“Good” Music
-Selection of appropriate materials to use in the middle school and high
school bands and orchestras is one of the primary responsibilities of instrumental
music teachers. You will and should devote many hours of study and research to this
important task.
-Must define “quality literature” or “good music.”
James Nielson, in “What is quality in music?” identifies several factors:
-Rhythmic Vitality
-Genuine Originality
-Melody that has the qualities of economy, logic and inspiration
-Harmony that is consistent with and is suitable to the style
-Craftsmanship
-A Sense of Values (meaning that everything is in balance and proportion
and that there is a sense of continuity.
James Nielson, in “What is quality in music?” identifies several factors:
-Emotional Justified (“…’good’ music ennobles the soul and enlightens both
mind and spirit.”)
-Quality and Personal taste.
-The Test of Times
Subjective process might not even help you! Wagner vs. The Beatles????
A GOOD MATCH
-Note strengths and weaknesses of your ensemble will help in featuring
strengths and hiding weakness.
-Literature should be sight-readable.
-You will spend less time overcoming technical problems.
-Spend time on tone
-intonation
-balance
-phrasing
-musical expression
A GOOD MATCH
-Note strengths and weaknesses of your ensemble will help in featuring
strengths and hiding weakness.
-Literature should be sight-readable.
-You will spend less time overcoming technical problems.
-Spend time on tone
-intonation
-balance
-phrasing
-musical expression
-Choose challenging pieces, but be careful not to over estimate potential for
growth.
-Music of high quality need not be music of high complexity!!!!!!!
THE SEARCH
-Sift through all the recordings that band directors get for the little nugget!
-New music reviews in magazines.
-”Teaching Music Through Performance,” GIA Publ.
-Best Music for Beginning Band, Best Music for Young Bands, and Best Music
for High School Bands, by Thomas L. Dvorak
-”Young Band Repertoire Project” is a series of recording s of fine literature
for the middle school and high school band.
-State Music Lists, on line!
THE SELECTION
-Does it have musical integrity based on the original list of attributes.
-Will this piece cause my ensemble members to grow musically?
-How does this piece relate to the strengths and weaknesses identified in the
Ensemble evaluation Form?
-Can we play this piece without making major substitutions for solos or
other rewriting of important parts?
-Can we cover all percussion parts?
-How are the ranges?
-Will my students enjoy and/or benefit from studying, rehearsing, and
conducting this piece?
-Does this piece contain a variety of keys, styles, meters and technical
complexity?
-Will this piece help develop solo skills in my ensemble members?
-Do we have adequate time to learn this piece?
A CORE REPERTOIRE
-Establish a core of the best literature for your ensembles.
-A rotation of this core over three or four year period will allow all ensemble
members the opportunity to rehearse and perform that literature during
their school career.
-Then add and subtract, move and remove.
-Make multiple lists for different grade levels.
-Sometimes just playing a piece doesn’t mean it was “performed” correctly or
any other way.
-There’s a difference between “playing” and “PLAYING” a piece. This doesn’t
mean, don’t expose your students to difficult works, just make sure if your
going to drowned, you have life raft to help everyone!!
-Keep EGO out of it!
SEE LIST ON PG 93-99.
The Band and Orchestra Library
Music Purchases
-Ordering music from a local music dealer is becoming easier and easier all
the time.
-Make sure to follow the process required by your school
-Purchase Orders might be what is required.
-”On approval” service might be provided by music dealer.
-Telephone orders
-Internet orders
-Budget and make decisions based on immediate literature and the need to build up
your library at the same time.
-Also, build your own private collection of scores at the same time.
-Start in college, collecting scores of pieces your performing, observing rehearsal
technique.
-Try not to mark up scores in library. Someday they might be used by someone else.
-Also, start to establish your own library of recordings.
The Band and Orchestra Library
Music Library Organization
You need to establish a systematic method of cataloging music so you will know the
complete contents of the ensemble library and be able to locate that music.
The Band and Orchestra Library
Music Library Organization
You need to establish a systematic method of cataloging music so you will know the
complete contents of the ensemble library and be able to locate that music.
The Band and Orchestra Library
Music Library Organization
You need to establish a systematic method of cataloging music so you will know the
complete contents of the ensemble library and be able to locate that music.
The Band and Orchestra Library
Music Library Organization
You need to establish a systematic method of cataloging music so you will know the
complete contents of the ensemble library and be able to locate that music.
The Band and Orchestra Library
Music Library Organization
You need to establish a systematic method of cataloging music so you will know the
complete contents of the ensemble library and be able to locate that music.
The Band and Orchestra Library
Music Library Organization
Many types of systems:
LIBRARY STARTER KIT: BAND AND ORCHESTRA
J.W. PEPPER & SON, INC. These great Starter Kits include everything you'll
need to store your music! They contain 100 assorted sized File-finder Boxes or Envelopes, 100
Library Filing Cards, one identification stamp and the booklet; "A Better Way To File and Find
Music!" You choose which works better for you, envelopes or boxes. A great time and money
saver!
The Band and Orchestra Library
Music Library Organization
Many types of systems:
Band Library 6.0