Category Archives: News

Current news andupdates

A day of surprises/Bernstein

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Well, it certainly was an afternoon full of surprises. I must first thank Ed & Michelle Herko for their kind and highly personal gesture in endowing the Conductor’s Chair in the name of my teacher and mentor, John P. Paynter. I can’t imagine a more significant expression of support than this. As I tried to say, I am both humbled and challenged by this endowment, and I will endeavor to do everything possible to honor this gift appropriately. Thank you.

The concert itself had some wonderful moments that were exceptional. There were also some curious moments along the way. I will try to cover both ends of the spectrum and invite your input when we meet tomorrow night.

Please go to the New Music page, then type in the password which protects the page — wsw1248 — then select the PDF for your part. Please be sure to scroll to the specific page of your part, and print only that range of pages! Don’t click Print before you’ve chosen the range of pages (so you don’t print them all), and I also suggest you select “Shrink to fit” if possible. Don’t forget to tape the pages together as well, so you don’t have a “wardrobe malfunction” with your music onstage.

If you don’t have access to download/print these parts, or if this is outside your comfort range, email me directly, and I’ll be sure to bring a part for you.

Thanks again for a great day — see you tomorrow night at 7:30 pm at TMH. Click here for the rehearsal plan.

Rest up for tomorrow!

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I hope everyone has a chance to rest and reflect today, to prepare for our program tomorrow. Please do plan to arrive and be in your seat, warmed up, by 1:00 pm. I will restrict our sound check playing to only those pieces/sections that really need to be hit. I’m sure you agree that there are some sections of the George and Copland that will benefit from one last review.

Monday will be here before we know it. I am planning to read everything on the ACB program. Please come prepared with that mindset. This includes:

  • Hazo – Ride
  • van der Roost – Puszta (I-II-III)
  • Whitacre – Sleep
  • Bernstein – Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
  • George – Firefly
  • Mackey – Strange Humors
  • Cheetham – ABA Symphonic March

As described earlier, this is an important rehearsal because we will not be rehearsing on February 20 or February 27. Our next rehearsal will be March 5 — only 7 weeks to go until our national stage debut! Please know that I intend to read all the pieces, but not try to rehearse intensely. We will also be using a “test drive” arrangement of part assignments for trumpets, horns, and percussion. These principal players will then have the experience of the rehearsal plus 3 weeks to consider permanent assignments until we meet again on March 5.

Have a great day — see you tomorrow!

One week ’til Lincoln’s Birthday

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Rehearsal, Dress rehearsal, and Concert this week!

Please check the Rehearsal This Week page for the schedule for Monday’s rehearsal and Thursday’s dress rehearsal.

I recognize that we have had very little time for rehearsal on the Vaughan-Williams; I have prioritized it for Monday. Please make sure you’ve looked over the piece so we’ll have no surprises.

I have struggled with the program order of this program for quite some time. I think I finally found the right workable solution. It is reflected  on both the Rehearsal This Week and Winter Concert Rep pages.

2012 Wind Conducting Symposium

Several of our WSW members have registered as conductors and performers for this year’s Symposium on Saturday & Sunday, June 2-3. If you are interested in playing in the afternoon wind ensemble labs, please go to wcs.ebernet.biz for more information and the registration link.

I’ve reached a tentative deal with Mallory Thompson for another WSW clinic with her on Friday, June 1, 7:00-9:30 pm, at Northern Valley-Old Tappan High School. The clinic will be an official segment of the Symposium. The Board has given initial approval but we must still work out the final particulars, including repertoire. Please mark your calendars now for this important event.

