Cartoon by Paul Hart

Ensemble type: Concert Band
Difficulty: Medium Advanced
Recommended by: Ted Scalzo, Education Specialist

“If you want your students to improve their technical performance skills and have fun at the same time, this is your piece. Actually, it is their piece!”

Why did you choose this piece to perform with your group?

This piece is a nostalgic look at old cartoon soundtracks. My students chose this piece because of the many emotions and moods conveyed throughout the composition. They understood some of the difficulties in performing the work and were very willing to put in the time to make the audience laugh and smile.

What skills does it address, or what lessons does it teach?

Many technically challenging sections must be perfected to get the audience to feel (visualize) what is happening. This piece also teaches students to focus on communicating with an audience. We use our skills to make the audience feel something.

What are some teaching strategies you would recommend to teachers who are rehearsing this piece?

Break the piece down into smaller technical challenges and also work on perfecting the emotional intent-chase, energy, courting, humor, and slapstick. Allow your students to decide how to communicate best what the composer intends in each section.

Why would you recommend this piece to someone else?

If you want your students to improve their technical performance skills and have fun at the same time, this is your piece. Actually, it is their piece! Several styles of music are encapsulated within the entire work. Anyone who has seen a Looney Tunes or Tom and Jerry cartoon will understand what is being conveyed.

What memorable experiences did you have while rehearsing or performing this piece?

This was the last piece I performed with my wonderful students at Bay Shore High School. The fact that they chose it and we had so much fun preparing it is a memory filled with joy and laughter. Their pride in performing this challenging work and seeing and hearing the audience’s reaction is something we still talk about.

How did SmartMusic enhance the rehearsal process?

SmartMusic provided the students with a model and the ability to slow down difficult passages to perfect the style and nuance to communicate with our audience. My students said we could not have done this without SmartMusic as our practice tool.

What sections or measures needed the most attention?

Ensembles should work on measure 56 from day one. First, slow it down and have students gradually increase the tempo until they can perform it beyond the recorded tempo. We found going beyond our needs made performance effortless.

What interests you most about this piece?

Cartoon has a universal appeal to everyone, from the performers to the audience. It is a happy, uplifting, funny piece that students enjoy.

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The post SmartPicks – Cartoon by Paul Hart appeared first on MakeMusic.

Ensemble type: Concert Band
Difficulty: Grade 1
Recommended by: Ryan Laney, Publications Database Specialist

“Üsküdar is great piece that never fell flat with ANY of my ensembles. Audiences like it, kids like it, the director likes it, what more can you ask for?”

Why did you choose this piece to perform with your group?

Üsküdar features two very strong and singable melodies that both the students and myself always really enjoyed. Woodwinds are featured in the melody most times while Brass get to focus on gorgeous, full tone in various ranges without having a boring part. Percussion has plenty of room for improvisation for a more authentic performance, but can also be well-covered by only 1-2 percussionists.

What skills does it address or what lessons does it teach?

Simple Clarinet break-crossing, dynamic contrast for the full Band in small satisfying chunks, one extended technique (shifting sand sound, “sshhhhhhh…”) that can be amplified with a rainstick or ocean drum, and ensemble awareness.

What are some teaching strategies you would recommend to teachers who are rehearsing this piece?

The Tuba part can be easily transposed up an octave and given to Trombones/Baritones if your band is missing Tuba, Bass Clarinet, and/or Baritone Saxophone. I always loved using this piece to teach great dynamic control with my 7th grade Band.

Why would you recommend this piece to someone else

Solid melodies, great compact size, utilizes Middle-Eastern modes uncommon in most Western music, every Band member feels like they have a cool part to contribute, easy to transfer parts to other instruments as needed (e.g., having a Trumpet player cover a Clarinet part).

What memorable experiences did you have while rehearsing or performing this piece?

Seeing my low brass section realize just how BIG of a sound they can make while still sounding good!

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The post SmartPicks – Üsküdar arr. Robert W. Smith & Michael Story appeared first on MakeMusic.

Perseus by Soon Hee Newbold

Ensemble type: String Orchestra
Difficulty: Grade 5
Recommended by: Giovanna Cruz, Director, Customer Services

“Perseus is a fast-paced, flashy, and fun piece that your advanced high school students will enjoy. Its rhythmic pulse and forward drive are compelling.”

Why did you choose this piece to perform with your group?

It was the end-of-year concert in 2014 and I had my students choose one of the pieces for the final concert from a list of grade 4 pieces. We were looking for something flashy and high-energy. They chose this one and had a great deal of ownership in its preparation.

What skills does it address or lessons does it teach?

Mixed meter, tempo changes, style changes, shifting.

What are some teaching strategies you would recommend to teachers who are rehearsing this piece?

Read the story of Perseus and how he slew Medussa to free his mother from Polydectes, and how he married Andromeda. This will provide context and imagery as you work on the different sections of the piece. Then teach the core repeated rhythms that appear throughout the piece, as well as any bowing patterns. Work on the underlying rhythmic equivalences when shifting meters to help students understand when the eighth note is the constant. Work on shifting into 2nd and 5th position for violins.

What memorable experiences did you have while rehearsing or performing this piece?

Seeing my students get so excited to practice this piece and then perform it. Because they chose it, they had a great desire to play it well. It was also one of the last pieces I conducted with my students before coming to work for MakeMusic.

How did MakeMusic Cloud (SmartMusic) enhance the rehearsal process?

The recording gave them a good model to follow. We used the assignment feature to help them practice and prepare the most challenging sections. The visual and aural feedback helped them improve and make corrections where necessary. Learning the notes was easier with the help of MakeMusic Cloud (SmartMusic). In class, we focused on style, dynamics, and ensemble issues.

What sections or measures needed the most attention?

For all: counting in the vivace section starting at 101. Rhythmic alignment.

Violin 1: top part in the divisi from 91-101. Intonation m. 131-136 because of the high position. Tuning of octaves m. 168-171 and 176-182.

Violin 2: tuning of divisi sections. Rhythmic alignment. String crossings 168-172, 176-end.

Violas: 35-43, vivace section for counting, especially 111 to 121.

Cellos/basses: 35-57, 101-122.

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The post SmartPicks – Perseus by Soon Hee Newbold appeared first on MakeMusic.