Category Archives: Marching Arts

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Marching Band Score Editing

Setting your kids up for success

With marching season upon us there are so many things to do and plan for. The music is being arranged, drill is being written and visual concepts are being finalized.  The planning process is extremely important in order to set your student musicians up for optimal success as we begin camps, but

Is there one step that you may be overlooking?

Many directors put a plan in process, choose music and have the music arranged for their ensembles by professionals that are excellent at what they do. This is certainly the first step to having a great product, but what many miss in the process is looking at the score and asking themselves, is this product exactly right for what will be successful on the field for my ensemble. Am I taking care of everything on the planning end so the final product will not cost the students in the end? Sometimes we blame the students for problems they cannot control.

The score editing process is one many overlook in the many stages of planning.  An arrangement that is written for your ensemble most likely has many issues that cause your students to have inherent problems on and off the field. This will also cause problems in the judges scoring because of what the kids can actually acheive. It is very important to have someone really comb through the score measure by measure so that a clean product can be presented to students at the start of the season. The beginning product needs to be free of issues that always cause directors to “pull their hair out” throughout the season.

Here are some problems that need to be addressed in order to present a product that can and will be successful from the very beginning of the season, without spending countless hours trying to rewrite and redo things throughout the season.

1. Pacing issues

When judges are looking at a show for the first time, they want to feel the show’s emotion and musicality without having their interest interrupted by segments of the show that are like run on sentences.  Judges are much like spectators. They want to be entertained. They want the show to move along and take them through a storyline. Much like a “slow” movie, if things do not move quickly, and present new ideas, we become bored and begin looking for things that are wrong. In order to score well, the judge cannot be bored. Also, how will the musical pacing work with the visual design? Am I giving the drill writer enough time to get his/her point across in a very innovative way?

2. Construction issues

Much the same as pacing, constuction is looking at how each section is incorporated in the show and how they fit in with each other. If 3/4 of the opener is woodwind contribution because your band has a strong woodwind section, the communication of the musical intent is not helping because of the one timbre that runs too long.  Along these lines there might be too long of a percussion feature without giving the ear another tidbit of music to spark an interest.  What about the way the opener feeds into the ballad and how we want to build a strong foundation to be ready for a nice slow down.  Are the introduction, plot, climax and resolutions in the right spots to feel secure in our story telling?

3. Rhythmic issues

There are just some rhythms that do not work on the field even if you have the best marching band in the country. The time is simply not there to rehearse things to death that most likely will not improve very much. Our time is so precious in the high school marching activity. It is imperative that rhyhthmic issues are looked at before passing your product out to your student musicians. Syncopation is an example of a rhythm that generally presents problems. I am certainly not saying you cannot use it, but how does it fit in with the other instruments, how much time do we have to rehearse and what tempo are they expected to master it? It almost certainly drags when being attempted at quick exciting tempi. Certain 16th note passages just for the sake of being flashy, or triplets that could be written as eighth notes.  Think about what is going to give your student a 100% chance to be 100% successful 100% of the time.

4. Breathing

Where do your kids breathe?  Breathing in the sport of the arts is the number one priority.  Students cannot be successful without proper breathing and time to take the proper breath. The score must be looked at from the standpoint of giving the musician the best opportunity for success, especially when we want to have very emotionally stirring big sections of the show.  We have all heard directors yell “louder”, “dont give up”, etc. Most of the time it is not because the students are not trying, they simply have not been given the opportunity to be successful.  They have nowhere to breathe.  I have also heard directors say “stagger your breathing.” While this is needed sometimes, unless very thorough attention in rehearsals has been done to show students where to “stagger,” just saying it will never happen.  Places for group breaths, and building breaths into each section strategically is a very large priority.