Real-World Solutions for Music Educators

I am pleased to announce that I will be leading a 2-day summer workshop, yet to be scheduled in late July/early August at Northern Valley Staff Development Consortium. Tentatively titled Instrumental Music Education: Real-World Solutions for Improving Your Ensembles, the workshop will target instrumental music educators who:

  • have completed their Bachelor’s degree
  • have at least one year of teaching experience
  • are looking to share their key experiences and find solutions for everyday challenges

The workshop will focus on:

  • Utilizing Social-Emotional Leadership skills to enhance the ensemble environment
  • Effective rehearsal planning
  • Post-undergrad conducting skills
  • Technology strategies for better organization and progress
  • Repertoire and technology idea pool

Although the workshop won’t receive official approval until later this month, I am allowed to start to announce this program to plant the idea among the groups with whom I work. It will be open to music educators of all states, not just New Jersey.

As I know more about this program, including final dates, cost, and registration information, I’ll be sure to pass it on.

See you Monday!

Winter Concert poster and more

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Winter Concert Poster

Jessie Katz has once again designed and provided us with a knockout poster for our Lincoln’s Birthday concert. Download the PDF version. Please consider printing and posting them at work, school, or your local Starbucks. (Yes, they accept them! Just ask the manager. It’s great publicity for us!)

So what’s that funny black and white graphic at the bottom? You’ve seen more of them around, in newspapers, magazines, Metro North station posters, and websites. It’s called a QR code, and I’ve made sure that we’re “keeping up with the Jones’s” by including it on our poster and annual season brochure. Just point the camera on your iPhone, Droid, or any other smartphone, at the QR graphic, and it will automatically send you to the WSW website. Try it — it works!

Rehearsal follow-up

Thank you for a hard-working and productive rehearsal last night. We really needed the “down and dirty” clean up rehearsals on the Hazo and George, and it was possible because of the great work you did in the sectionals and rehearsal with Matt Kowalski last week. Thanks for making that possible. I’m also glad to have had an extended time to work with Bob Sherman and the important second half of the Copland. He is a very kind man and experienced professional — we are indeed fortunate to have him on our team!

Please keep working on your parts. There is so such thing as overworking your preparation. If you are experienced technologically, I encourage you to look at SmartMusic. (Click on the student tab for individual practice.) This application is a first-rate practice assistant. It gives you the opportunity to practice ensemble music with the full band recording, adjust the tempo without changing the pitch, have the application assess your performance for pitch/rhythm accuracy, and more. If you’re looking for a personal recommendation, talk to Jim Savage. He practiced the Schönberg with SmartMusic!

Concert attendance

We had terrific attendance at the Fall Concert — you saw how many people were in the balcony! I want to acknowledge our Public Relations chair, Greg Governale. He has been doing a great job sending out our press releases to a huge number of papers, websites, and more. Please continue to invite family and friends. Try to invite 2 friends or family members who have never attended a concert before — chances are they will want to return. And don’t underestimate the power of a flyer posted in Starbucks!

ACB countdown and beyond

Our first performance on a national stage is just about 3 months and 2days away. Check out the convention repertoire. Stay informed and up to date with our rehearsal schedule. Please note that we must have a rehearsal on the day after the Winter Concert. I wish we could relax on that Monday, but (if you check the schedule) you’ll notice that we are not rehearsing the next two Mondays: February 20 (President’s Day) and February 27 (dress rehearsal conflict for me at NVOT). We really need this February 13 rehearsal to get a head start on the ACB and May rep. So please count on this rehearsal, and be sure you’ve marked it in your calendar.

We have made tentative arrangements for a clinic with Mallory Thompson again this spring. The Board will vote for final confirmation of this at our next meeting. The date is Friday, June 1, 7:00-9:30 pm, at NVOT. Please mark your calendars, and we will take a poll soon to confirm personnel.

Lastly, I invite you to consider playing in the wind ensemble for this year’s Wind Conducting Symposium, Saturday and Sunday, June 2 & 3, 1:00-4:30 pm, at NVOT. Follow the link to register to play on Saturday and/or Sunday afternoon.

Check out our rehearsal plan for next Monday. Focus your practice and preparation. Remember that we are rehearsing once again (and probably for the last time this season) at Pelham High School. Thanks again to Rocco Polera for once again helping us to secure this rehearsal space.

See you next Monday, at Pelham.