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South Carolina Band Directors Association

SCBDA "Team Members"

"Concert Festival - Activity Or Learning Experience?"

In the high school gym, all the girls in the class were lined up against one wall, and all the boys against the opposite wall. Then, every ten seconds, they walked toward each other until they were half the previous distance apart. A mathematician, a physicist, and an engineer were asked, "When will the girls and boys meet?"

The mathematician said, "Never."

The physicist said, "In an infinite amount of time."

The engineer said, "Well... in about two minutes, they'll be close enough for all practical purposes."

Obviously each of those asked had a correct answer, but it’s not until you consider every opinion that you find the humor of the story. As Band Directors preparing for Concert Festival we really need to exercise more insight if we want our ensembles to grow and improve.

After the recent Junior and Senior Division Festivals, I had the opportunity to ask our adjudicators what the SCBDA needs to do to improve. All of them were very pleased with both the number and quality of our bands. Dr. Satterwhite, from the University of Georgia, asked me to relay this message to you. He said, "I am very impressed with the work you and your other SCBDA members are doing. My have things changed in the last few years. Please convey my highest respect to all of your members and give them my encouragement to keep on keeping on."

Even though we are moving in the right direction, we "ALL" have things to learn if we want to improve. The following suggestions resulted from my conversations with our Adjudication Panel:

Develop Characteristic Sounds: It’s not about notes and rhythms anymore! It IS about Tone Quality! The most important element of music performance is tone quality. Nothing is more important for the student musician than the development a characteristic sound. As educators the development of sound is our greatest challenge. So often we fail to achieve the performance we want because we spend all our time chasing notes and rhythms. If all our educational efforts are devoted to the pursuit of technique, then we will fail to achieve the musicianship level we desire. If you want to improve the performance level of your band, then make the quality of sound your top priority. Spend some portion of every rehearsal dedicated to tone quality. When a student musician becomes a critical listener of his own sound production, defining and sculpting at every moment, then real musicianship can develop. If a student becomes a discriminate listener, then the quest for notes, rhythms, and pitch will take care of themselves. The process should be:

1. Learn to Recognize the Standard: Listen to the finest players in live or recorded performances. It is essential that the student be able to recognize a characteristic sound.
2. Experiment with the Production of Sound: The student should begin to experiment with various techniques that alter the tone production of the instrument (learning to produce good and bad sounds is a part of the development process).
3. Develop Listening Skills: The student must become a critical listener, able to produce and continually evaluate the tone quality of the instrument.
4. Refine the Tone: The student understands the finest aspects of the tone including the use of vibrato and pitch matching.

"Listen" To Your Band: We’ve all heard about Right Brain/Left Brain. We have the ability to analyze or create, but not at the same time. You can’t talk and listen at the same time. Try this; have someone read to you while you read to them. What did you hear? What did you say? It is impossible to be totally focused on one thing while doing something else. That’s why we don’t hear what’s happening with our own performance, but we can sit in the audience and pick another performance apart. When we are glued to our score, analyzing every note and rhythm, we don’t hear the band. Possible solutions:

1. Memorize Your Scores: At least be able to conduct sections without looking at the score. Repeat the same passage several times trying to really listen to what’s happening.
2. Record Your Band: Record your rehearsals and "LISTEN" to them later. Plan your next rehearsal based on what you hear.
3. Get Another Opinion: Ask a fellow director to observe your rehearsal and be "HONEST" with his or her critique. They may be able to hear things you don’t.

Don’t Choose the Wrong Literature: Find music that will demonstrate your strengths; not expose your weaknesses. If your oboe player doesn’t get a characteristic sound, then rewrite the oboe solo to another voice or choose another piece for "Festival" performance. Choose the best music for "Your" ensemble, even if it means changing classifications.

Help Each Other: If you want to learn to swim you must get in the water, but you still need a teacher (or at least the lifeguard). Making a Superior Rating at Concert Festival is like playing a game. Many SCBDA members will spend hours working on their swing with a golf pro, but will "go it alone" when preparing for Festival. Take some of your Staff Development days to visit other schools. Ask experienced directors for help; they won’t come to you. "Ask and Ye Shall Receive!"

Know The Standard: Attend as many band performances as possible. Become a member of the audience at Concert Festival. Don’t "Just" perform and go home. Come back and listen to know the standard. South Carolina bands are getting better. If you want to keep up, you’ve got to know which direction to travel. Many of our bands receiving Excellent Ratings would have received Superiors only a few years ago.

This past year we broke all previous records for participation with 259 bands registered for Concert Festival. Next year let’s make records with quality performances.

Let’s "BAND" together! We do make a difference because "Music Is Instrumental To Success!"

Glenn C. Price, President
South Carolina Band Directors Association