Week 7 Great rehearsal, everyone! Things are really starting to come together nicely, and your practicing (listening and playing) is paying off! We enjoyed our first social outing to Hometown Sports on Bank Street, and will plan another outing for our last rehearsal in March. Here is a reminder of what we focused on, as well as a look forward to our next rehearsal. Please make sure that important dates are noted in your calendars… see below!
We Played :
Red book: Lines 8, 9, 11-15 (syncopation, early/late), plus a minute of “expressive soloing all together” – quite a blast!
A run-through of all 6 pieces:
Jammin’ with Charlie – shape long notes(dynamic – down at the end of phrases, or sfz to build a phrase (accent, suddenly soft and then build through the long note), short-light staccato notes (measure 18, for example), get right off short accents like the end of measure 41, and only 4 articulations in measures 11, 40, 52 because of the tied note.
My Dinner with Ronald – laid-back dynamic and feel (mf), measure 3 drop to mp to begin the crescendo, and change rhythm (beat three add a dot, beat four change to an eighth note). Shape long notes (ex. Measure 5 grow, measure 12 – 13, accent, drop back to piano then grow to mf. Measure 41, there are two conversations going on… so you have to know your part well! Saxes and vibes dominate from measure 41 – 44, then the brass take over the conversation in importance. From measure 49 – 52, we all agree! (we are together) Syncopate measure 51 as done in measure 3. Layer the dynamics, dropping every two bars, from measure 62-63 (f), to measure 64-65 (mf), measure 66-67 (mp), and we may slow down in layers, or only for the last two bars (to be decided).
It Don’t Mean a Thing – layer crescendo, each measure from 5 – 8 a step up from the last in dynamic level. Really build it up to measure 32, aiming for that second beat as the climax. We played as soli (the whole group played) at 45 (brass) and at 53 (reeds). Colour code your road map (DS signs– yellow, Coda signs–red).
Stay Cool – flute and bells have soli from measures 1 – 7 and then pass the tune off to the brass. Flutes and bells soli at measure 34, 46-47, 65, and low brass 35, 44-47, 60, 62 are high exposure sections. These are spots to focus on , remembering that your best is good enough!
25 or 6 to 4 – We looked carefully at exercise A, which is a tricky rhythm from the piece. The longer notes are all worth two eighths (keep the eighth note ticking away in your mind). In measures 12 and 28, trombones should use the alternate positions to play the glissandos… really lay into these! The Coda has some interesting harmonies, so try practicing this part with your tuner and check your pitches and intonation (sharp/flat/ in tune – the tuner shows green or center when you are right on). Colour code the road map markings.
Frankenstein – articulations are important – keep staccato notes light so that the other notes are prominent. All through the piece, when you play eighth notes with the slur, make this part flow like water, yet have each eight note exactly the same as the others in length… computer precision. (loop that measure or phrase slowly, then increase tempo). Say trip – o – let and keep each note equal, for triplets. Fall offs should go down in pitch and also dynamic level (get softer, not stay the same). The last fall off, hold the pitch with conviction until a signal from the band leader to fall off.
Next rehearsal:
Red book: Lines 16 – 19 plus “thirds”, chord building (page 32, back cover) with 1,3,5,7 of scale, natural minor scale, bring a kazoo if you have one
Review all tunes at tempo, and note 25 or 6 to 4, measure 13-14 eighth, two sixteenths for those who wish extra challenge. Work on tricky sections under tempo. Have fun soloing with conviction and attitude! Special surprise. You are encouraged to bring a cool hat or sunglasses, or wear a leather jacket…. Any cool accessories to help with attitude! (Plus I will see who read all these killer band notes, and who skimmed – ha ha!)
Important Dates:
NO REHEARSAL during March Break (March 14)
Social Outing March 28 (stay tuned)
Sunday, April 15 End of Session Concert (Concert Bands at 2 pm, all musicians group photo at 3:30, Jazz Bands 4 pm)
Warm up – to be decided (1:30 or 3?)
Community Concert – to be decided: evening of Wed. April 18 or Tuesday, June 12, or a weekend afternoon (June 16-17?) Please let Kyle and Cathy know if you have a suggestion for a venue where a short free concert would be appreciated. Examples: a senior residence with a large performance space, a park setting, local pub or restaurant with large space, charity fund-raiser, ?
Things to consider: lots of free parking near venue, electricity, 27 chairs without arms available, audience will appreciate rock-jazz repertoire,
