Here is a playlist for your trip northward: the run-through at our dress rehearsal. Please note that the recorder was on stage right behind me, not in the best spot for the brass. But for a quick-and-dirty recording, it does give you a pretty clear idea of where we stand, even if it they are iPhone recordings.

If you want to save these and then transfer to your own device:

• Right click on each recording
• Choose “Save as”
• Navigate and save
• Move to your MP3 player

I’m not including notes. The most important stuff will be obvious. The most important thing is that you be proud of the work that has brought us this far.

Enjoy, and I’ll see you Saturday.

Resplendent Glory

Sòlas Ané

Friedmann Fanfare

On This Bright Morning

Play!

Aspen Jubilee

National Emblem

Dress rehearsal Monday at TMH

We have our final rehearsal on Monday, and I hope you’re getting excited for our second trip together!

On Monday, we’ll rehearse some selected spots in all pieces, take a 10 minute break, then play through the entire program without stopping, and finishing with closing notes, questions, and announcements. Remember that we are back in Tarrytown for this Monday’s rehearsal. The rehearsal plan is posted.

Syracuse weather for next weekend looks decent, with no precipitation forecast for Friday or Saturday. Sunday we might see some rain or snow showers on departure. Cross your fingers!

Emily!

This past week I had the wonderful opportunity to conduct a clinic rehearsal with Aerophone, a community band based in Wappingers Falls. I met the director, Rich Holod, this past summer at the Temple Conducting Workshop. The next evening I drove back up to observe the guest conductor for his Festival of Winds — Emily Threinen! It was wonderful to see her, and she wanted me to pass on to you her greetings and best wishes for the NYSBDA performance.

I’ll see Emily again in March at the CBDNA National Convention in Kansas City. Her vibrancy and energy is palpable. We are so lucky to have had two opportunities to work with her!

Enjoy this beautiful weather — and I’ll see you on Monday!

As scheduled, no rehearsal tonight. Enjoy the Presidents Day holiday, and we’ll see you next Monday evening in Tarrytown for our NYSBDA dress rehearsal.

Also, please note that there is no rehearsal the Monday after NYSBDA, March 6, as posted. We’ll start the Spring cycle on March 13 in Tarrytown.

Rehearsal at New Rochelle

We are back at New Rochelle on Monday. It’s likely that the “Faculty Only” doors which you come to first will be open, rather than the doors at the far end (past the greenhouse and keyhole).

Please plan ahead to arrive in plenty of time to set up and warm up. Emergencies happen, but we really need to start promptly on Monday evening, beginning with a discussion of goals for the end of the night. As I wrote on Friday, we did not earn a positive rating last week, and this cannot happen again.

Recordings

I’ve made these recordings available, via Dropbox. Give these a listen as we near the NYSBDA performance.

• January 29 concert: Galante, Maslanka, Holmquist, Nelson
• Resource recording of Hazo

Just click on the links to go to the Dropbox folder, then select each tune and click the “play” button (right-facing triangle).

Our purpose and presence

As I tried to explain last week, it’s really critical at this point that we re-gain the sense of purpose and presence that gave us such musical strength when we traveled to Chicago and performed in Stamford. I am eager to sense our professional identity rejuvenated as of Monday. Arrive in plenty of time, stay focused, listen intently. Remember that all these NYSBDA professionals are eager to hear you!

Enjoy the rest of the weekend. See you Monday.