5. Dynamics

This is probably one of the most important things that is overlooked. Many arrangers write very surface dynamics in the music like f, mf or ff, but what about the in between where the music can be found.  As stated above, students need to be able to breathe, and adding dynamic interest is one way to add hidden breaths without really knowing they are there.  For an example, the bottom of a sfzp crescendo can allow a student to sneak a breath before coming back up to the large dynamic. Also, in order to score well in the music effect category we have to be very strategic at looking at what is the most important voice that needs to be heard, and add dynamics that will help this to sound like it should on a first or second reading. We want the score to be very transparent and basically spoon our intent to the judges. Not only these things, but having a clean score with very specific dynamics so the percussion writing can be written as a reflection of this.  Many bands have percussion sections that sound like they are doing one show, and the winds are doing another. Most likely, the percussion writer received a score with little to no dynamic editing.  The percussion writer needs to write very musically and know if he/she is writing with the woodwinds, or with the brass and how the battery and front ensemble fit into the overall product. This cannot be overlooked.

The one phrase that should be over every one of these categories is, “What can my students achieve and what allows them to be 100% successful 100% of the time. How many times have we said “I hope this section of the show goes well”. There should be no hope but confidence in the product given to the students that WILL allow success. No matter if you have a “young” band or a very mature ensemble, there are certain things that you can do before the season to make each sound and look mature and professional.

Choose a professional musician, possibly one who has done some marching arts adjudication, to look over your score and work with you on what will allow your students to be successful. Plan ahead so you do not waste time later.  Be proactive in your students success so you do not have to blame them for problems they cannot control later. Ask for help!

Do you use a score editor? If not I would be happy to help you look into this for your ensemble. Please contact me with any questions you may have regarding this process.

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Band Directors are CEOs

It is hard to believe that after many years of school to become a music educator, a band director WILL become a businessman or woman, but that is exactly what happens. In band programs today, the budget and personnel that a music department operates with is not unlike that of a large corporation. In order to operate smoothly and successfully the head director must be the CEO and implement great business skills to have the company run smoothly and successfully.

What does that look like in a band today?

1. Hire the right people

Just like any successful business, it is important to surround yourself with team members that will be team players, are highly motivated, humble and not self serving, and are the best option for the task at hand. Far too often, there is not enough of a “hiring process” when staffing a successful band program. How smoothly do I want the program to run and am I getting the best product for the money?

2. Know how to manage money

How do we spend the money we have that will allow the program to run the smoothest.  In a world where we buy what we want, when we want, there is little thought to if it is really neccessary and if it is the best thing for us.  Far too often, I hear band directors say “we just don’t have the money for that”.  While that may be true, where is the money being spent, and is every dollar going for the sake of education and what is best for the musicians?  For example: Look for the best deals on instruments, instead of paying retail. Do we really need a brand new mat for our winter programs? Could we compete closer to home? Are these new uniforms necessary, or are the ones we currently use working ok? Are we really ready for Bands of America, or should we improve our overall product first?

3. Be a great leader

Be humble, be a servant, be intentional, be passionate.  The team members of an organization will only perform to the level of the leadership.  Have regular meetings with staff and the organization. Let them understand the educational goals of what is attempting to be accomplished.  Be someone that has an infectious work ethic and empowers everyone around to be better people.  Study how to be a great leader and what that looks like in the business world.  Be a constant reader and studier of the world’s best business people and how they are able to grow, market and run a successful organization.

4. Learn when and how to let people go

Not always are people a right fit.  Too many times people hire their friends to work in a program and it just doesn’t work out. What happens next? How do you let that person go.  A “partnership is the only ship that wont float,” says Dave Ramsey, a high powered entrepeneur and businessman. Ask yourself, “do I have the best staff, with the most intense work ethic, excellent leadership qualities, and master educators? It is ok to let people go and move on to another solution to what is best for the program, finances and most importantly the education of the students.

5. Be an effective salesperson

Too often, the numbers of a band program suffer because the lack of intent on being able to sell the students on band.  Simply put, we have to learn to communicate our product with potential buyers.  In the professional world, most people do not find work waiting for the phone to ring.  You have to leave the cave and drag home dinner. Learn to go after what you want and be able to show potential students why this is right for them.  Do not be afraid to leave the office and sell face to face.

