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.

Rehearsal site on Monday

Please remember that we have rehearsal this Monday at New Rochelle HS. Follow this link to see the detailed driving directions they supplied. Please do not use the school address coordinates on your GPS; this will not take you to the right part of campus. Instead, aim for the corner of North Avenue at Braemar Avenue. Drive onto campus at Braemer. Drive in past the tennis courts and park in the parking lot at the north end of the “new wing,” labeled the Museum of Arts and Culture. Walk along the length of the lake side of the wing, passing the doors that say “Faculty Entrance Only” and continuing to the far corner of the building. Go around the greenhouse and head for the “keyhole” arch. Walk through the “keyhole,” and look for the double doors on the right. The Band Room will be inside, first doors on the left. Please allow enough time for travel so we can start rehearsal on time.

Goals for Monday:

• Share and review highlights from the concert.
• Thoroughly rehearse the two new pieces, Boerma & Hazo.
• Review spots of concern in the other works.
• Collect travel, lodging, carpooling offers/needs and information from all for our trip to Syracuse. Please come prepared to complete a short questionnaire detailing your mode of travel, when you intend to arrive, if you’re staying overnight and where, if you can offer or need a carpool ride to Syracuse, and if you can offer or need a carpool ride on arrival between our hotel and the conference center.

If you wish to reserve a room at the Comfort Inn & Suites, where we have negotiated a $89.00 rate, the deadline is this coming Friday, February 10. The reservation rate expires on that date. For more information about the hotel, conference, and performance, click here for the WSW NYSBDA Bulletin. I have updated this bulletin with more information about WSW members attending NYSBDA workshops, friends/family attending the concert, and more.

We had a great concert — I’m looking forward to another spectacular performance with you at NYSBDA!

Superior teamwork!

I’m so very, very proud of your work yesterday. The concert felt solid from start to finish. We had a large, receptive crowd, and good weather. It all added up to a successful day, of which we should all feel proud.

I spent a good deal of time today thinking about why yesterday was such a great experience. Too often we spend most of our energy following a performance analyzing our mistakes and how to improve. Right now, I think it’s a good idea to recap the extraordinary, collaborative characteristics we shared that made the performance so outstanding:

• Individual members of the ensemble were extremely focused.
• The ensemble came in visualizing success.
• The ensemble gave latitude to the conductor, guest conductors, and soloist to allow the music to breathe, expand, and feel buoyant in the moment.
• Individual members radiated empathetic energy for one another, especially in moments of quiet, reflective repose, when it was most needed.

Please think on these things, and bring them along with you as we continue on our path together through the performances in March, May, and July.

Bob Bennett’s Buoyant Big Band Blast!

If you’re available, please remember Bob’s jazz concert tomorrow, Tuesday at 6 pm at The Shrine, 2271 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Boulevard, Manhattan. Go to http://shrinenyc.com/ for more information (scroll down through to January 31 to see Bob’s listing). Click the graphic for a full-size version of his flyer.

R-13 Clarinet & spinet piano for sale

I have information about a Buffet R-13 Bb clarinet and spinet piano for sale. Contact me directly for more information.

More info for NYSBDA

I’m waiting for answers regarding WSW members attending NYSBDA workshops, family/friends attending the concert, plus making arrangements for carpools between our hotel and the conference center. All this will be forthcoming. We will also be asking everyone making the trip to confirm their transportation, arrival & departure times, and lodging (if you’re staying overnight) so we can account for everyone as needed.

Caramoor tickets

I’ve requested our discount code, but no one has responded yet. Although you are welcome to go and pay full price at www.caramoor.org, you might want to hold out a bit to get the discount.

No rehearsal tonight

Next rehearsal is next Monday, February 6 at New Rochelle HS. I’ll resend the directions at the end of the week.

Thanks again, all, for a fantastic experience yesterday!