Audition Camp #1

Today was the big day: the first audition date for indoor brass. And I’m not going to lie – the turnout was terrible! We ended up with less than half of what we expect to “field” [floor?] in the first place…not a situation we were hoping for by any means. That said, both Kenny and I are very thankful and appreciative of everyone who decided to show up [and stay!] and participate by giving it their best. We could not have asked for anything more of these kids!

Clearly, this places us in a difficult situation. The individual responsibility needed for even a select group of 18 musicians is high compared to what normal demands are. For a group half that size, well, the demand and responsibilities double. This requires a physical, mental, and emotional intensity that will be hard to attain – however, it IS attainable if the desire is great enough. From an overall programming standpoint, writing music and movement for a group of nine or ten is much different than writing for a group of eighteen or twenty. We must now reevaluate the program so that it will set the eventual members up for the best opportunity for success.

There are still some avenues to pursue with regards to finding additional members to audition and participate, and we will work hard over the course of the next several days to exhaust those options. We are hopeful the outcome will be a positive one, and that this will enable us move forward in a way that more closely resembles the original vision we had for the group. For now, though, it’s time to begin preparing Plan B for Cienega Indoor Brass, a reality which might include half the numbers we were expecting to have. If this is the situation we find ourselves in, I am confident we will be able to put together and perform a product that will entertain our audiences, educate our members, and represent our school and music program well.

The show will go on.

« Ben »

The season begins in less than a week!

Less than a week to go before auditions begin! Most everything is set to go, we just need to get everyone to show up ready to work hard and have a good time! The biggest thing that needs wrapped up is the first chunk of show music which will be handed out at the end of the audition. Members will have the week between the first and second auditions to prepare the first 30 seconds of the show, which will be the musical basis for the second audition: how quickly and with how much quality can new material be prepared? At the second audition, we will ensemble this chunk for the first time, and give them a taste of what they’ve gotten themselves into. I think they will enjoy!

Audition Date, Time, and Place? Check.
Materials for those rating auditions? Check.
Audition Show Music? Almost there!!

« Ben »

Show music is officially underway

It’s been a while since the last update, but here’s what’s up: the band season ended with the Copper Thunder Marching Band receiving an overall rating of Excellent, as well as a color guard rating also of Excellent. It was a great way to end the season, and has put us in a great position to begin the school’s winter/indoor programs, including Indoor Brass, of course!

In the past several weeks, the audition information was finished and posted to the official band website, and potential members are busy working on the audition requirements. Auditions are just under two weeks away, so in the meantime, I’ve got to start cranking out show music. A segment of show music will be passed out at the end of the first audition in preparation for the second, where we’ll rehearse the show for the first time and finalize spots. Towards the end of December – around Christmas – members of the ensemble will receive warmups, show music, and CD recordings of their parts for reference as they practice in anticipation of the first official rehearsal for the 2008 season in January. From there, it is only a few short weeks until the first public performances.

So, to get a head start on the music, I mapped out the entire first movement in my notation software: I laid out the measures, the time signatures, and tempo changes. All that is left is to input the music according to this layout. So far, this is what I know about the first movement:

It will be about 2.5 minutes long.
It will have about 112 measures.
It will have 5 tempo changes.
It will have 27 meter changes.

That sounds totally nuts, I know. And really, it is. But in practice [and performance!], I think it will work out much better than it looks written out on paper, like I just did!
« Ben »

Potential reveals itself again and again

The marching band season is just over one week from ending, and tonight was our second to last brass sectional for the year. It was simple and focused. It was our best sectional of the year by far, and I feel like we’re on the verge of a musical breakthrough…a little frustrating since we’re here at the end of the season and may never have the chance to reach that potential, but it is satisfying nonetheless.

It just reminds me of how much skill and potential these kids really have, and how excited I am to cultivate that talent over the course of these next few months by challenging them musically, physically, mentally, and emotionally. I think they’re up to the challenge. If so, there’s no limit to what they can achieve here.

« Ben »

Are problems really a problem?

“The problem is not that there are problems. The problem is expecting otherwise and thinking that having problems is a problem.” ~ Theodore Rubin

I borrowed this quote off the HopBlog [George Hopkins, CEO of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA!) and Director of The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps], and it really hit home with me today. So often we put our energy into something we are passionate about so that we can enjoy it without any hiccups or bumps along the way. But that is so incredibly unrealistic! With regards to indoor brass, it’s perhaps a bit unreasonable to expect that there will not be problems. After all, this is for the most part a new activity, and definitely a new take on the winterguard spectrum. Not only that, but neither Kenny nor I have experience in setting up a successful program from the ground up. As far as what we want this activity to be, what we want our particular program to be…this will be something that is determined along the way. Each decision we make will shape our activity, and there are really no rules we have to play by. That is both exciting and scary!

The second half of the quote, “…thinking that having problems is a problem” is very much an attitude thing. Problems and challenges can both be incredible tools to learn and grow. In the future, I should expect to encounter hurdles regarding indoor brass, but I should view them as opportunities to improve not only the ensemble I helped to create, but also myself as a teacher and a person.

« Ben »

Miscommunication

In a few minutes here, I’ll be on my way to a staff meeting regarding Cienega Indoor Brass. On the table tonight is the need to clear up some misconceptions about the program. Last Thursday, Tom, Kenny, and I held a student-parent informational meeting to get out all the details we had to offer. At the time, I considered it a success: students and parents seemed interested and excited about the opportunity.

