Yes!  We're finally back together again with returning members from last year and new members this year, getting together on a journey to make music to the best of our abilities!

I have to admit, I feel a little lost when we're not making music together.  I have been looking forward to the end of Summer and the beginning of our first rehearsal.

I think the first rehearsal went pretty well.  Basically, you were all exercising your sight-reading skills and did quite well.  Thanks for coming ready to work, paying attention, and ready for hard work.

Please keep checking this blog for more comments and thoughts on our rehearsals and what I think we might need to focus on to create performances that make us and our parents proud.  Imagine that I have parents that love to see what I do; it's true.

OK start responding in the comments.  Let's all share what you thought from the last rehearsal.

This is what I look forward to, the final preparation for the concert.  I hope that you feel the same.  Along with that, we'll have our last performances with our graduating seniors.  I'll personally miss you. 
So, our final Monday rehearsal schedule is here!  Be here ready to play by 6:30!

6:30 Tune
6:40 Mozart
7:00 Elgar
7:25 Sokol
7:55 Break
8:10 Announcements
8:15 Prokofiev
9:00 Maxwell Davies
9:30 Done!

Basically, bring your "A-level" game to these next two rehearsals.  We're on the right path together to making beautiful music.  Your personal practice will make it incredibly satisfying.

rehearsal schedule:

6:30  Tune
6:40  Sokol
7:20  Prokofiev (run all five movements in a row)
8:00  Break
8:15  Prokofiev details
9:00  Maxwell Davies (Orkney)

I do love working with all of you.  Keep up your good work.

Get ready.  We're almost there.  I recognize that some of us are not going to be at rehearsals consistently for these last three weeks.  It is really important that you keep up practicing your parts so they sound excellent.  It's very important.

The final piece of our concert has arrived.  We will read it on Monday and figure out how to work on it.  It's not easy and not too difficult, also. 

Here is our working schedule for Monday, April 12.

6:30  Tune
6:40  Prokofiev Mvmt I
7:00  Maxwell Davies
7:50  Break
8:05 Prokofiev Mvmt II, IV, V
8:30 Prokofiev Movement II (no trumpets)

Thanks so much.  We all have lots of work to do.  I'm looking forward to doing this work with you!

We're getting close to our concert and, I'm excited.  I've heard from several of you, the young musicians, and from some of the coaches, that you feel like you're getting better prepared for this time around. 

Please be as prepared with personal practice as possible for these next four rehearsals.  We are going to work more during these next few weeks to perform the pieces without stopping and then coming back to work on details.  We need to feel how the whole piece fits together and to feel great about how our individual parts contribute the the whole team/orchestra!

We also will be introducing one more piece for smaller orchestra when the music arrives.  It will feature ivan Knapowski on bagpipe at the end of it. 

Remember to write a brief comment with your full name in order for us to include you in the drawing for the chocolate bar on Monday.  See you sson!

I can't say enough good things about how you sound playing the Mozart and the Elgar.  How do you feel about your sound?  Also,  you are making beautiful music in some of the middle parts of the new piece by Sokol.  I want you to keep up that progress.

Now, we have many parts of the Prokofiev that need some work.  Please look at your parts to make sure you're ready to work together with your section during the coming sectionals.  I have heard from several of the coaches that they are really willing and eager to work with you in sectional rehearsals this week.

Please, come early to rehearsal so we can have your instruments aclimated to the room conditions so we can tune more quickly.  Also, remember to sign in at the beginning of the session, entering the band room through the door closest to the outside entrance.

Here are some YouTube links which might help you with your preparation for sectionals this week.

Spend some time with your copies of your music and these YouTube recordings.

Lastly, there is still chocolate for those who respond to this blog.  This week, we will draw a name from those who make a comment on this blog.

Let me know how these YouTube links help.

I really want to know how you think we're doing.  Let me know via e-mail or post or facebook message. 

I'll also let you know how I feel we're doing.  Together, we're working on making excellent music together.  We're exploring better intonation and musical expression.  I hope we're developing a sense of camaraderie in that we're doing this hard work together.  I want all of us to be proud of what we're going to accomplish in our concert at the Buskirk-Chumley in May.

I hope that you all had your instruments at home during the snow days you've had over the past few weeks.  You should have had plenty of time to practice!   You know I had to emphasize the practice aspect.   It is through your personal practice that our group rehearsals become more productive.

We all know that we will be filmed for a project at WFIU on monday, February 22.  For that, I need you to do the following:
1. Dress nicely
2. Prepare your parts
3. Be prepared to be on your best behavior, which, I need to reiterate, should be your regular behavior.

These are the things that I think we should focus on for the project.
Mozart
Elgar
Sokol

Our schedule will be:
6:30 Tune (quickly and efficiently)
6:40 Mozart 
7:00 Elgar
7:20 Sokol, Twice the rising sun, (approach in the following three sections)
- Beginning to Letter F
- Letter G to Letter P
- Letter P to the end
8:00 Break
8:15 Prokofiev
Movements 1, 2, and 3

I'm looking forward to our next rehearsal!