A Director's First Thoughts About Field Show Creation:
Mark D'Angelo
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The beginning stages of a marching band program's show development are time consuming and detail oriented. For many band program's show development begins shortly after the end of the previous season. Details such as what type of music will be performed in the upcoming season, who will be a part of the instructional staff, what will need to be done to promote the activity in terms of recruiting and retaining a well balanced instrumentation, where will you go for band camp, will you need special state licensing to hold an of site band camp, what will need to be done in terms of fund-raising, what will the rehearsal and performance schedule consist of, where will your rehearsals be held, and finally where will you get your music arrangements or drill designs. From my experience with the Cadets of Bergen Co., Drum Corps as well as a pre-season camp instructor with the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps, I learned first hand, that all of the initial decisions about a program could impact much of the season in terms of organization and program growth. I have found that most competitive programs take about a month off before program development begins, and about a month after that initial rehearsals begin, especially with DCI. But I also find that even the non-competitive bands are starting earlier and earlier to answer such questions.
The Wyandotte Band has been active with the Michigan Competitive Band Circuit (MCBA) for 11 years, but prior to that the band limited it's half-time performances to football games, MSBOA, and University Band-Day performances. Though I still don't consider the Wyandotte Band program to ever have had a highly competitive marching band program, in recent years we have set set strong goals to raise our standard of excellence and to push our students to perform to their very best ability. From season to season, there are many factors that affect what this ability level might be. For example, the biggest factor being the instrument to instrument performance ability level. The last few years we have seen a big increase in the performance ability of our percussion and woodwind sections, with greater demand being present with the brass and colorguard units. Trying to program music that stretches the limitations of every section and provides excellent educational materials has to be my most difficult task as a director. This makes music and musical arrangement decisions one of the most important of the initial program decisions.
This season "Aqua" the music of Gary P. Gilroy will provide some wonderful performance and educational opportunities for our band. While past year's we have sought our own arrangers, I am equally as excited about the new or recent compositions of Gary P. Gilroy as with anything I seen. I have been impressed with the highly accessible Gilroy arrangements, especially those written specifically for smaller or growing band programs. These arrangements have obtainable yet challenging brass ranges with minimal orchestrations that provide a good deal of challenge in the woodwind and percussion sections. It is the percussion arrangements that provide much of the depth for any band arrangement.
Having our music and music arrangements in line we next turn to program theme, and drill development...