6. Don’t micromanage or try to do everything yourself

Trust the folks you hire to do the job you need done.  Most band directors do not do much band directing.  Yes, they still conduct the band, and lead the program, but the percentage of time spent  educating becomes less and less as the program grows.  Be a motivator and place people in your program who are talented at their craft.  Teach others what is expected and watch them be successful in their positition.  They are a reflection of you.

Check out Dave Ramsey’s book Entreleadership for a good read on how to run a successful business.

Are you a director running a program?  Can you relate to being a CEO?

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Thoughts on the New WGI Winds

The marching arts are hugely popular and can teach so many beneficial things to musicians involved.  There are varying degrees of learning that takes place when involving oneself in marching arts activities and they certainly have their place within music education. This post is in no way meant to take anything away from the marching arts but simply an attempt to offer some thoughts on a new program called WGI Winds.

Yes it is true that until now, wind players have not had an outlet in WGI winter programs, and I believe that there is a reason that it has not happened. With all that happens in a year of school for young musicians, is there really room to add another marching activity in an already busy schedule of pep band, concert bands, jazz bands, chamber music, private lessons, etc.? Do we need to add more marching activities to an already “marching heavy” curriculum? Those of us that are involved in competitive marching band realize that from the months of July until November, marching band is a way of life, and if not careful, can take over a band program causing things to be over balanced in a facet of music education that can ONLY exist because of the winter/spring training.

What is the most important part of a wind players musical training in the school system?

I believe it is broken into 3 main parts: Chamber Music participation, Private Lessons and Band Activities with multiple performances in each of these parts of the education process.  Each of these adds value to the educational process and helps to form the total musician that is the best version of him or herself. Most of these activities take place from January-May, with some band programs spending time on concert band music during marching band season.  Because of the time and competition in marching season, private lessons, chamber ensembles and sometimes concert band reading can take a backseat as we prepare for “important” contests.

So, where does WGI Winds fit into this curriculum. Please, do not hear me saying it cannot fit, but my biggest questions is WHERE and if so, why is this needed? Hear are some arguments against another marching program for winds during the winter and spring.

  • Rote teaching – we continually teach the same pieces of music for months at a time which does not present a “real-world” experience for these young musicians.  As a professional, we rehearse once for multiple concerts, not months for a few concerts.
  • Sight-Reading – If we are practicing for competitions and performances, we are in a sense preparing for the test. When do we get to focus on sight-reading when students are playing the same music for months at a time.
  • Time – When do the students get to practice and be able to take individual responsibility to improve their playing outside of competitive activities? If we are constantly preparing a “show” when do the students practice music other than the show music?
  • Money – many programs are spending thousands of dollars on fall  marching programs, when their students cannot play their instruments, or have not trained knowledgable musicians. How many masterclasses, lessons, chamber ensembles, trips to the symphony could we purchase instead of a winterguard mat, new marching costumes, transportation, etc.
  • The love for marching takes over – it is already difficult enough in some programs to instill a love of the “concert season” in parents and students because they love the competition so much. Adding another competitive wind activity can create even more animosity to an already slippery slope. Some parents call the concert season the “off season”. I would not want to create another organization for parents to attempt to be only involved in instead of the concert program.
  • Priorities – Shouldn’t our priorities be trying to create a love for music and creating the best musical versions of our students? If we compare and mirror our music programs after the professional music world, which is what we should be doing, isn’t it important to train students to be able to perform, practice and fit into the professional world? In order to create impeccable young musicians with an ability to sight-read and perform many different genres, just about all the time we have in our schedule is what is already in the curriculum for a wind player. Masterclasses with high level professional musicians, chamber music programs with multiple performance opportunities (with a book full of music to choose from), improvisation and jazz opportunities, private lessons and lastly trips to hear professsionals perform.
  • Educational process – The problem with the system that is in place is just about every part of the school day the students are given multiple opportunities to get things wrong. Even in our band classes, students play 3 on a part, and practice the same music for months at a time, and subconsciously know that they can mess up because they will always have tomorrow. I believe we need to create more opportunites to get things right quicker without presenting another opportunity to have multiple rehearsals. I am sure with WGI Winds preparations, there would be multiple rehearsals per week.

