Hello Musicians!
In this note: 1. April 1 Gig details 2. ONHB shirts 3. Notes from Neil to pencil in (please do – you sounded fabulous with these tips)
1. Gig on Monday, April 1
Dress – Black shirts. No one will see below the shirt, so dark jeans or black pants or skirts is fine. Maybe sunglasses or hats? Surprise me.
Bring: instrument, stand, music, water bottle, pencil, ( always handy), stand music light (battery-operated) highly suggested.
Arrive between 5:30 – 6 at St. Louis Bar & Grill, 399 Elgin, Suite 2 (at Gladstone). Drop off heavier equipment and passengers to the side door on Gladstone, just East of Elgin, and park on side streets (Cartier, MacDonald, etc). Invited guests can be reminded that City Hall parking is free after 6 pm weekday evenings, and you can enter from Nepean St (one way), but it is a good hike from City Hall to Gladstone. Pay parking is available at the Museum of Nature.
Dave Hooton (tenor sax) sent this link with new information on the Elgin St. closure, including changes which take effect April 1. The maps show streets where crossing Elgin is possible, transit routes, etc.
2. The ONHB shirts are in (for those who ordered). I am home Friday after 2pm and through the evening (18 Sunnycrest Dr), if you wish to pick it up early. Otherwise, I will bring them for Monday. (My cell is 613-884-8357 for emergency texts Monday, or to text pick up time for shirt on Friday and make sure I have yours before you come.)
3. Notes from the March 25 Clinic with Neil, and Karen Donnelly clinic on Sunday,
It was a great session with Neil. I took notes for each piece, so if you didn’t have a chance to write in the directions, or if you were absent, please take a few moments to pencil these on your part. His main tips – making sure that each part is balanced (not too loud or too soft, tune comes out over the rhythmic and harmonic parts) coming in on the correct beat, shaping long notes with a clean attack then back off the note) – made a very positive difference to the band’s ensemble sound. You were sounding fantastic! From Karen – Posture is the foundation of a good sound. Stand tall for part of your practice, if you can. If not, sit tall and shoulders down and engage core muscles (pretend you are wearing a heavy backpack.) No tension in arms or neck…. stretch, shake out, yawn.
Here are specific tips from Neil
All My Lovin’
-the melody (aka “the head” –http://www.jazzinamerica.org/lessonplan/8/2/203) must be heard above all chorus (background) and rhythm section
-trumpets – bells up 15% (WOW! This sounded amazing!)
– guitar- chuck//chuck//chuck//chuck//
– bass – more treble (upright bass sound)
-drums – start relaxed, save Forte for the DS measure 35 second time
-trombones (and F horn of course!)– really bring it at measure 34/35, the composer saved this entry for YOU!
-trombones and bari –m 43 short shots on beats 2, 3+ and emphasize tenutos m 49 on beats 3 + 4, final m75 – be solid when others cut out, we need all parts covered for last note (1,2,3,4)
– saxes – m 43 and m 50 – beat 1 is IMPORTANT (skip some notes leading up if necessary… but jump on beat 1 in time)
Feeling Good
– practice break – Michael Buble official video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edwsf-8F3sI
-bari, bass, piano, drums – feel pulse – full sound on beat one –
-flute/clarinet/trumpet – m. 1 hold the half note for two beats; m. 2 straight (steady)eighths 1 + 2 + ; m.9 – you all play same rhythm – review, count ( quick rest on 1) + + 2; m. 24 play it like you’d sing it “and I’m feelin’ good (less emphasis on unimportant words, lean in on feel and good; m. 42 more shape on crescendo (soft to mf); m. 61 check rhythm – some trumpets are playing D too soon on 1+ and on 4.
-saxes m.11 you have a cross rhythm with low instruments, give weight on 1+, light – short on 2, and continue
-sax/trombone/horn/guitar/piano m. 23 start softer on crescendo – volume 2,3,4,6,9 (off)
-alto and tenor saxes m. 24 you start strong together on 1+ (even though you don’t continue together)
-bari/trombone/horn m.46 mark in MORE AIR m. 60 mp (sh!)
-trumpet solo – m. 10 and m. 59 -60 (listen to link Michael Buble) and I’m feeliiiiiin’ good (lean in on first note of triplet on beat 2) and love your last note – we need to hear it (maybe quick breath before it, to articulate it more and make it full.
For expressive playing it helps to know the lyrics and sing your part when your instrument has the tune –
Birds flying high
You know how I feel
Sun in the sky
You know how I feel
Reeds driftin’ on by
You know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good
I’m feeling good
Fish in the sea
You know how I feel
River running free
You know how I feel
Blossom on the tree
You know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
For me
And I’m feeling good
Dragonfly out in the sun, you know what I mean, don’t you know
Butterflies all havin’ fun, you know what I mean
Sleep in peace when the day is done, that’s what I mean
And this old world is a new world
And a bold world
For me
For me
Stars when you shine
You know how I feel
Scent of the pine
You know how I feel
Oh freedom is mine
And I know how I feel
It’s a new dawn
It’s a new day
It’s a new life
Mixed Bag
(I don’t have as much, as we spent less time on this, but I do have the following …)
Drums – volume range 3 – 7, save 7 for solos
Auxiliary – cowbell off top, then stop at 9 and switch to Latin percussion start at m.11.
Whistle – bar 46 (do trombones think this is too close to solo, if so we can move it to bar 45)
Solos – play strong and proud – show off and have fun – let loose! Can you stand up to play? (Just asking! – don’t worry if the answer is no, because you can’t see your notes. Ideally by the concert, you might have your solo memorized, so it looks like you are improvising. Sing it around the house, play it with the recording, and who knows….. ) The most important thing is that you don’t faint… so I am happy whatever you decide.
