order to sound good everyone must play with lots of confidence and no hesitation. There is no place to hide in a pit orchestra. I find it easiest to think of everything I play as a solo. Playing in a pit orchestra is vastly different from other types of performances, but it is equally fun.
My first experience performing in a pit orchestra was performing the musical Jekyll and Hyde. I absolutely loved the music and I had a great time playing. It also helped that the cast and crew were fantastic and did an amazing job making the show come to life. I think Jekyll and Hyde will always be my favorite musical. It was such a great exposure to the world of pit orchestras.
Music in a musical pit is quite different from regular band music. It is typically the same for brass instruments, but there are not certain books for specific woodwind instruments. Instead, the books are simply labeled Reed 1, Reed 2, Reed 3, and so on. Rather than playing one instrument, the musicians playing the different Reed books are usually asked to play multiple instruments. For example, on the first song the Reed 2 book may be marked as clarinet music, but on the third song it may be marked as oboe music. This means the players will have to switch instruments between tunes. Woodwind musicians hoping to be hired to play in a professional musical have a higher chance of being selected if they are capable of playing more than one instrument.
Playing in a musical pit is also much more exposed than playing in a regular concert band. There are typically only one to two players for each instrument with one player on a part if there is more than one part. In order to sound good everyone must play with lots of confidence and no hesitation. There is no place to hide in a pit orchestra. I find it easiest to think of everything I play as a solo. Playing in a pit orchestra is vastly different from other types of performances, but it is equally fun.
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Sight-Reading
Sight reading is the reading and performing of a piece of music or song in music notation that the performer has not seen before, also called a prima vista. Sight-singing is used to describe a singer who is sight-reading. Both activities require the musician to play or sing the notated rhythms and pitches. While both sight-reading and sight-singing can be significantly challenging, in comparison to the normal way that notated music is learned–practicing the melodies and passages individually–sight-singing is more challenging, because the musician does not have any keys, frets or valves (on keyboard instruments, guitars, and valved brass instruments, respectively) to help them obtain the correct pitches.
Studio musicians (that is, musicians employed to record pieces for commercials, etc.) often record pieces on the first take without having seen them before. Often, the music played on television is played by musicians who are sight-reading. This practice has developed through intense commercial competition in these industries. In some circumstances, such as examinations, the ability of a student to sight-read is assessed by presenting the student with a short piece of music, with an allotted time to peruse the music, then testing the student on the accuracy of the performance. A more challenging test requires the student to perform without any preparation at all.
Very talented musicians have to possess a strong skill for sight-reading in order to achieve a certain level of success in their careers. Often times no matter how good a player can be, if he or she cannot sight read with proficiency then he or she is disqualified or excluded from certain performances or groups. There are no easy tips to help you learn to sight read better, you simply have to do it often enough that it you reach a point where nothing surprises you when you start a brand new piece of music. Becoming a master of scales does help some in sight-reading. In an earlier post, I wrote about scales and how they make up all music in some way or another. Once you have reached a certain point of mastery you can look at any piece of music and break it down in to smaller sections of scales. In order to improve your sight reading skills, I suggest to simply pull out random pieces of music and play through them every time you practice. This will help you become more comfortable being faced with new music.
Studio musicians (that is, musicians employed to record pieces for commercials, etc.) often record pieces on the first take without having seen them before. Often, the music played on television is played by musicians who are sight-reading. This practice has developed through intense commercial competition in these industries. In some circumstances, such as examinations, the ability of a student to sight-read is assessed by presenting the student with a short piece of music, with an allotted time to peruse the music, then testing the student on the accuracy of the performance. A more challenging test requires the student to perform without any preparation at all.
Very talented musicians have to possess a strong skill for sight-reading in order to achieve a certain level of success in their careers. Often times no matter how good a player can be, if he or she cannot sight read with proficiency then he or she is disqualified or excluded from certain performances or groups. There are no easy tips to help you learn to sight read better, you simply have to do it often enough that it you reach a point where nothing surprises you when you start a brand new piece of music. Becoming a master of scales does help some in sight-reading. In an earlier post, I wrote about scales and how they make up all music in some way or another. Once you have reached a certain point of mastery you can look at any piece of music and break it down in to smaller sections of scales. In order to improve your sight reading skills, I suggest to simply pull out random pieces of music and play through them every time you practice. This will help you become more comfortable being faced with new music.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
No! Not Rain!
Weather is extremely important in the world of music. I know what you are thinking. 'How on earth does the weather affect music?' Why, I sure am glad you asked.