Is there any time when WGI Winds could be beneficial? I believe there are certain instances where it could add nicely to the curriculum of certain music programs:

  • Very small band – it could work nicely if there is a very small band program that feels the football field is too large of a venue for them to sound resonant and full. The Gym would be a nice space for them to connect with the audience on a more intimate level.
  • No fall marching band – If ensembles choose to train their musicians in the fall with concert band activities, the winter could be a nice time for the program to get their marching experience.

While  WGI Winds does present a chamber music avenue for young musicians, it does not allow students to work on reading and generally consists of instrumentation that is not normal to the professional chamber music idiom. Maybe having a rehearsal limit, and having to perform multiple different shows would help the educational benefit, but there are still many issues that cause it to present problems in today’s music education system.

I am a large supporter of the marching arts, and think there are huge benefits to students participating in the marching arts. I am a consultant, brass instructor and active adjudicator as well as a professional musician and value the time spent on the preparation of the WGI Winds program. I am in no way criticizing the people involved and am just expressing my thoughts on a brand new outlet in the marching arts.

What are your thoughts on WGI Winds?

 

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Six Steps to a Better Brass Section

There is nothing more exciting than hearing a drum corp or marching band with a big, full rich brass sound that resonates in our soul.  I can remember watching the Star of Indiana rehearse when I was young and the sound of the brass wrapped around me like a warm coat. I was hooked on THAT sound.

How do we produce impeccable brass section sounds at the high school level?

It obviously starts with the training and the right decisions being made during the concert season. But, lets say care has been taken in this area and we are ready to improve our brass sound for the upcoming marching season.

Here are 6 things that I do when working with brass sections to get that “wrap around warmth.” Again, this is assuming proper brass training, private lessons, and correct decision making has been made prior to the marching season beginning.

1. Begin with Breathing

Training students in the fundamentals of correct relaxed breathing and tone production to create resonance and projection are paramount to the overall brass sound. The key word is RELAXED. Breathe like a pendulum, the same back and the same forward.

2. Discover the Center

Help the student musicians understand how to discover the core center of the characteristic tone. I like to have the students all say “ah” and sing a pitch with that syllable.  Then I will have them close their mouths and hum the same pitch.  We then discuss which one “resonates” more and why? The students begin to hear the core “buzz” that is at the center of the “ah” syllable. I will have all students play at a F volume with a breath attack, staying relaxed. It is easier to hear the core buzz at bigger volumes.  We then take that sound and bring it down in volume, after the “buzz” is realized. The center is where the resonance, projection and color lives.

3. I + B = V

Intonation + Balance = Volume.  So many brass sections just play loud.  I do not use the word loud.  We say full, big, resonant, in tune, balanced.  High School brass players only have a certain limit to the volume they can produce.  Most are not playing with a 100% characterstic tone, so when they try to force a bad sound it hurts the overall volume of the section. Instead, focus on playing in tune and balanced to create more volume all while staying relaxed.  Oh, and be very mindful of how many people are in your brass section.  20 cannot sound like 70.  Be realistic with your volume expectations.

4. Understand Intonation

Thorough education on the fundamental issues involved with intonation and the tendencies of notes and chords.  Students must understand how the tuning changes depending on what note of the chord they play.  They need to understand the valve or slide tendencies of their instrument.  They need to know their own tendencies as a player. For example, do they play flat or sharp in the upper register? Do they play in tune in the middle register? Please do not tune every person with a tuner on one note! There is so much more to each persons individuality in tuning than the old one note tuning.

5. Understand Balance

Helping the section understand and acheive a balanced/cohesive sound. This balance needs to be realized within each section as well as within the larger brass section. It always seems like trumpets take over a brass section. Most bands let their first trumpets go crazy and hang out above the entire band. Think of the 1st trumpets as the sprinkles on the cupcake.  A few sprinkles are just perfect, but a bucket of sprinkles would ruin the cupcake.  A balanced trumpet section might look like this depending on how large your section is and how competent your musicians are. If you have 20 trumpets and 3 parts.  1-3 on first part (they should not all play 1st at the same time) 7 on 2nd part and 10 on 3rd part.  We really just need to feel the 1st trumpet part most of the time, not really hear it. Other issues are getting a beautiful middle sound from the mellos, and helping the lower trumpets understand how they can help bring that sound out instead of taking over it.  Help students learn how to crawl into each others sound and create a homogenous brass sound. There is so much more to discuss, but this is a beginning. Understanding balance, making correct arranging decisions (a whole other discussion), and making correct choices on part assignments are a good start.

