Dear friends,
Great things are ahead for us!
I think we are ready to go! Of course you can always smooth out some areas of the music. You know what needs to be done so if there are any areas where you are struggling please practice. Don’t take anything for granted.
WHAT I’VE LEARNED: For our first concert, I chose easier music because I didn’t know what you were capable of until I got to know you as an ensemble. You gave a superb concert on April 21. For the current concert I tested you with more challenging musc (Symphonic Dance no. 3.) It is very good but not pristine. Pristine is up to you. I have a better grasp of what our band is able to do within a given rehearsal cycle now.
NEXT CONCERT: Dec 2. A CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR! We will not be doing a concert in August as previously planned because so many of our band directors and professors will be dealing with either marching band or opening of university, but we will continue with rehearsals through the summer and fall. We will be working on 2 programs, Christmas Spectacular and The Sousa Centennial Concert. (We’re going to play Symphonic Dance no. 3 on the Sousa Concert but will not be working on it right away.)
COMMUNICATION IS ESSENTIAL! Obviously people will be taking vacations this summer and that’s great. Please report to me which rehearsals you will not be attending otherwise you will be expected to be there (barring illness or sudden family matter.) I believe the community will come out for the Christmas Spectacular. It will be our biggest audience.
FYI: For the Sousa Centennial Concert we will not be playing all Sousa, maybe 4 marches. I hope to play The Light Cavalry Overture and 76 Trombones (Ted Ricketts arrangement..) Have a listen. Remember that Meredith Willson was principal flutist of the Sousa Band when they played at the Academy!
(Other music to be determined).
We are rehearsing through the summer because so many of you said you wanted to and that will give us a lot of prep time. For the summer-fall rehearsals we will revert back to the 7pm-8:30 schedule.
Steve will send out details for Thursday night! I can’t wait!
Please let me know which other Sousa Marches you like.
Jim