Elgin Encores February 4 :: Ottawa New Horizons Band

Elgin Encore Rehearsal Notes from February 4

Hello Encores!

Thanks for another fun, productive evening. Some challenging sight reading during our hour together. Well done everyone. It was great to have a full percussion section.

We are back this Tuesday, February11th.

*Please be aware that with the current situation in the education sector Brookfield High School could be closed for the duration of a job-action. Please always check your email on the day of rehearsal just in case we have had to change the location of the rehearsal.

Currently, we are still good for this Tuesday at Brookfield.

The past few days I have been experimenting and playing with some of the software that slows down the performance speed. I have been using AnyTune on my mac and IOS devices. It is truly a wonderful tool and I urge everyone to try it. There are lots of free apps for all of the platforms. (Refer to the dropbox for some suggestions).

The benefits of listening to your music slowly and practicing your parts slowly are enormous. I suggest you follow along with your part while listening. Then try playing along at a slower speed. Repetition is the key.

To make things easy for everyone. I have put a folder in the Dropbox (Slow-Mo Music) with much of our music performed at 70 percent speed. You don’t need any special software to listen. Just click on the file. I will get all of our music posted here in the next few days.

check the dropbox

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/7tj7jv92l7snopx/AAB3p3b_JSwNoBJHWygEKIcba?dl=0

New music this week:

Sketches of Canada

Sketches of Canada Story, Michael

Practice Notes

Epic Gaming Themes: Many of these hugely popular melodies may seem unfamiliar to many of us, especially if we are unfamiliar with the genre of electronic games. Video gaming music is now the largest segment of the symphonic recording industry. More gaming music is recorded than motion picture music and symphonic music!

The secret to becoming familiar with new music is of course to listen to it often. The tunes though unfamiliar to many of us are quite “catchy”.

First section # 3-38 melody is smooth and legato in contrast to the instruments who are playing very staccato. We want to hear the contrast.

Second section #38-81 we need a waltz feel, strong emphasis on beat 1. Lower clarinets bounce off the first beat with their rhythm. Keep it moving.

Third section #82-128 This section is very metronomic with articulate rhythms. Very mechanical. Your marking says to play “building intensity”!

Fourth Section #129-146 Lyrical and smooth (legato) playing here. Alto’s bring out the sixteenth notes in measures #139 and #143. Tenors and baritones bring out measure #145. Everyone stay under the melody. The melody starts in the flutes so we need to follow their lead.

Fifth Section #147-end Baba Yetu (Our Father…) This section is all about rhythm and joyous celebration. Listen to the slow-mo version and practice the “Baba Yetu” rhythms slowly. This piece has a contagious African- Gospel style feel. Gradually increase the speed.

Hounds of Spring: First section #1-38. Practice this very slowly. The trick to this performance is to anticipate the metre changes 6/8 to 9/8 to 3/4 and back to 6/8. Remember to keep the eighth notes steady. Keep practicing the counting of the first seven measures. Start slowly, gradually increase tempo. Remember each digit is at the same tempo

123456 / 123456789 / 1+2+ / 123456 /123456 / 1+2+ /123456 …

Covington Square: articulations (accents, slurs, staccato, tenuto) keep a steady and even tempo. Continue to practice slowly and gradually increase the tempo. Practice with a metronome (no metronome, free ones on the web or for your phone).

Salvation is Created: gentle entries (no shouting), long smooth legato phrases, dynamics, best sound ever, blending and balance with each other. This pieces causes goosebumps.

Scenes from the Louvre: 1st movement trombones and tuba take the lead.

Camino Del Sol: still going to keep this in a quick and pleasant 4/4 time, pay attention to the syncopations starting at #5, eighth notes are played straight and not swung. Hold the tempo (push a little!). If you have a trill make them strong and exciting. Lower instruments accents on the end of beat 2 need to be strong.

CLINIC SCHEDULE FEB. 11

Instrument	Location	Clinician	Music to Focus on:
trombones, baritones, tuba	staff room	Malcolm Wade	Sketches of Canada Epic Gaming Themes Hounds of Spring Lord of the Dance Scenes from the Lourvre
bass guitars	conference room	Sarah Jaleel	Sketches of Canada Epic Gaming Themes Hounds of Spring Lord of the Dance Scenes from the Lourvre
trumpets	115	Ruth Merkle	Sketches of Canada Epic Gaming Themes Hounds of Spring Lord of the Dance Scenes from the Lourvre
saxophones	114	Zac Sedlar	Sketches of Canada Epic Gaming Themes Hounds of Spring Lord of the Dance Scenes from the Lourvre
clarinets	stage	Colin Williamson	Epic Gaming Themes Hounds of Spring Lord of the Dance Scenes from the Lourvre
flutes	110	Pierre Foret	Sketches of CanadaEpic Gaming Themes Hounds of Spring Lord of the Dance Scenes from the Lourvre
percussion	stage	Colin Williamson	Sketches of Canada Epic Gaming Themes Hounds of Spring Lord of the Dance Scenes from the Lourvre