6. How to articulate

Very detailed instruction on the fundamentals and techniques involved in performing different articulation styles. What is the difference between an accent and a marcato, and how do we achieve projection and a clear front to these articulations. Spend many sessions in a very detailed rehearsal playing legato, staccato, accent, marcato and sostenuto articulations and focusing on the front, middle and ending to each note.  Keep the focus on staying relaxed and work different dymnamic levels.

If we create the most competent  and knowledgable students and have them be the best versions of themselves, success will be realized.

Interested in work with your brass section? I am available for Music advising and brass education.

What are your thoughts about brass in marching band?

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Off the Beaten Path

Education done right in Richmond, Ky

Down I-75, off Exit 90, is a town called Richmond, Ky where a band program exists that is just “off the beaten path” called Madison Central High School.

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I had adjudicated the MCHS Marching Band on several occasions for many years, and was excited about the opportunity to do some consult work with them in 2011. I had no idea the musical fulfillment, relationships, musical growth and pure joy that would evolve over the past 5 years.

They do things the right way in Richmond.

All parts of the band program are successful because of special care in each area that ensures students are receiving a top notch music education. They understand that to have a successful marching program in the fall, the concert program must be the primary focus. They understand that to have a successful concert program, they must limit the amount of “spoon feeding” and focus on creating knowledgable individual student musicians with high personal responsibility. They understand that in order to create and foster student musicians with large amounts of personal responibility, they must trust their educational process and do more than play in a band and rehearse a lot.  They are constant learners and thinkers and are humble in their approach, therefore not afraid to incorporate new ideas, some that might be scary or “off the beaten path”.

What else are they doing right?

They have a growing and evolving chamber music program that the students enjoy and thrive from. The directors are  not afraid to turn the students loose out of the main ensemble to learn and grow without a conductor.

They do not over rehearse the students. In December 2014 & 2015, the Madison Central Music Department put on a concert with only 3 weeks of prep and not your typcial music concert. They partnered with the choral department and put on current arrangements, some in keys that are not common for the high school muscian, and trusted the students to do the preparation outside of rehearsal. On the cusp of a KMEA performance, they saw the benefit of performing and preparing this Christmas program, in which thousands from the community enjoyed at the EKU Arts Center.

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Speaking of KMEA, the 2014 MCHS Wind Ensemble performed at the KMEA State Convention on Thursday February 5, at 1:00.  They began rehearsing for this ever important concert on January 4. One month of preparation is all the students were given, and really, all they needed. The directors understand that students want to succeed, and the less chances they give them to get it wrong, the faster they will get it right. I was there 2 days before this event to witness this band rehearse.  These young musicians were so competent that there were no “high school” level comments being made. The rehearsals were about style and emotion, listening and communicating, phrasing and beauty of tone. It was a huge confirmation of what happens when music is educated and students are trusted, instead of fed with a large spoon.

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Yes, they won the KMEA 5A State Marching Band Championship twice in a row, but that award comes from doing things the right way.  The students love the band program and thrive from the many experiences that are given to them. They love the concert program and making music with each other and they trust the staff to provide musical experiences that are unparalled at the high school level. They have passion and a huge work ethic that comes from a high level of  importance placed on each individual’s training.

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I must also mention the amazing Directors who are never afraid to learn, ask questions and evolve and grow as musicians and educators. Both Brent Barton and David Jaggie are passionate, humble, hard working and selfless. Who knew that in 2011 from a few marching band consults, that I would be able to form relationships with two of the finest music educators in the business, and all would happen just a little “off the beaten path.”