Some reasons are fairly obvious, such as weather affecting the venue. Many performances are outside during summer time and during the marching season. Marching bands perform outside on the football field in all sorts of conditions. During band camp in late August, it is extremely hot and you must stay extremely well hydrated in order to stay healthy and to not pass out. As the season continues the weather starts to change to a nicer, more controlled temperature. Many days it is very rainy outside and students are forced to trudge through the muddy, soggy field every day for rehearsal. Towards the end of the season, the weather starts getting very chilly. The wool uniforms that once heated up your body on the hot summer days now provide no warmth what so ever in the brutal cold. Sometimes the weather conditions are so extreme that the band can not perform at all. Football game half time performances are often called off at the beginning of the season because of the heat, and in extremely rare cases competitions are called off near the end in the case of a very early snow. In addition to marching band performances, there are also many community bands that perform outside throughout the summer. Usually the only time these performances is called off is when it is raining because the musicians have no way to protect their instruments.
The weather does not only affect the playing venue, it also affects how the instruments sound when played. Many professional woodwind instruments are made out of actual wood, which is a difficult material to deal with. The wood moves very often in accordance with the weather conditions. When it is hot, the wood expands and your pitch is raised so you become out of tune on the sharp side. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when it is cold outside the woods contracts and the pitch is lowered. This is because as the temperature increases the speed of your air also increases, raising the pitch. Similarly, when it is cold the air speed slows down, causing the pitch to go flat. The same things happens to brass instruments and saxophones, except the metal those instruments are made out of expands and contracts instead of the wood.
While the temperature outside affects the way your instrument sounds while playing, other conditions such as rain affect whether or not you will be playing your instrument at all. Brass instruments have no trouble playing in the rain, but it is a very different story for most woodwinds and percussion instruments made out of wood. Everyone knows that you should never get wood wet. The moisture gets trapped in the wood and then it slowly starts to decay away. This happens with instruments too. In addition to the wood, the metals on woodwind instruments also start to rust when they get wet. All of these things are extremely expensive to repair, so it is best to simply keep your instrument dry in the first place.
Some reasons are fairly obvious, such as weather affecting the venue. Many performances are outside during summer time and during the marching season. Marching bands perform outside on the football field in all sorts of conditions. During band camp in late August, it is extremely hot and you must stay extremely well hydrated in order to stay healthy and to not pass out. As the season continues the weather starts to change to a nicer, more controlled temperature. Many days it is very rainy outside and students are forced to trudge through the muddy, soggy field every day for rehearsal. Towards the end of the season, the weather starts getting very chilly. The wool uniforms that once heated up your body on the hot summer days now provide no warmth what so ever in the brutal cold. Sometimes the weather conditions are so extreme that the band can not perform at all. Football game half time performances are often called off at the beginning of the season because of the heat, and in extremely rare cases competitions are called off near the end in the case of a very early snow. In addition to marching band performances, there are also many community bands that perform outside throughout the summer. Usually the only time these performances is called off is when it is raining because the musicians have no way to protect their instruments.
The weather does not only affect the playing venue, it also affects how the instruments sound when played. Many professional woodwind instruments are made out of actual wood, which is a difficult material to deal with. The wood moves very often in accordance with the weather conditions. When it is hot, the wood expands and your pitch is raised so you become out of tune on the sharp side. On the opposite end of the spectrum, when it is cold outside the woods contracts and the pitch is lowered. This is because as the temperature increases the speed of your air also increases, raising the pitch. Similarly, when it is cold the air speed slows down, causing the pitch to go flat. The same things happens to brass instruments and saxophones, except the metal those instruments are made out of expands and contracts instead of the wood.
While the temperature outside affects the way your instrument sounds while playing, other conditions such as rain affect whether or not you will be playing your instrument at all. Brass instruments have no trouble playing in the rain, but it is a very different story for most woodwinds and percussion instruments made out of wood. Everyone knows that you should never get wood wet. The moisture gets trapped in the wood and then it slowly starts to decay away. This happens with instruments too. In addition to the wood, the metals on woodwind instruments also start to rust when they get wet. All of these things are extremely expensive to repair, so it is best to simply keep your instrument dry in the first place.
Auditions
Auditions are extremely stressful for many people. It is completely normal to be frightened about going into a room to perform for someone you do not know. Oftentimes if you are auditioning for something, it means you care about the activity and you want to do well in the audition. If you are not scared or anxious at all, it probably means you do not care about the result of the audition. Many people struggle dealing with this stress and it causes them to perform worse, making them seem less skilled than they actually are. In order to perform well in auditions, you must first master how to control your emotions and not let them affect your playing.
