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Any band directors out there with experience in student driven arrangements?
I have a small concert band next year with odd instrumentation and am trying to look at it as more of a large chamber group or even garage band in terms of philosophy and the student experience. I want to push the musical decision making down to the performer level so their ears and creativity are developed to a higher degree than with the "old school" approach where composers, arrangers, and directors make all the real decisions. If you've tried going down this road, I'd love to hear from you. If you just think this sounds nuts, feel free to keep it to yourself. ;-)
I'm planning to start the year listening to whatever students bring in that moves them "instrumentally." That doesn't exclude vocal music, it just can't depend on the words for it's impact. Pop will certainly be a part of this, but, in the age of the internet, I usually get a surprisingly broad range of styles and eras represented with such exercises.
Then we'll select pieces for performance based on the group reaction to these pieces and perhaps things that I bring in that tie some common threads together. I'll be working to shape a group consensus so some ideas don't "win" and others "lose." Tricky at times, but usually doable.
3 Answers
- judyLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
I'm not a band director, but I'm a teacher, and I was in band for seven years. This is a great idea!!
- 1 decade ago
I'd suggest for you to get into playing pop music with that kind of a group.
Why?
Pop music instrumentals only require a small number of instruments (normally less than 10) to cover all the parts.
You can get free scores to popular songs from hamienet.com
You may have to rewrite some of the parts on there, but as a band director I am sure you have a computer program that you can easily do it in. (FinaleMusic if no).
Alternatively, you can have the kids design the whole song on a music program.
This will combine their desire to listen to popular music along with skills needed to hear a note or melody, and then transform it and the rhythym to notes on a page. Then, as they wrote out the song, the kids will have a very good understanding of how it is supposed to sound and be played. They will excel at the music they wrote out themselves. Plus -- Playing popular music might increase your band size tremendously.
- 1 decade ago
I am a big band band leader/ director and teach music also, I've head music clubs also.
visit our site www.bassbrass.org to see my band and e-mail me for any questions or details
director@bassbrass.org
age, experience, number all affect the style.