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I could not not be more impressed with a band program, and what these students from rural Richmond, Ky are able to accomplish with less resources than that of larger areas. Keep up the good work Madison Central. I look forward to being part of this stellar band program for many years to come. Thanks for your commitment to musical excellence.

Music Advising for your Marching Band

What are your thoughts about MCHS’s band program?

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Rehearse Your Ensemble Less

This is the time of year when music programs in schools are preparing for festivals, honor bands, conferences, etc. Oh, the pressure of sounding great in public so we look good in front of our peers. We must add extra rehearsals, and after school sectionals, and Saturday clinics. But, is this counter productive to what we are trying to do educationally, and what does this really do to the student musician?

Think about this.  If we provide a system for young musicians that allows them multiple chances to get things wrong, will they ever strive to be right the first time? If we make it easy on the student by placing all of the responsibility on us, will they ever take personal responsibility to practice?

How much do we really need to rehearse?

Kids that are in band/orchestra or choir programs in school get class time every day of the week (in most situations). That is roughly 5 hours of rehearsal per week. Most programs begin preparing pieces for concerts months in advance of the concert or festival. If programs are rehearsing 5 hours per week x 3 months, that is around 60 hours of rehearsal on 3-4 peices of music.

There is no way mentally this is stimulating to young musicians. Oh wait, I forgot that we need to add after school rehearsals to this as well. Subconsciously the student feels there is no reason to practice, because there will always be another chance to try and get it right.

Are we scared to turn our groups loose without over rehearsing?

I believe we are. My belief is that human nature is to want to succeed. If you tell a student we have a concert on a specific date, and rehearse and educate them enough to give them the tools they need to prepare, my belief is with less time to get it wrong, they will get it right. . . . . . through their own personal responsibility because they want to succeed.

What if they do not succeed? What if this doesn’t work? Would there not be a great lesson to teach through this process?

Let’s treat these young musicians like professionals.  In the professional world, there might be one rehearsal for multiple concerts instead of multiple rehearsals for one concert.  If we treat students like adults and professionals, will they not rise to the occasion? There is only one way to find out.

I teach multiple chamber music programs with many different school music programs and make it a point to only rehearse one time per week for 1 hour. We have maybe 10 hours of rehearsal and then perform a concert, and it is always miraculous to hear the musical product and to see the level of improvement in each musician individually. It was a scary thing to do at first, but the effeciency in both the music education and the teaching allows learning to happen at a faster pace and higher level, and the students WANT to succeed.

Why are we scared to rehearse less?

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Make the Right Decisions

Ways to Improve Your Marching Band

Its cold and miserable in the middle of January and band programs are knee deep in the middle of concert season preparing for spring concerts, music festivals and solo and ensemble events. This time of year is no doubt the most important part of the year to the improvement of our young musicians. With our heads down and our focus centered on music making, when do we begin planning for the upcoming marching season?

This is it! This is the time to begin looking at what we did last year, and begin looking at how we can improve our product for the 2015 fall marching season. The problem many of us face is that we are afraid to self reflect and “die to self” when we take a step outside of our programs and look at what needs to improve. What decisions were wrong decisions? Why was our program not as successful last year as we thought it might be?

It is easy for us to say “those judges last year were not great,” or “I think I might try a different circuit, as they do not like us in the circuit we were in last year.” Instead of looking for excuses, we need to self-reflect and make changes.  What we need to realize is:

Every Decision Matters

There is no decision that we make from January-November when planning, implementing, and rehearsing a marching band, that is not important.  From deciding what music to play, to if I should have a first trumpet play a high G in measure 15, every decision must be the right decision.  In fact, to be extremely competitive, every decision must be scrutinized and pondered until you are certain it is the right one. The problem is that we all think our decisions are right most of the time but we need to not be afraid to ask for help and accept advice. Being humble, learning from others, and being constant learners in our profession will help us make more educated decisions. We have to realize that we cannot do everything ourselves. We cannot design the guard costumes, rehearse the brass, make music changes, handle student/parent issues, balance an ensemble, refine marching style, arrange the music, etc. without HELP!

When planning the upcoming program, ASK FOR HELP!

