Four very short weeks ago, the band program at Mercer took a big leap as we started our year with a unit on chamber music that culminated in our Fall Chamber Recital. Over twenty different selections were presented in the recital ranging from Handel, Haydn, and Mozart to Sousa, and John Williams. You can read a full copy of the program notes and performance order by clicking here (a pdf will open in a new window (student names for security reasons have been removed, but instrumentation is identified). During the next week, all 150 students in the band program will be taking a survey (created by Google Docs) on their chamber music experience. The statements which the students are asked to respond to were created by some of my colleagues at Grove City College, Thiel College, Westminster College, and Slippery Rock University. The students will use a Likert scale to respond to 16 different statements related to their chamber music performance in addition to the usual demographic information (gender, grade, ensemble).
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Categories: Chamber Music, Creativity, Drew Fennell, Life & Music, Motivation, Music, Music Education, Musical Role Models, Professional Responsibility, Rehearsal Ideas, Wind Band Literature Tags:
Bump on over to Bandworks Publications, founded by New Jersey composer Patrick J. Burns! I have been a big fan of Patrick’s music for wind band over the past few years, and I am very excited he has launched his own publishing company. It is an honor that he asked me to write a piece for the catalogue alongside some colleagues I really respect in the business including Chris Bernotas, and Drew Fennell (whom has really delivered on conducting and interpreting some of my pieces). Check it out!!!
Where would I be without Joe Pisano? Still kicking around wondering if my stuff was good enough to be out there – that’s where. Joe has been in my corner from day 1 on this journey. He is my friend, my colleague, and my brother, and I really appreciate all he has done – which included calling me the other day to say “Hey, I updated your site. That’s a great picture!” Thanks again Joe, for all you have done for me!
Another guy that has really given me a shot in the arm of late is Drew Fennell. Many thanks again to Drew who this afternoon debuted “Shine!” with the Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Summer Wind Ensemble!!! My respect and appreciation for Drew as a musician, conductor, and composer continues to grow. The performance was great, and I really appreciate those students bringing this music to life!!! Bump on over to myspace and check out the live recording from the July 18th concert – it even still has that new recording smell to it…I think!
More to come in the months ahead, so stay tuned! And if not, Korg makes a very affordable model (that’s free advertising you can’t buy anywhere!)….
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