I, like many others, used to deal with major stress issues when auditioning for something, whether that be to secure a spot in All-State or simply the chair auditions for our high school band. I am not entirely sure how I overcame these fears, but I do remember that one day I put my foot down and decided I was no longer going to let nerves affect how I do in an audition. I was sick of being disappointed in myself for letting my fears get the best of me, so I simply decided that was never going to happen again. From then on, I have always walked into an audition room completely calm. My mother, a professional flutist, once told me, "Do not act cocky, but walk into that room with confidence, like you have already earned the spot." Some of my peers often mistake my calmness as a lack of care, like I mentioned previously. The opposite is actually quite true. I force myself to be calm and not let my nerves affect me because I care deeply and I am determined to do my very best in the audition. Whenever I walk into an audition, my goal is to absolutely ooze confidence. Often times, I do this very well. I work very hard to prepare the music and I am confident that my skills as a musician will earn me a good spot anywhere.
Many older, more experienced musicians may be able to come up with lots of different strategies you could use to calm yourself down or manage your nerves before an audition. However, unfortunately I do not have any helpful tips that could be of use. I know you have probably heard it a million times, but the only thing I can say is to be confident. Every time you step into an audition room, you should act as if you have already earned a spot and as if you own the room. It takes a lot of practice to fully master how to be in control of your emotions, but if you work hard enough, you can eventually overcome the stresses and fears associated with auditioning. Let me be a testament; you will feel one hundred times better when you walk out the room knowing that you performed to the best of your abilities and you did not let your nerves get in the way. Even if you do not achieve what you originally had in mind, it will feel wonderful knowing you can overcome your fears.
I, like many others, used to deal with major stress issues when auditioning for something, whether that be to secure a spot in All-State or simply the chair auditions for our high school band. I am not entirely sure how I overcame these fears, but I do remember that one day I put my foot down and decided I was no longer going to let nerves affect how I do in an audition. I was sick of being disappointed in myself for letting my fears get the best of me, so I simply decided that was never going to happen again. From then on, I have always walked into an audition room completely calm. My mother, a professional flutist, once told me, "Do not act cocky, but walk into that room with confidence, like you have already earned the spot." Some of my peers often mistake my calmness as a lack of care, like I mentioned previously. The opposite is actually quite true. I force myself to be calm and not let my nerves affect me because I care deeply and I am determined to do my very best in the audition. Whenever I walk into an audition, my goal is to absolutely ooze confidence. Often times, I do this very well. I work very hard to prepare the music and I am confident that my skills as a musician will earn me a good spot anywhere.
Many older, more experienced musicians may be able to come up with lots of different strategies you could use to calm yourself down or manage your nerves before an audition. However, unfortunately I do not have any helpful tips that could be of use. I know you have probably heard it a million times, but the only thing I can say is to be confident. Every time you step into an audition room, you should act as if you have already earned a spot and as if you own the room. It takes a lot of practice to fully master how to be in control of your emotions, but if you work hard enough, you can eventually overcome the stresses and fears associated with auditioning. Let me be a testament; you will feel one hundred times better when you walk out the room knowing that you performed to the best of your abilities and you did not let your nerves get in the way. Even if you do not achieve what you originally had in mind, it will feel wonderful knowing you can overcome your fears.
Thursday, January 28, 2016
Cyclone Sound
Many students at my school have heard the University of Iowa, Iowa State, and UNI marching bands at sometime during their lives. College football is very popular around here, but some of the musicians only watch to listen to the bands. This year, the Iowa State band program has started another group: Cyclone Sound. This small group of around 50 members is similar to a winter guard group that performs and competes throughout the winter season. Today, this group came to perform their 2015-2016 show for my high school. I was very impressed with the quality since the group has only been running for two or three years. It is still gaining popularity, but I believe the school is promoting the group greatly to encourage more students to audition.
The performance started with several small group performances including a routine by the featured twirler, the color guard, and the drumline. Next, the whole band came out and played a few warm ups while the director explained what they were doing to the audience. Finally, the show started. This year's show was entitled "Stars". The group performed arrangements of three or four tunes that all had something related to stars. In addition, each member wore a uniform with a large star on the front. The tarp which they performed on was designed to be an abstract 'galaxy', and many of their formations were inspired by galaxies and shooting stars.
Overall, I enjoyed the performance very much. It was clear that the group was not as sophisticated as the marching band, but it was still very good. I believe the group will continue to gain popularity and it will become better and better over the next few years. It is difficult starting something brand new like this, but the program is doing very well with it. I am very excited to see what the future holds for Cyclone Sound!
