Langham Creek Symphonic Band - TMEA Intro - Marche Joyeuse

[saintdracula]

That's quite quick! We play it at around half the speed

[nikkidirects]

i thought that this piece had been lost in time!

such a great performance, i loved hearing it again!

[hick315]

shes soo coooll!! she came to conduct my band and shes amazinnnnng1

[johnny102marvin]

The lady who is the band director must really be a charismatic individual to get these teenagers to perform this well. It takes a lot of practice, discipline, vision, and goal setting to reach first place. Does she also organize the band for football half time shows, and parades? She must be a powerhouse to do all of this.

[frodolives1]

john, This program has 3 band directors. Scott is the head director and Gloria is the associate. There is an assistant's position which is open at the moment. There is also a color guard instructor. The directors work very hard all year 'round. Before coming to Langham, Gloria was a middle school director and her bands there were contenders for middle school honor band. The marching band contest show is custom designed by other professionals.

[frodolives1]

john, In Texas the band will go to every football game whether at home or away. Lots of parent boosters to help. They will do maybe 2 or 3 parades in a year. Not a big deal. This year they are planning 2 BOA appearances in Houston and San Antonio. The Symphonic Band will be going to New York in the winter to play at Carnegie Hall.

[frodolives1]

john, The kids work very hard. The brass players will come in early each morning for group warmups which really help tone and endurance. Each section will have a one-hour sectional with a band director each week after school. The students in the top 2 bands probably all take lessons. Some days it's like a conservatory with all the private teachers around.

Saw some of your keyboard videos. Liked them very much.

[johnny102marvin]

Frodolives: I was in the high school band in chula Vista, california back in 1962. Watching these videos brought back a lot of memories. Somehow, I wish I was back in the band. I still play my clarinet, saxophone, and flute. Maybe I'll join a church orchestra someplace. I live in San Antonio.

[lcoboe20080721234]

she's amazing. you have no idea!

[quitiplamb]

so how long does the honor band get to practice together for those pieces? i was in CA's state and SF's All city and we only got like 6 hours to rehearse.

[frodolives1]

quit. 1) This one high school. In TX a state honor band is picked every other year in each school class. They do it every other year as there are just too many bands. 5A is the top class as it consists of all high schools with an enrollment of 1,985 or more. Evaluations consist of CDs of live, continous concerts submitted at the region level. No voice identification will appear in the recording. The pieces are to consist of one march and two selections of other types.

[frodolives1]

quit. 2) There are 27 regions in TX. Each region will pick 2 bands from each class to send on to the area level. There are 7 areas. Each area will send 2 bands on to the state level where the final selection is made.

[frodolives1]

quit. 3) The real prize in this is getting to perform at the TMEA convention in February. Since the convention is in February, it is impossible to complete this whole process in the months leading up to the convention. So the winning band plays for the convention in the following year. You submit the audition CDs with the students from one year and play the concert the following year with a somewhat different set of students.

[frodolives1]

quit. 4) Final results are announced during the summer between the 2 school years.

For this concert Langham did some unique things. They did not play their 3 honor band pieces, nor did they play their 3 contest pieces. (For their contest this year they played Commando March, Trittico, and American Overture for Band.) Instead they prepared an entirely different and lengthly set of material that would normally be heard at the university level.

[frodolives1]

quit. 5) Texas also does the allstate band thing for individucal students which you mentioned. Langham had 6 students make the Texas allstate band; more than anyone else.

[utfan3]

So let me get this straight. You win the award one year, but then the next year, you go and play the state convention concert. What if you lose all your seniors? Scary.