Hi. I just took a new job in a small town that is growing, but the band program isn't. The last award this band got was 10 years ago, so I know there is some talent there, they've just had a long string of directors that really didn't do much. With all that being said, I inherited a "mess". I need a field show for this year. I don't know my instrumentation, no list was left and I have sent out a mailing to the students and have gotten some replies but not all. I contacted the middle school directors (about half my band will be freshmen) and no response from them either.
I have already made the decision to arrange my own music and write my own drill this year, we don't have the money buy or hire really. The only thing I have come up with is a movie show. I feel though that the movie thing is overdone and I can't think of a way to do it that is totally new. The principal said he wants to rebuild number in the band. I have 30 kids in a school of 1100. So I want my show to really pique the interest of the students and the community.
If anyone can help me I would REALLY appreciate it.
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I am in desperate need of help
Started by Ms.Band4Life, Jun 23 2007 10:56 AM
3 replies to this topic
#2
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Bandmaster
Posted 23 June 2007 - 02:25 PM
[quote name='Ms.Band4Life' date='Jun 23 2007, 10:56 AM' post='2792']
Hi. I just took a new job in a small town that is growing, but the band program isn't. The last award this band got was 10 years ago, so I know there is some talent there, they've just had a long string of directors that really didn't do much. With all that being said, I inherited a "mess". I need a field show for this year. I don't know my instrumentation, no list was left and I have sent out a mailing to the students and have gotten some replies but not all. I contacted the middle school directors (about half my band will be freshmen) and no response from them either.
I have already made the decision to arrange my own music and write my own drill this year, we don't have the money buy or hire really. The only thing I have come up with is a movie show. I feel though that the movie thing is overdone and I can't think of a way to do it that is totally new. The principal said he wants to rebuild number in the band. I have 30 kids in a school of 1100. So I want my show to really pique the interest of the students and the community.
If anyone can help me I would REALLY appreciate it.
[/quote]
I faced a similar situation, only there was no hope for the music program--four years later we are doing a show based on the 2005 Glassmen show of A New World. In the last 4 years I've gone from 15-50 in the band program.
The first show I did (stock charts that the band already had as pep charts, and i wrote teh drill) was based on the movie shrek. With the third movie coming out this might be possible still. The kids loved it, not too difficult, and THE FOOTBALL AUDIENCE NOTICED THE KIDS! We did "I'm a Believer--part I" " YMCA" and "Best Years of Our Lives". It worked great!
Hi. I just took a new job in a small town that is growing, but the band program isn't. The last award this band got was 10 years ago, so I know there is some talent there, they've just had a long string of directors that really didn't do much. With all that being said, I inherited a "mess". I need a field show for this year. I don't know my instrumentation, no list was left and I have sent out a mailing to the students and have gotten some replies but not all. I contacted the middle school directors (about half my band will be freshmen) and no response from them either.
I have already made the decision to arrange my own music and write my own drill this year, we don't have the money buy or hire really. The only thing I have come up with is a movie show. I feel though that the movie thing is overdone and I can't think of a way to do it that is totally new. The principal said he wants to rebuild number in the band. I have 30 kids in a school of 1100. So I want my show to really pique the interest of the students and the community.
If anyone can help me I would REALLY appreciate it.
[/quote]
I faced a similar situation, only there was no hope for the music program--four years later we are doing a show based on the 2005 Glassmen show of A New World. In the last 4 years I've gone from 15-50 in the band program.
The first show I did (stock charts that the band already had as pep charts, and i wrote teh drill) was based on the movie shrek. With the third movie coming out this might be possible still. The kids loved it, not too difficult, and THE FOOTBALL AUDIENCE NOTICED THE KIDS! We did "I'm a Believer--part I" " YMCA" and "Best Years of Our Lives". It worked great!
#3
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Posted 11 July 2007 - 08:14 AM
When rebuilding, don't think about what is overdone, think about what the kids will enjoy. The school I came into a few months ago, had 12 kids in 7-12 band. This was after four years of terrible directing and a terrible person being in charge of the program. Also, the school is VERY small, 430 students K-12. At the end of the year we had 24 in the band and starting next year I will have 37. Don't worry if something is overdone, if the kids don't enjoy it, then there is no way you will win. With the quality of music that exists nowadays, it's easy to find some good pop tunes that really work on skills. The key for me has been to find good fun music that has substance for the kids to learn. The kids I have been teaching, as soon as they saw they were going to be taught by using fun music began eating it up. I couldn't teach em' fast enough.
So think about doing something that is fun, since you don't know instrumentation details, keep it simple and just add some flash to it. If the kids haven't had anything for a while, they will eat it up!!
So think about doing something that is fun, since you don't know instrumentation details, keep it simple and just add some flash to it. If the kids haven't had anything for a while, they will eat it up!!
Adam W. Metzler
Central Aroostook High School & Fort Street Elementary School Instrumental Music Teacher
Central Aroostook High School & Fort Street Elementary School Instrumental Music Teacher
#4
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Posted 03 September 2007 - 09:25 PM
A little late but I thought I'd respond anyway. After having judged many small marching ensembles with small budgets I suggest using concert material which is re-scored for the marching ensemble. I think that the marching ensemble is a great vehicle to teach good literature as well. Many small ensembles already have the instrumentation, and non-traditional marching voices like oboes, bassoons can be re-scored easily for sax section.
