Yes — I just found out a moment ago that the stage is completely clear and we can load in at our regular time. I know many of you have made special plans for babysitters, meals, and transportation. Let’s leave it as this: I’ll be there by 7:00 pm to open. If you can, try to arrive by 7:15 so we can start as close to 7:30 as possible. We’ll start when we start.
The Music Hall contacted me earlier this week to say that the Hall is now available for us on Wednesday, but we can’t enter until 7:45 pm. Considering KoC without percussion with a 7:30 pm start, compared to TMH with percussion with a 7:45 entry, the board and I chose TMH. So we will follow these procedures to rehearse on Wednesday at TMH:
I will do my best to finish by 9:45 pm. I’m asking for forgiveness in advance if I go a few minutes over.
From Casey Howard: Looking for one or two players at $110 per player for a short marching band gig tomorrow afternoon in Wappinger Falls. Call is at 1pm, parade 2-3. Sousa marches to be read from lyre books. Dress is white on top, black on bottom. Contact Caset directly if your are interested at 646-373-0084. (Supposedly rain or shine. Casey is subbing for one of their sax players as well.)
Comedian Pete Davidson booked the Music Hall for a stand up show on Monday, and so we have been bumped. We only learned about this on Wednesday evening. At that time, our insurance documents with White Plains HS were still in process, so our only option was to move the rehearsal this coming Monday, September 18 to the Knights of Columbus, 327 Westchester Avenue, Port Chester, New York. This is a site we’ve used before, and the acoustics are remarkably good. The KoC is able to provide chairs, but everyone must bring their own music stand. There is no parking lot per se, but there is plenty of on-street parking in the area. If you have not rehearsed with us previously at KoC, just leave a little extra time to find the venue and park. Thanks go out to Marianne Lepre-Nolan, who has been the band’s liaison with the KoC, for securing the venue for us.
The rehearsal plan is posted. Eric is contacting all percussionists with the equipment plan.
Principals – I suggest contacting members who may not read their email to ‘check in’ to make sure they do not go to TMH. Delegate calls/texts as needed so no one is left out.
I want to thank everyone for the opening rehearsal last week — it was outstanding work! I especially appreciate that everyone successfully brought their own parts (a milestone in itself!) and that you all worked so hard to play through all of the Fall Concert rep plus the Hindemith Symphony in Bb. This was no small task, and there were hiccups of course, but as I said last week, there are few groups that could have read it as effectively as you did! If you would like to listen, I recorded our Hindemith read-through. I think this recording is a good marker of our starting point with this masterpiece — and a reminder that we all need to be thoroughly prepared with notes, rhythms, and (in particular) counting of rests when we start rehearsing this in earnest in March. It will be here before you know it!
L to R: Chris Peña, SSG Julian Jenkins, SFC Cory Thompson, and SSG Kristina Teuschler.
As part of my role as a volunteer at the Percy Grainger House, I made the arrangements to bring the Clarinet Quartet from the West Point Band to perform a special porch concert at the Percy Grainger House this past Thursday. West Point Principal Clarinet Kristen Mather de Andrade was not able to lead the quartet due to a last minute medical leave, and so our own Chris Peña was called to sub in. The quartet’s performances of Molly on the Shore, Children’s March, The Brisk Young Sailor, Irish Tune from County Derry, and Shepherd’s Hey were outstanding and exciting, and drew lavish kudos and praise from Grainger Society President, Paul Jackson, who traveled from the UK especially for the event. Thanks also go out to Dan, Marge, Nancy, Dave, and Rebecca (a member of the PGH staff) for attending the event.
We’re opening our 36th season on Monday night! Please check my home page for the rehearsal plan. VERY IMPORTANT: Be sure to download and print (or download and save to a tablet/iPad) all the parts listed for Monday’s rehearsal, including the Hindemith Symphony. Click here for all the parts in the Fall cycle (the Hindemith folder is included), and then go from folder to folder to gather and download each piece.
IMPORTANT: Please double check to make sure you have all parts included in the rehearsal plan. We will not have spare parts available on Monday night!
Trumpets – Stan communicated part assignments with you directly.
Clarinets – Click here to confirm the part distribution plan.
Everyone else – You should be downloading the same part you played last season, or as directed in an individual communication from your principal or me.
In regard to library, I recognize that this is a big shift from the past, but we successfully downloaded parts during the shutdown — we know you can do this and it can work effectively! And this method guarantees that subs can access music as needed without coordinating transfers of folders.
Empty black concert folders will be distributed to all who are using paper parts on Monday night. A folder sign-out sheet will be passed around during the rehearsal. Please sign for your folder, indicate your part, and the folder number.
That’s it — I look forward to seeing you on Monday night! If you have issues or questions, hit reply.