Mr. Thompson's Band Blog

Original Show Music: "...the beauty of their dreams"

Greetings Lassiter.  This year's show was taken from a quote from Elenor Roosevelt: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams".  To depict this quotation we have chosen three twentieth century nobel prize winners.  This blog post contains the original works that have inspired our show for this year. We begin with Bela Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra, performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. You'll recogonize the triumphant french horn call at the beginning:

 

03 Concerto for Orchestra, Sz.116_ V. Finale; Pesante - Presto

 

The horn call creates the triumphant entrance of our first dreamer; the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Bartok eventually leads to Václav Nelhýbel's Symphonic Movement for Band:

 

02 Symphonic Movement

 

This work reflects the contemporary conflict theory of Dr. King who was only 26 years old when he began his quest for equal cival rights.

Third movement of the show is in tribute to Dr. Albert Einstein whose dreams revolutionized contemporay thoughts of physics.  We have chosen the music of Bernard Herman to depict a frantic mind burning with questions and theories:

 

04 Psycho Prelude

 

 

Percussion Study Guide

Download Percussion Study Guide

Jazz Band Charts

Hello ASE students.  Here are some recordings that I'd like you to study.  Pay close attention to the style in regards to articulation and rhythm.  In addition, study the improvisation for a better jazz musical vocabulary. Happy Listening...

03 Straight, No Chaser

10 My Funny Valentine

04 Four Brothers

Rhythm sheet

I will post the Thursday rhythm sheet by Sunday. .

Percussion Charts

Download 15 Copland Portrait Download 16 The Promise of Living Download 17 The Red Pony

Happy Spring Break

I hope that you all are enjoying Spring Break! Don't forget about our concert coming up. See you on Monday.

Congrats!!!

Great performance at festival! I was so proud of the work that you did making fantastic music. Your skills have grown tremendously. Enjoy your weekend (and the prom) and be prepared to work hard on Monday.

Tests 4-6

Concert I

Good job on your performance last night.  Let's push all the way to the end!  I have an additional recording to request from you.  This recording is due on Monday and will consist of the intonation test number 2 and an additional recording of our festival tunes.  There should be two announcements on your tape/CD/mp3:

"This is ________________ performing intonation assessment"

1:  Intonation-  I want you to warm-up and tune.  Afterward, tune each tendency tone using only the embouchure setting and air support.  Next, record your Bb Concert add-a-tone drill stopping on each note until it is in-tune.  Complete the second intonation test and submit the paperwork on Monday.

"I will now perform the concert to recording or with metronome beginning with the march at 120bpm"

2:  Record an additional recording of the march and Raging River.

Study the intonation side of the sheet.  You will have a written test on how to adjust pitch, what your tendency tones are, and how to correctly tune you instrument on Monday.  Make sure that you bring a pencil to rehearsal.  Tests taken in pen will not be graded!

How to enroll in Smartmusic

In order to submit the recording using smart music, you must first enroll in Concert I second semester class.  If you have already used smarmusic before and can remember your password, then just log in as always an enroll in class.  If you are new to smart music, you must first go to this website:

www.smartmusic.com/enroll

Simply follow the instructions.  and find Lassiter High School.  It's important to remember that the assignment won't be visible until you are accepted into the class by me.  I will check the web page frequently to update new enrolled students.  Don't wait until the last minute.  I will not accept recordings after next wednesday and this will count for 3 test grades.

Grading Rubric for Concert I Recordings

Here is the rubric that I will use to give you a grade on your recordings.  Use this to prepare.

Download Recording Rubric