PRE-UIL SYMPHONIC BAND COMMENTS
BRIAN BECK:
GENERAL COMMENTS: What a great program – I can tell you’ve worked very hard on these pieces.
Excellent job. Keep working on pitch tendencies in the march. Add more contrast in the march, < >
crash cymbals more. More connection in Twilight quicker tongue = smoother articulation. We’re in
great shape for UIL…SUPER AWESOME!
Peacemaker March
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More low brass at m. 6
Pitch tendencies at m. 10
Firmer fingers at m. 13-14 in clarinet 1
Bring out stylistic/Dynamic changes in crash cymbals
Nice trio – add subtle dynamics to add momentum (what Mrs. Lewis has already told you to do
which is < > )
Try trio first time without the low brass part)??
As Twilight Falls
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Love the flute sound at the beginning
Longer second eighth notes in cl/sax part m. 7-8
Melody at 9 should be smoother – alternate slur/tongue
Good job flutes at m. 23
M. 34 – start ritardando there…more musical
Almost think of fermatas on the beats 3-4 at 36
No timpani on last pitch – too muddy
Watch more horns/trombones at 36
Butterfly’s Ball
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More 2/3 Clarinet in m 10
M. 31 – crescendo more into 32
Longer beat 3 in flute solo
More sixteenth pick ups into 59
Step trill earlier so we hear the beat 3 line up in m. 70-78, etc
More horn/alto creepy part at 115 
More 1st trumpet m. 164, less of the horns and tbns
Not together in percussion at measure 190 with the band
M. 204 – more of the downbeat in the low brass
M. 227-229 lead to the middle note and do the crescendo – tuning
LYNNE JACKSON:
Peacemaker March
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First note should be more vibrant
More vibrato in flute/piccolo
More trombone melody, don’t get lost
M. 19 second note longer
M. 32 note need more length
More counter melody – tenor line is what she means
She loves the articulation on the half notes
Don’t rush fingers tpt, flutes melody
Second marcato note longer in measures where there are two
Use vibrato flutes
Motor needs to be more rhythmic and solid in the trio (bass line and horns and snare)
She likes the dynamic contrast
Not an easy march, doing a good job
Good last note!
Great tempo and maintained well
Listen to the first note – could sound a lot better
Put first note into tuning drill – great idea
Percussion may be rushing the (t eta 2 te) rhythm
Same with the uppers rushing sixteenth notes
As Twilight Falls
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The sounds in the beginning are not as beautiful as they need to be
Long whole notes needs more sound at the end of the phrases
Flutes do not play mezzo piano at 9 – support more and use more vibrato – pitch and
tune is suffering
Crescendo downward at m. 17
No breath between beats 3 and 4 in measure 19 from everyone
Trumpets are not letting air out of body correctly at measures 21-22
Trumpet D was very flat!
Measure26 is not in tune
Too much connection between slur and tongue
Too much disconnection between 28 and 29 – don’t let the sounds be broken, keep air
moving more
Sounds like a baby piece – have to sound like the Dallas Wind Symphony
Make beautiful sounds, count 4 pickup influence more, vibrato
Butterfly’s Ball
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Mrs. Lewis – don’t conduct in 3
More color in the counter melody at 78
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Percussion in 86 more – more surprising
Losing a little bit of the phrase
Good articulation of long notes
Piccolo was flat
m. 164 did not line up
Nice articulation – more 1st trumpet at m. 194
Flute tuning is so sharp
Nice style
Last note has to be perfection
Entrances are about the breath – breathe for a measure before coming in
Good job over all
Measure 164 entrances was the worst of the piece
Band is playing too heavy at times
Band needs more 1st trumpet at m. 164
Take this is 1 – make it more musical and light
Beginnings of pieces need to be more beautiful
GARY WILLIAMS:
Peacemaker March
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Great intro
All parts are heard well
Nice low brass sound – more present
Have two trombones and 1 euph so you’re definitely making it work
M. 19 second note has same resonance as the first note
Tongue firmer as you get lower
Make sure m. 26 low part the sixteenth note is more present
Band has great tonal center
Very clean and put together
Bring out eighth note in m. 44 – stronger and longer
More precision on house top accented quarters
Pitch center in concert C
Flutes check intonation is trio
Music is always going somewhere – sounds like it’s not in the trio
Whole notes need direction
M. 97 whole note is not in tune
Getting less firm at the end of the piece – especially low brass
Band makes gorgeous sounds
Night and day difference from last year
Keep listening for lows
Flute intonation – make sure all whole notes lead somewhere
As Twilight Falls
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Clarinets more crescendo and leading in first measure
Make sure all eighth notes move together in measure 7. Make second notes of eighth notes
stronger and longer
More trombone – color is very nice
Saxes fit into clarinets on moving eighths
Good sax color at 20
More confident on melody going into 28 – back off unless you are clarinet and sax
Sustained notes cover the moving lines through melody
Must continuously move4…it’s like pond water now instead of a river
Know where your big pushes are
Musical moments!!
Make it more interesting to the listener
Butterfly’s Ball
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Good percussion at beginning
Make sure the staccato note is not louder at 18 – same note strength
Light staccato notes
Good WW colors at beginning
Good job watching director
More sixteenth pick ups into 60
Nice colors throughout
Little softer WW’s to hear melody – euph line
Little woofy into this part clarinets – aggressive more
Bassoons – color the clarinets
Saxes and trumpets not lining at 115
Sing at 123-126 to match style throughout the lows and in this conversation piece
More at 135-136 don’t decrescendo
Push through the 164 section - first note lighter
Horns more fun at 182 – change to mf
Not matching at 190-194
Style needs to match better 202-203
Breathe in tempo before entrances at end (m. 224 – end)
Nit picky comments – really great job
Have come so far in one year!
Match articulations better – low sounds need to tongue firmer – crescendo through those
tongued sections like (123-126)
More musical in ATF – watch like crazy! Make it sounds more beautiful – all notes come from
somewhere and LEAD somewhere
Style and intonation is great