The performance started with several small group performances including a routine by the featured twirler, the color guard, and the drumline. Next, the whole band came out and played a few warm ups while the director explained what they were doing to the audience. Finally, the show started. This year's show was entitled "Stars". The group performed arrangements of three or four tunes that all had something related to stars. In addition, each member wore a uniform with a large star on the front. The tarp which they performed on was designed to be an abstract 'galaxy', and many of their formations were inspired by galaxies and shooting stars.
Overall, I enjoyed the performance very much. It was clear that the group was not as sophisticated as the marching band, but it was still very good. I believe the group will continue to gain popularity and it will become better and better over the next few years. It is difficult starting something brand new like this, but the program is doing very well with it. I am very excited to see what the future holds for Cyclone Sound!
Sunday, January 24, 2016
Michael Markowski
Michael Markowski is a twenty-first century composer who has written many award-winning pieces for band. Markowski is quite young, but he is gaining popularity rapidly because of his immense talents and beautiful works. My band performed perhaps one of his most famous pieces to date, Shadow Rituals, last year. This is the song my band recorded and submitted to the Iowa Band Masters Association last year in attempts to be selected as the High School Class 4A Band at the festival. To be selected is an extremely big deal and a great honor. My band was selected to perform at the festival last year, and one of our opening pieces was Shadow Rituals. This year, we are going to play City Trees, another popular piece written by Markowski. While Rituals is a very fast, upbeat tune, City Trees is much calmer and slower. I am looking forward to rehearsing this piece very much, and I cannot wait for Markowski to create more beautiful pieces of music.
Suite of Old American Dances Music Review
Suite of Old American Dances by Robert Russell Bennett is a very popular band piece composed in 1949. It consists of five difficult movements that include Cake Walk, Schottische, Western One-Step, Wallflower Waltz, and Rag. My band is currently working on this piece and I absolutely love it.
I. Cake Walk
The first movement was inspired by a traditional competition among black slaves. The slaves would put on a play for their white masters, who served as the judges. The master would choose his favorite skit and would reward the slave(s) with a cake. This is how the competition became known as the 'Cake Walk'. This movement is very fast and upbeat with many different sections that reflect the stages of the competition.
II. Schottische
This movement was written based off of a Scottish round dance, hence the name. It is very similar to a polka, but it is a little slower. The style switches between two types of playing throughout the movement. At the beginning the song is very light and dance-like, and then it quickly moves to a very loud and rambunctious section with almost no transition. This switch occurs several times throughout the piece.
III. Western One-Step
The Western One-Step is a variation of an early ballroom dance. This dance was often a precursor to the foxtrot. It is a very catchy movement filled with lots of sound. This movement is interesting because many instruments that usually do not have the melody carry the tune, such as the trombones.
IV. Wallflower Waltz
The fourth movement of this piece is a charming 20th century take on the classic Viennese waltz. It is a soothing tune with its familiar 1-2-3 meter. This movement is very light and beautiful. It features large english horn and trumpet solos throughout. In addition, there are many special mutes and playing styles used by the brass in order to create unique, distinct sounds.
V. Rag
The wonderful conclusion to the Suite features a bright and wild take on ragtime music. The piece is full of syncopated rhythms and 2-against-3 patterns that challenge the players. Rag is written in cut time and it very upbeat and fast, making for a fitting conclusion to the celebrated tune by Bennett.
I. Cake Walk
The first movement was inspired by a traditional competition among black slaves. The slaves would put on a play for their white masters, who served as the judges. The master would choose his favorite skit and would reward the slave(s) with a cake. This is how the competition became known as the 'Cake Walk'. This movement is very fast and upbeat with many different sections that reflect the stages of the competition.
II. Schottische
This movement was written based off of a Scottish round dance, hence the name. It is very similar to a polka, but it is a little slower. The style switches between two types of playing throughout the movement. At the beginning the song is very light and dance-like, and then it quickly moves to a very loud and rambunctious section with almost no transition. This switch occurs several times throughout the piece.
III. Western One-Step
The Western One-Step is a variation of an early ballroom dance. This dance was often a precursor to the foxtrot. It is a very catchy movement filled with lots of sound. This movement is interesting because many instruments that usually do not have the melody carry the tune, such as the trombones.
IV. Wallflower Waltz
The fourth movement of this piece is a charming 20th century take on the classic Viennese waltz. It is a soothing tune with its familiar 1-2-3 meter. This movement is very light and beautiful. It features large english horn and trumpet solos throughout. In addition, there are many special mutes and playing styles used by the brass in order to create unique, distinct sounds.
V. Rag
The wonderful conclusion to the Suite features a bright and wild take on ragtime music. The piece is full of syncopated rhythms and 2-against-3 patterns that challenge the players. Rag is written in cut time and it very upbeat and fast, making for a fitting conclusion to the celebrated tune by Bennett.
