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11/12/09

 

The Friday symphonic band percussion auditions will begin at 7AM.  Everyone will do the first instrument before we move on to the second and then the third.  5th hour students should expect to stay all hour.  Each performer will have to tune the tympani before they begin that round.  You can get the pitches from the marimba.  Keith Larson is going to be our judge and I will be the door person and watch all auditions.  I really appreciate Keith coming in.  I don't know any one in our area that has more experience with teaching and evaluating this literature.  Remember that you must be here before the auditions begin.  If you come in after we have started, you will not be allowed to audition.

 

Good luck to all!

 

10/20/09

 

10/2/09

 

Hi guys,

 

The competition is coming up quick. Lets make the halftime show tomorrow night an excellent run-through. I will be doing some final tuning with the drums tomorrow night afterward. If anyone would like to stick around to learn, that's fine with me. Although I do strongly encourage everyone to get as much rest as possible between now and the competition since tomorrow will be a long day with the early assembly and evening game. Seriously, it will make a big difference in the competition on Saturday.

 

Some things I'd like everyone to work one between now and Saturday:

 

Basses, you're getting good sound, but it isn't balancing within the section. The top three need to play out a little more, especially Danny and Sydney because your drums just don't carry as well. Plus they can get drowned out by the lower basses. Curtis and Todd, you guys can come down just a little bit. Try to match the volume across the bass line (listen UP the line). And above all watch your drum majors and lock in the tempo. Today was fairly rough as far as that goes.

 

Snares, those long roll sections are sounding better, but they need to be more consistent. This will take more snare sectional practice. Having the drums tuned up makes it a little more difficult to get clean since every hit is more pronounced. Listen to each other and drive through the doubles. On buzz rolls, make sure no one is pulsing their rolls. This is slipping back into the playing and judges (and I) don't like it. Bees don't pulse their buzzes as a group. Neither should you.

 

Tenors, its sounding pretty good, but there are still sections that aren't 100% locked down on the first time. Specifically those pesky sixes. Spend some time before or after school and drill those couple passages, please.

 

Pit, that opening section in Tune 1 is nice, but inconsistent, the 16ths especially. It needs to lock in. For most of you, that just means moving your hands faster. Its a tough passage, but its so close. Keep working on it.

 

Thanks for all the work you have all put in so far. Keep it up. Lets rock and roll tomorrow and Saturday. (And get some sleep)

 

Matt

 

8/12/09

 

Hello Pit and Drumline,

Everyone did great work over the past two weeks at band camp. You should all be very proud of the progress you made.
That said, this is only the beginning of the season. We still have Part 3 to memorize and put on the field. I expect the leadership and dedication to remain just as high as it was during camp. I encourage early sectionals as well. Sarrah and I will be coming Monday and Thursday mornings. So get excited.

I have a few recommendations for each section:
 Basses: be practicing the runs in Part 1 at 61-63 and 73-75 individually and as a section. Also be working on the last couple measures in Parts1 and 3. Timing and counting are key.
 Snares: Work as a section on playing exactly together, diddles especially. Work individually and as a section on smoothing out M73 in Part 1. Individual practice and 16th Diddle are what will make or break this measure.
 Tenors: work on memorization in general and playing the ascending 6's in M23-24 in Part 1 together.
 Cymbals: Memorization and keeping those arms in shape. Dont' forget you can practice the physical exercise outside of school.
 Pit: Keep working on the opening of Part 1. It was really starting to sound good at the end of camp. Let's make it even better. Work with a metronome individually and as a section.

Individual practice is where things are worked out, sectional practice is where it comes together. I strongly recommend everyone use a metronome during individual practice.

Enjoy the few days before school starts. Everyone stay safe and uninjured and I will see you next Thursday. Excellent work at camp.

Matt

 

7/14/09

 

Hello all,

The pit warmups are finished.  If you don't have a warmup book yet, please contact Pete Lepley at 913.660.8885.
I would like for everyone to be playing through the warmups. Senior members should be going over pre-game music so that can go smoothly at the beginning of camp with the new members of the section. The more you know before camp, the more we can get through during it.

See you in two weeks,

Matt

PS: Don't forget to practice.

 

7/3/09

 

Hello everyone,

I've got the warmup book for next season ready. We'll be using the same warmups as last year. If you need a set, come by Pete Lepley's house and ask for a copy. If you don't know where that is, contact him at 913.660.8885. I would like for the entire drumline to have these warmups playable at quarter note = 120 by the time camp starts. They do not need to be memorized by that time, but that is always a plus.

Pit warmups will be coming soon. The drumline and pit will be working much closer this year to create a better harmony across sections. I expect pit warmups to be out by next week. Same goes for you, pit: since you'll be working with the drumline, I would like them playable at 120.

Have a fun and safe summer and don't be afraid to practice!

Matt

 

5/27/09

 

Thanks everyone for auditioning.  Matt and I were very happy with both the quality and the number of people who auditioned!  This should be a very good section.  The order does not reflect scores.  This is just the order as they were originally typed.

 

4/8/09