What do we need to do when looking at the upcoming season? Well, assuming all the right steps are being taken in the concert season to improve the musicianship, begin asking yourself some simple questions to SELF REFLECT.

1. Am I providing these young musicians with the best opportunities for success in brass, woodwind, visual, guard, drill writing, music arranging, etc.? It is ok to make changes, but do not make changes just for the sake of making changes.  The grass is not always greener on the other side so be very specific in providing students the best product for success.

2. What did I do last year that hurt the product? This is a hard one. None of us want to admit that we did anything wrong, but the truth is, we all do things that we wish we could do differently. Try to humble yourself, and improve.  BE HUMBLE.

3. Why do I do competitive marching season? What are my goals for the program and most importantly the students for this time of year?

4. Labor over every decision, and take money out of the equation.  Yes, we all have budget restraints that we deal with, but just for sake of argument, make a wish list of things that provide the best experience for your musicians, and see what you may be able to change, or move around to make it work.  Do you really need the new winter guard mat this year, or would a new woodwind instructor benefit the students and program more this year?

Make every decision an important one and remember. Your decisions affect many more than yourself. Every decision made must give the young students the best chance for success and give them the best education opportunities.

Are you making the right decisions?

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Musicality Over Volume in the Marching Arts

We just finished a wonderful marching band season here in Kentucky.  I am thankful to be able to adjudicate marching bands within KMEA and work with many ensembles as either a music/brass coordinator or as a music consultant.  As a music educator, I am constantly longing to be affected by the music in marching season but very seldom am. Here is why I think that is:

Louder is not always better

Why do we work so hard on creating a product that is aesthetically pleasing but ruin it with overblown moments of uncharacteristic tones, poor phrasing and unbalanced timbres? Can beauty of balance and sonority affect us deeper than shear volume?

The marching arts is an extraordinary opportunity to take beautiful music and marry it with a visual product to enhance the emotional effect for the listener. We have a chance to create musical nuance to take the listener on a journey AND have the ability to pair it with nuanced visual effect.  What a great opportunity! Of course, volume is important as we reach climax, but it certainly does not control the emotional effect of the listener or performer.  There are so many rewarding opportunities for student musicians to learn and grow as musicians during marching band but only if we pave a musical avenue that is free of anything other than beauty and heartfelt emotion.

I like to ask students to think of adjectives that come to mind when they are performing different parts of the musical selections.  Some might say “longing”, or “hopeful” as feelings they want to portray.  I also find it very useful to have students think of adjectives that describe their feeling of the tones they are producing.  Obviously if one says “harsh” or “loud” we have an issue with the way this music will affect the listener. We want students to be comfortable and proud with the power they have as performers and musicians to guide a listener in and out of the same adjectives they feel as they are making the music. Instead of “loud” lets feel “power”. Instead of “harsh” lets feel “intensity”.  The performer must put musicianship and emotion in every note they perform, or the music feels lifeless and unimportant.

Can we have students be marching musicians instead of a marching band?

Long phrases with dynamic interest on every note. Using the middle dynamic range instead of just “soft” and “loud”. Musical communication between performers allowing them move out of they way to let more important lines be heard. Exploring the different rich timbres of each instrument in relation to what the music asks. Feeling and perfoming the emotion of the music and guiding the listener through the music using forward motion and direction. Creating a beautiful balance and blend that warms the musical soul. WOW! I would take those over “loud” any day!

It all starts with a well structured and fine tuned concert program including placing much personal responsibility on the students to make their own music with minimal “spoon feeding”. This comes with less after school rehearsals for concert band, more focus on chamber ensembles and private lessons, and very efficient rehearsals where music, instead of ratings, is of the utmost importance. Trips to the symphony, masterclasses with professional musicians, and solo and small ensemble concerts in and out of school can guide this kind of learning. Directors and students alike are longing for music making that means something and affects the heart and soul.

Marching Band can be of so much value to the student musicians and to the audience. Our sense of musicianship must be heightened when taking the concert medium to the outdoors.  What story are we trying to tell, and how musically can we present the information that is best for the performer, listener and staff involved?