Concert Band Students

Congratulations to you all on outstanding performances!!!!!

Well done on the Memorial Day parades at St. James and Smithtown!

You have put a great effort forward and it has paid off.  You should be very proud of your community service for our Veterans and the artistic expression you brought to the stage at  your concerts.  below I have included links to your performances. 

Concert Band period 2 you are tracks that start with CB2

Concert Band period 4 you are tracks that start with CB4

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gkjrj1ull4rtecn/gEGVVaUXKL

Enjoy!

To all students interested in auditioning for the 2013-14 Smithtown HS West Jazz Ensemble!!

Auditions for the 2013-14 Jazz Ensemble


All results will be posted here on this blogspot.

WHEN:
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 from 2:30pm -6pm first come first served.


PLACE:

IN THE MUSIC SUITE OF THE High School West Bldg.


THE PURPOSE OF YOUR AUDITION IS TO DETERMINE PLACEMENT INTO JAZZ ENSEMBLE.


ALL 2013-14 school year -9TH –12TH GRADE INSTRUMENTAL STUDENTS ARE ELIGIBLE and WELCOME to audition.


AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:

ALL STUDENTS: MUST BE PART OF THE MUSIC PROGRAM full time & COMMITED FOR THE ENTIRE SCHOOL YEAR.


1. PREPARE A JAZZ SOLO from the NYSSMA Manual or an excerpt from the Junior or Senior Jazz band material at this web site,  http://isym.music.illinois.edu/information/audition_material.html

2. SIGHT-READING

3. CHROMATIC AND MAJOR SCALES

4. Improvise over a Bb or F blues. Not mandatory.

All students IN ADDITION TO ABOVE

BRASS Players:
PREPARE TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR RANGE

1. CONSISTENTLY PLAY YOUR HIGHEST NOTE CLEANLY
2. PLAY A SCALE FROM YOUR LOWEST TO YOUR HIGHEST NOTE


WOODWINDS Players:
1. Prepare to play in 2 octaves with good intonation.
2. DEMONSTRATE WOODWIND DOUBLING
ON FLUTE, CLARINET, AND OTHER SAXES IF POSSIBLE
3. DEMONSTRATE YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF THE ALTISSIMO REGISTER.

PERCUSSIONISTS:
PREPARE SEVERAL STYLES (LATIN, ROCK, SWING,
FUNK, BOSSA, JAZZ WALTZ, ETC.) AND BE ABLE
TO DO 4 BAR FILLS AND RETURN TO THE PATTERN.


PIANO, GUITAR AND BASS, (ACOUSTIC OR ELECTRIC):

PREPARE TO READ A CHORD PROGRESSION AND MELODY.


GOOD LUCK EVERYONE

Symphonic Band

Give this performance of Toccata and Fuge a listen, please.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXwGZCijloA

Memorial Day Parade Info for Concert Band Period 2 & 4

This is a reminder for our upcoming performance on Memorial Day, Monday, 5/27/13.

All students are to arrive at High School West by 8:45AM and enter through the rear doors by the auditorium.  Attendance will be taken and we will load equipment on the buses and depart for the St. James parade step off.  St. James starts at 10:00AM.  We will march north on Lake Ave from Woodlawn to St. James Elementary and then ride the buses to the Shopping Center with LA Fitness (Singer Lane) on Main Street in Smithtown.  Students will have a brief break to buy lunch and then line up for the Smithtown parade.  This parade starts at 12:00PM.  We will march west on Main Street to Town Hall and be done between 12:30 and 12:45PM.

Students with large instruments or percussion are responsible for riding the bus back to the school to unload their equipment.  All students may also return on the buses and be picked up from the high school.  If a student is leaving from the end of the Smithtown parade their parent must be there to collect them on the north side of Main Street, west of Town Hall.

Parade attire is Smithtown Music shirt, tan/khaki shorts/pants and white sneakers (no flip flops).  Students can also get a marching lyre to hold their music if they haven't already memorized their part.

This information has been explained to the students in class.

This is not an optional performance it is a community service provided by the Smithtown Central School District.  Students may wish to wear sun block, sun glasses, and any make up or decorations that will not impede their ability to march and play their instruments and would be appropriate for the recognition of past and present military service persons.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Should there be a cancellation, the notice will be posted on this site.

Concert Band Rehearsal 5/10/13 and upcoming info

Good Morning,

As promised here is the link from our rehearsal Friday.  Concert Band period 2 your recordings are tracks 1-5 and Concert Band period 4 your recordings are tracks 7-11.

Please keep in mind that the purpose of the recordings is to use them as a tool to improve for our upcoming performances.  While you listen recall class comments that have been made regarding the music and do not assume mistakes or trouble spots are someone else's responsibility.  The following comments have been made in class;

All dynamics and all articulation need to be blended with your section leader.
Tuning must be done all the time, so you have to know your own instrument's nature to adjust (practice with a tuner).
Your sound must be balanced with your section leader and Leaders must balance at all times with the inner ring of woodwinds.
Watching the conductor will make your section sound like one instrument and lock-in the tempo.
Melodic interpretation, crescendo as the line ascends and decrescendo as it descends.
Sustained lines play under the moving lines and moving lines are played out a bit more.
Your tone is your biggest contribution therefore good posture and breath support must be constant.


Just a reminder, when the band is working together you are awesome. Our biggest challenge at this point is staying intense and focused for the entire song AND each song.  Kind of like being intense for an entire championship game or the toughest video game level.  Keep up your good work.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/gkjrj1ull4rtecn/gEGVVaUXKL 

One more item, I have heard from some people about concert dates being confused.
Our Concert Dates are as follows;

NYSSMA Band is this Tuesday, 5/14 during the school day.
Concert Band Period 4 Tuesday, 5/21, 6:30PM call and 7:30PM Start
Memorial Day Parade is Monday, 5/27, meet at HS West 8:30AM. Back at school by 1PM
Concert Band Period 2 is Wednesday, 5/29 6:30PM call and 7:30PM Start

NYSSMA and Concert Dress is Black and white the same as the winter concert dress.
Parade dress is white sneakers khaki or tan shorts and the school parade shirt(we provide)
You should get a music lyre for the parade if you don't already have one.  Please make sure it fits your instrument before you leave the store.