QACHS’s Band Blog

There are three things that every good musician should do……

1. Always have a pencil.

2. Have a regular practice schedule.

3. Listen to recordings of artists on their instrument.

In the Spring Edition of the Maryland Music Educator that I just finished reading today, there was an article that talked about ways of improving your program.  One part of the article mentioned playing music by various artists on various instruments while students entered the rehearsal room.  They then provided a list of artists to consider.  I want to share this list so that you can have a reference of who you can listen to.  You can find recordings of just about every one of these individuals on Amazon.com and those listed in BOLD are also available with downloadable mp3 albums.

Flute

Rampal, Galway

Oboe

Elaine Dubois, John Mack, Richard Woodhelms

Bassoon

Laurence Perkins, Benjamin Coelho, Ezequiel Faniguersch

Clarinet

Mitchell Lurie, Richard Stolzman

Saxophone

Harvey Pittel, Marcel Mule, Sighurd Rasher, Arno Borncamp

Trumpet

Allen Vizzutti, Philip Smith, Tommy Stevens, Wynton Marsalis

Horn

Dale Clevenger

Trombone

Christian Lindberg, Eugene Watts

Tuba

Roger Bobo, Sam Pilafian

Percussion

Nexus Percussion Ensemble, Black Earth Percussion Ensemble, Nancy Zeltsman (mallets), Stuart Mars

Ensemble

*U.S. Marine Band or other good service bands*, Canadian Brass, Empire Brass, Eastman Wind Ensemble, Cincinnati Wind Symphony, North Texas State Wind Ensemble, North Texas State Jazz Ensemble.

* We have a growing library of CD’s of the various Military Bands at school that you may check out to take home.  You can also download some individual files from the following websites.*

United States Marine Band

United States Navy Band

United States Army Band

United States Air Force Band

We are now beginning our fourth week of school already.  I can’t believe how quickly these first few weeks have flown by.  Each of the current ensembles are off to a great start.  Both band classes began their year by setting their top 5 goals for the year, creating a list of expectations for themselves as well as a list of the norms that they must follow in order to be successful.  It was so exciting to see the kids work together in laying all of this out for themselves for the year.  The Marching Band did this during their first day of Band Camp and has worked out great.  There was a nice turn out at the Band Open House night held at the beginning of this month.  I want to thank all of those parents and students that came out that night to learn more about the program and what we need to do together this year to have a successful year.  For those that have taken advantage of the Band Concession Stand Wiki, Thank You!  Also thank you for not only signing up to work, but helping out by working.  It really is going to take everyone in the program working together and volunteering some time in various capacities to help us do all that we do.  For those that haven’t checked it out and signed up, here is the link www.qachsbandconcession.wikispaces.com.  The band website is finally updated with all the current performance schedules.  We didn’t get a band camp edition podcast done this summer and I really didn’t have a regular director’s report for the meeting this month due to the presentation that I did.  So, the 4th episode of “From the Director’s Desk” will include my October director’s report as well as an update of all that has taken place since the last episode that was done in June.  Be sure to stay tuned and stay in touch!  The All-State Audition requirement packets have been put together and are available for students to pick up in the band room.  Also available in the band room are the first fund raising packets for Gianni’s Pizza and Sensationally Sweet Desserts.  These are due back Wednesday, September 24th and delivery will be Tuesday, October 7th.  Remember that all profit that each student makes goes into their account to go towards the cost of their spring trip.  Also available are packets for program ads to go in the TOB Competition program book.  We need everyone to sell as many ads as possible so we can pay for the show before we have it.  That way all sales the day of the show will be profit for the band.  Lastly, all students received a flyer asking for help with donations of candy for the candy grams that are sold at the TOB Competition as well as help that day.  We need as many Concert/Symphonic Band students to volunteer time to help be a host for the guest bands as they arrive, warm-up, and head to the field.  Parental help is greatly needed that day too.

You can now goto the Band’s Website and listen to the first episode of “From the Director’s Desk.” Each month I will be posting a new podcast about the latest happenings and upcoming events. I will plan to post it the day after the monthly Band Booster Meetings which are usually held the first Thursday of every month in the Band Room at 7:00 PM. If you can’t make it to the meeting to hear my Director’s Report, the podcasts will give it all to you.  Click to go there now, http://boe.qacps.k12.md.us/qhs/qaband/podcasts.html

For those that have been a part of the QACHS Band program over the past several years with me, know that one of the key elements that I feel is most important to making this program successful is communication.  I like to keep everyone as informed as possible and make future plans and schedules available as soon as possible so that we can all plan our very busy lives accordingly.  I hope that through this new communication medium, that I will be able to keep everyone up to date with the latest information from the band program.  Stay tuned and stay up to date.