Education
Many factors play into band director’s music choices
Posted on Sep 22, 2009 by Meredith Hines-Dochterman.
Cedar Rapids Prairie baritones senior Cody Kitzki (from left), sophomore Sarah Ekholm and senior section leader Brittany Barnard practice this year's Pink Floyd show on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, at the school in southwest Cedar Rapids. The school will host the Bands Across the Prairie marching band competition on Saturday, Sept. 26. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Practices for this year’s high school marching band competitions began in August.
Planning for the events started as early as the end of last year’s competitive season.
“When you think about all of the time that goes into it, not just practicing but selecting the music and putting the drill together, it’s a lot of time,” said Steve Stickney, Linn-Mar High School band director. “But it’s fun.”
Cedar Rapids Prairie High School Band Director Craig Aune began brainstorming for this year’s show during winter vacation. He asked for ideas. He listened to music. He reviewed previous shows and considered his students’ skills.
And he tried to do this all quietly, although his students knew what he was doing.
“The trick is to keep it hidden from them until you announce it in May,” Aune said.
It isn’t easy, according to Marion High School Band Director Chad Allard.
“They always try to figure out what I’m thinking,” Allard said.
So maybe the directors provide some clues, or let their students think they do.
“I left an opera CD on my desk once,” Aune said with a laugh. “They were horrified.”
And while Aune hopes to tackle opera someday, it’s progressive rock for Prairie this year. The marching band’s performance — “Pinkest Floyd” — features four classic Pink Floyd songs.
Cedar Rapids Prairie junior drum major Katrina Thomas directs the band during practice on Friday, Sept. 18, 2009, in southwest Cedar Rapids. The school will host the Bands Across the Prairie marching band competition on Saturday, Sept. 26. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)
Marion’s band embraces Broadway with its “West Side Story” program, featuring seven songs from the popular musical.
Linn-Mar’s program is a complete opposite from previous shows. The band that has played classical music the past two years goes heavy metal with “The Music of Metallica.”
It was a deliberate decision, Stickney said. School scheduling changes now have the band students practicing at 7:15 a.m.
“We practice a lot earlier, so we wanted to have music our students will really enjoy,” Stickney said.
Especially when its music they will hear, and play, again and again.
“I find myself humming the tunes in the car and switch on the radio,” Allard said. “My wife gets annoyed with me because I whistle the songs at home.”
“You want to pick a show that’s not going to drive you crazy at the end of three months,” said Brett Messenger, Prairie’s assistant band director.
Heart
22. Sep, 2009
Блог отличный. Вам награду бы за него или почетный орден.
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23. Sep, 2009
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BandFan621
23. Sep, 2009
Please attend this weekends competitions and support all the schools. Bear in mind the "marching Band" students start practicing as early as July (percussion) and stay with it thru late October. They put in more Hours and effort than any other artform and get less HOURS of competition for it. However the thousands of spectators that watch them in the next few weeks will be pleased. Linn mar-marion High School- and CR Prairie all have shows this weekend. Enjoy!
SKayBT
23. Sep, 2009
Agreed!! These students are tremendous ambassadors for their schools and the area and their talent is always amazing. You won't be disappointed with the "show"! And remember to support ALL the students at a sports event, not just the ones on the field.
NWSider
23. Sep, 2009
Thank you for the article. That is not the point of my comment. As is so often with the Gazette articles, my beef isn't with the article it is with the commenter. I want to know how "They put in more Hours and effort than any other artform". Most of the area show choirs have been in rehearsal since july, and won't be done until April or May. Orchestras put in hours upon hours of preparation with no competitions. The thespians will do several productions per year. This is not to disparage the bands, but rather to raise all of the performing arts.
davesc
23. Sep, 2009
There was a time when the marching bands prepared a brand new show for each home game. Now *that* was work and a great learning experience. Taking 4 months to prepare one short show? Piece of cake!
Amazon
23. Sep, 2009
It's a different world that when I was in band a couple of decades ago. We made formations and worked in "hot dogs" and "peanuts" (marching band terms from yesteryear). We didn't move freeform all over the field to accomplish the same task but we worked just as hard. I'm impressed with the drive and ambition today's band students possess. It shows they have respect for their leaders which will carry through with them throughout their lives. I'm sure this extends to all areas of the arts (orchestra, theatre, etc.) Long live the arts!!!