Boy, what a difference a week makes!

It seems that over the course of the past week several key points have been misunderstood and miscommunicated to our detriment. As a result, it would seem we raised a lot more questions than we answered, and spread confusion to the point where many are now doubting whether they want want to be involved. It hasn’t helped that kids will be kids, which means rumors and gossip are out in full force.

That’s a very damaging position for us to be in so early.

The purpose of Cienega Indoor Brass is to provide middle school- and high school-aged Vail School District students the opportunity to perform to their musical potential using brass-only instruments and movement. No strings attached. Period. We will accomplish this by creating an intense, focused setting in which to rehearse challenging music and demanding drill. Those who make it through the audition process will be expected to adhere to high standards of excellence. In short, we believe that a successful ensemble will be an ensemble whose members are truly here for the “right” reasons: those who are willing to challenge themselves in order realize and even surpass their potential by improving their current musical and performance skills.

That is what Cienega Indoor Brass is. Nothing less, nothing more.

Tonight it is important that once and for all everyone involved understands the fundamentals of this ensemble so we can go forward with a unified, clear message: If you want to become a better performer, we want you. If you want to surround yourself with others just like you, we have a spot for you. If you want to see just how great you can be, you can challenge yourself at Cienega Indoor Brass.

« Ben »

Preparing for auditions

Yikes, it’s November already! And while only a few hours have gone by since my first two posts in October and this one, it underscores the fact that time continues to rapidly pass. Before I know it, it’ll be December, and then auditions will be just around the corner.

On my agenda this week is to finish preparing all the audition information and material, which is to be posted for potential members to begin using on November 9. The whole audition process is designed to be an educational experience. Musicians face auditions all the time, and I believe it’s important not only to encourage kids to step out of their comfort zone and participate in them, but also to arm them with the necessary information in order to succeed at them. In the end, it is up to the student to determine the amount of success he achieves – much like anything done in the fine or performing arts. After all, the staff can’t go out there and perform for them. But sound preparation will always generate success.

The material will include several components. First, a letter explaining the concept of indoor brass and the importance the audition holds relative the success of the program. Secondly, a detailed explanation of each of the audition requirements [both musical and visual]. Lastly, it will include the music students must familiarize themselves with in order to successfully make it through auditions.

« Ben »

A little background

Welcome once again to the official blog of Cienega Indoor Brass! The purpose of this blog first and foremost is to offer students, parents, friends, mentors, and basically any other interested person an honest, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this new, one-of-a-kind music ensemble. Highlighted will be the organizational process of putting together such a group, the creative process involved in pulling together our show, and all steps both in the right AND wrong direction along the way.

But first, allow me to introduce myself!

I’m Ben Jones, co-creator, music arranger, and music caption head for Cienega Indoor Brass. Cienega Indoor Brass is based out of Cienega High School, of Vail School District in Vail, Arizona. Thanks to the generous support provided by Tom Broccolo, Director of Bands at Cienega High School, Kenny Dahill [the other mastermind behind this ensemble, as well as visual designer and visual caption head] and I have been granted permission to create Cienega Indoor Brass.

And now for a little background.

Kenny and I met in the winter of 2004-2005 when we both auditioned for Capital Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to our meeting and subsequent friendship, we had both separately played with the idea of small, brass-only ensembles that would perform shows indoors on basketball courts. These ensembles would follow in the same vane as modern Winter Guard and Indoor Percussion units. It was no surprise, then, that as we quickly became friends, we discovered we shared these similar interests. But because I at the time lived in Pennsylvania and Kenny in Arizona, we assumed we would have to create separate ensembles in our respective locations.

Let’s fast forward a year or so.

In August 2006, I moved from Pennsylvania to Tucson, Arizona. Now that we lived in the same city, Kenny proposed we start a non-profit, independent organization in order to realize our common dream. However, a lack of time and resources scuttled our plans, and we were left wondering how to make our indoor brass a reality. Meanwhile, Kenny – a staff member of Cienega High School’s Copper Thunder Marching Band – was working on introducing me to its director, Tom Broccolo. In Spring 2007, I had the good fortune of meeting with Tom and at that time it was determined I would be a member of his marching band’s staff as well, heading up his woodwind and brass program.

With both Kenny and I on staff at the same school, it became clear that there was a potential to use this new school’s maturing band program as a platform from which to create our indoor brass ensemble. After several discussions in September, we were given the green light to begin developing our long sought-after vision.

All of which leads us to the here and now!

Although there are still three weeks left of the marching band season, Kenny, Tom, and I are already fast at work setting up this new musical offering. And although we have over one month before we hold auditions, more than two months before our first rehearsals, and nearly four months before our first full performance, it seems as though there are countless things to take care of…not the least of which is putting together an entertaining, innovative show that will not only challenge its performers both musically and visually, but also its audience. I’m sure I speak for everyone involved when I say the task seems daunting; however, I know the end result will be rewarding and well worth the effort. In the meantime, though, I must depend on this knowledge to keep me motivated and pushing forward.

As for the future, I anticipate a lot of payoff as well as a ton of stress, frustration, and doubt. But anything worth doing involves copious amounts of all the above, and therein lies the REAL fun! Stay tuned for more!

« Ben »

Welcome, everyone!

Welcome, everyone, to the official blog of Cienega Indoor Brass! Please bookmark this website and check back often for updates: real entries are on their way shortly.

Oh, and Happy Halloween!

« Ben »