from the EHS Band Boosters:

Eastside Concert Band Performs at MPA

On Saturday, the EHS Concert Band performed at the FBA Music Performance Assessment.  The band played incredibly well, and we walked off the stage proud.  The adjudicators judged the band excellent/superior/excellent.

In the sight reading room, the band played the assigned march and the overture, and listened to the feedback of judge Frankenstein, who the members of the band really liked.  She gave us some ideas about what kinds of things we can do better, and called us out on our biggest mistake, the fact that we missed too many notes.  Judge Frankenstein suggested that  everyone in the band memorize all of their major scales.  She said that bands in which everyone knows their scales by heart never miss any notes.

One of the highlights for the band and for me was the chance to hear some of the other bands perform.  We were able to see both of the Buchholz groups, among others, and were happy to support them in their performances.

Overall it was a very successful day for the band, and we're already looking forward to putting the judges' comments to good use.  We're always working on improving, and there's no time like the present to get better.

Britain Doing its Best to Get Kids to Hate Classical Music

England, in its own peculiar way, is using music as a weapon against young people. All over the country, the government is blaring classical music in public places where young people hang out.  Their hope is that, if they play classical music loudly and badly enough, adolescents will go away.

Apparently, the county of Great Britain thinks that young people are a public menace.  They are always hanging out, and enjoying each other's company in public.  What could be more threatening to the good of the country?  They've been trying lots of things to run the kids off, but their latest attempt is so ridiculous it goes beyond description.

It used to be that we thought that listening to classical music could enrich the minds of anyone.  We teach music appreciation in school, and one measure of an educated person is whether or not he or she is able to appreciate classical music.  Want culture?  Have an opinion on who's better:  Mozart or Beethoven?

Music Performance Assessment Itinerary Posted

The concert band is heading to PK Yonge for the Music Performance Assessment on Saturday, and I've posted the itinerary in the bandroom and here.

If you have any questions about the itinerary, or if you want further details about any part of the trip, please e-mail.

Only four rehearsals left!

Duane Hendon Gives EHS Band Last Clinic Before MPA

On Friday, Mr. Duane Hendon came all the way from Ocala to give the EHS Ram Band its final clinic before the MusicPerformance Assessment.  His clinic was different from the others because he took the rehearsal over from the very first tuning note.  He taught quickly, and tried to hear all the three pieces we are preparing.

Mr. Hendon gave the band some great tips for improving our performance.  Some of them were things that we had heard before, from other clinicians, like creating more dynamic contrast between the loud and soft sections of the music.  Other of his tips were things we hadn't heard before, like creating musical "effects" in the second section of the Merry Music.  Overall, his rehearsal was outstanding, and the response from the group was enthusiastic.

Mr. Hendon has done many things in his career, but now he is the Executive Director of the Florida Bandmasters Association, which is the overarching organization for school bands in Florida.  He is also a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame.  As I write this, I have discovered that there is no apparent biography of him on the internet...  I'll have to work on rectifying that.

There's Nothing Like a Great Jazz Standard

This website has links to recordings of the "100 Greatest Jazz Vocal Standards."  I really like that you can click on any of the songs and hear one of the greatest singers of all time.  The great voices are represented.  Billie Holliday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan are some of my favorite musicians.  The artistry of the song is a special kind of creativity.  There's a personal kind of synthesis between the composer and the performer in song, and this page shows the best in the history of recording.

A couple of special favorites:

Strange Fruit by Billie Holliday,

Lullaby of Birdland by Ella Fitzgerald,

and Like Someone in Love by Sarah Vaughan.