You are seated in a rehearsal with your students.  Suddenly without warning an alto clarinet spontaneously combusts into flames.  It spreads quickly to your gradebook, old wool band uniforms, and begins creeping towards the music library.  You have but seconds to get you and your students out of the room (okay so there are a few percussionists that you conveniently tell to put EVERYTHING away first before exiting the building)…..

 Okay true believers, this post is inspired by my good friend Joe Pisano over at Mustech.net (Bump on over and buy him a cup of coffee!) and my Professor of Music Education at GCC, Mr. Edgar S. Groves.  But you must save some of the music.  You have time to save only 7 pieces.  7 pieces from any time, any level.  But only 7.  These 7 will be the first played on the first concert after the band room is rebuilt.  I have listed my 7 pieces below (no particular order of importance).  I hope you join in on the “Save the music” hypothetical situation.  Whether a student musician or director, I look forward to hearing from you!

1) First Suite in E-flat – Holst
2) Greensleeves – arr. Alfred Reed
3) Flourish for Glorious John – Vaughan Williams
4) The Pines of Rome – Ottorino Respighi
5) I Am – Andrew Boysen Jr.
6) O Magnum Mysterium – Lauridsen/arr. Reynolds
7) The Liberty Bell – John Philip Sousa

Hope this lights a “fire” under bloggers everywhere!

Sincerely,

Travis J. Weller