Thursday, January 21, 2016
Less Commonly Known Band Instruments
Everyone is aware of the main instruments that are used in band, such as flute, clarinet, trumpet, and tuba. Apart from these well known instruments, there are many more that are not as common and not used in all pieces of music. Sometimes when a composer wants a certain part to sound a certain way, he writes a part for an odd instrument that is not used very commonly. Similarly, sometimes a composer wants to feature that instrument in a solo or small group, so he incorporates it into the music. The instruments I will be discussing include piccolo, english horn, and cornet. There are many others, of course, but they are less confusing than these three. For example, there are instruments such as alto flute, soprano saxophone, and bass trombone that are not used very commonly in music. However, it is easier to understand them because they are simply deeper or higher versions of the main instruments, as the name suggests.
A talented, advanced flute player will have to learn how to play piccolo sometime in their studies if they wish to continue music to a certain level. A piccolo is much smaller than a flute, and it looks quite different. While most flutes are silver or gold, piccolos are often jet black or a dark colored wood and roughly less than half the size. Piccolos are very high pitched and are able to play notes higher than any other instrument. An unskilled player often makes harsh, shrill noises that are not pleasing to the ear. However, a talented flutist is able to make the piccolo sound just as good as he/she does with the flute. Piccolos, like flutes, are very hard to tune and do not sound good when two are playing together out of tune. Because of this, it is extremely rare for there to be more than one piccolo player in the band at a time. Piccolo is actually the most common of these three unknown instruments. Many songs call for a piccolo, people just do not know it.
While most flutists start learning piccolo at a younger age, oboists do not start playing english horn until much later in their musical careers. I learned how to play english horn when I was a freshman in high school, which is younger than most. A piece we were performing called for an enormous english horn solo in the beginning, so the duty fell unto me. An english horn is about twice the size of an oboe and it is much deeper. I love the sound of the english horn because it is extremely dark and rich. When playing english horn, I feel very regal and majestic. It looks exactly the same as the oboe with one exception: the bell at the bottom of an english horn is puffed up, so it looks like there is a ball of something stuck inside. The bell of an oboe has a slight flare towards the end, but it does not have a lump at the bottom. Not many songs call for an english horn, so it is rare that you would need one. Even less common is an english horn solo, like the one I mentioned above. Most composers do not think to incorporate and english horn part, let alone write a solo for it. However, I think it is a beautiful instrument and I would love to get the opportunity to play it more often.
The final instrument is the cornet. Cornet and trumpet are extremely similar, almost exactly the same in fact. There is only one tiny, unnoticeable difference between them: the way their bells are shaped. Trumpets have cylindrical bores that are consistent throughout the whole length of the tubing while cornets have conical bores that gradually decrease in size down the length of the tubing. The instruments sound and look basically the same, so they are practically interchangeable. Once in a while, pieces of music call for a section of cornets instead of a section of trumpets. The difference in sound is so miniscule I do not see the point, but some composers are extremely picky about their choice of instruments.
I always find it interesting to play or listen to pieces that use odd, uncommon instruments. It adds character to the music and I find those pieces much more enjoyable.
A talented, advanced flute player will have to learn how to play piccolo sometime in their studies if they wish to continue music to a certain level. A piccolo is much smaller than a flute, and it looks quite different. While most flutes are silver or gold, piccolos are often jet black or a dark colored wood and roughly less than half the size. Piccolos are very high pitched and are able to play notes higher than any other instrument. An unskilled player often makes harsh, shrill noises that are not pleasing to the ear. However, a talented flutist is able to make the piccolo sound just as good as he/she does with the flute. Piccolos, like flutes, are very hard to tune and do not sound good when two are playing together out of tune. Because of this, it is extremely rare for there to be more than one piccolo player in the band at a time. Piccolo is actually the most common of these three unknown instruments. Many songs call for a piccolo, people just do not know it.
The final instrument is the cornet. Cornet and trumpet are extremely similar, almost exactly the same in fact. There is only one tiny, unnoticeable difference between them: the way their bells are shaped. Trumpets have cylindrical bores that are consistent throughout the whole length of the tubing while cornets have conical bores that gradually decrease in size down the length of the tubing. The instruments sound and look basically the same, so they are practically interchangeable. Once in a while, pieces of music call for a section of cornets instead of a section of trumpets. The difference in sound is so miniscule I do not see the point, but some composers are extremely picky about their choice of instruments.
I always find it interesting to play or listen to pieces that use odd, uncommon instruments. It adds character to the music and I find those pieces much more enjoyable.
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