Subdivisions

"A sense of rhythm is born in everyone to a greater or lesser degree. It does not have to be taught. In the case of musicians, however, this innate sense needs to be much more finely developed. It is important to remember that just because a student has an intellectual understanding of the relative time values of the various notes does not necessarily mean that he or she can play them properly. The ability to instantly translate such symbols into their correct rhythmic patterns is a skill, and like all skills it needs to be practiced."
-From the concert band

Before you play a piece or start playing, here is a few things to do. Don't worry that your batch mates will laugh at you or your ego is too big. Just do it coz I use the similar method and it SHOULD help you get it right.

1. Secure a Tempo. Some people have inconstistent pulse and will rush or lag according to expression. So for the weaker players, use a metronome. (Lend ah) Secure a pulse. Make sure your body can feel the sense of rhythmic tempo, so to speak.
   
   
2. Read the scores. This is to reduce tension and unfamiliarness cause by sight-reading.
   
   
3. Subdivide according to the tempo. If it is in 4/4, t means that there is 4 crochets in a bar. That means that a quaver is half a beat is deserve a length of half a beat. Therefore, it goes 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 1 e+a 2 e+a 3 e+a 4 e+a. Subdivide equally and accurately.
   
   
4. Figure out synocopation and organise. The notes starting at the weak beats. Know where to tongue and breathe. Organise and ANTICIPATE. DO NOT COUNT OR DO IT ON THE BEAT ITSELF.

Come on, you are all VSCB members. Subdivision and tempo should not much a problem. Many had started the pieces from stratch also. And Euphonium scores are so easy. Not much weird ornaments.

I will start laughing if the members of other bands who visit this blog gain more knowledge that you guys. (Tag if you do!)

[Izak]

Pieces

Practise hard for Musical World XXIII. Don't neglect long notes and other fundamental studies! Fix your subdivisions.

These are the pieces of MW XXIII:

American Graffiti XVI
American Graffiti XVI Oldies
Selections from Merry Widow
Tomorrow
As Scent of Spring Rain
Broadway!
Russian Circus Music
Symphonic Movement

Die Fledermaus Overture is a maybe. It may be replaced by Inn of Sixth Happiness.

These are a few CLEANER recordings I picked. Better recordings and more recordings will be placed here.

American Graffiti XVI Oldies

Tomorrow (With Vocal Accompaniment)

Merry Widow

Symphonic Movement

As Scent of Spring Rain

SYF 2009

Congratulations to the whole band, we had attained the Gold award!

Never mind the adjudicators, our performance had reached the peak! I am sure we are there not for the award, we are there for the music making as musicians representing VSCB.

I would like to thank Jason for helping with the section NOT only in the musical aspects of Overture 2 but in the ways of how you hold your instrument, how you project, how you breathe in and how you express out your tone.

Remember: Colour, Depth, Resonance.

Do not forget as the technical aspects that we had worked on. We had achieved Gold, now we have to proof that we are worthy of it. Musical World is just around the corner.

Do your long notes and technical drills. If you don't practise smart, you will suffer terribly.

And in 2011, I want the juniors who will be leading the band to snatch back the Gold with Honours that abruptly disappeared from our grasp since 2007.

For VSCB is where dreams come true and music lives on.