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Tag >> Band and Orchestra
Now that you have bought your instrument, the most important thing to do is get it insured. First of all, research companies to find the best policy for your needs. Some companies include instruments under a homeowner’s insurance policy; others offer protection only for instruments. Check online for names of companies. Next, know the conditions of the policy. Many companies do not cover something that is called “unavoidable theft.” That means if you left your instrument unattended in a place that anyone can access such as a rehearsal studio, the company will not cover the theft. If your house was broken into and your instrument stolen, that is different, but make sure theft is included in the policy.
Whereas March is designated as “Music in Our Schools Month” and in light of
Posted by: Leif Rehnberg in Band and Orchestra on
Mar 04, 2010
TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED - Organizing the practice day
- Finding aroutine that works for you
- Working out difficult passages
- A practical approach to orchestral excerpts
An active freelance horn player and teacher in Minneapolis, Minnesota,Kevin received his BM in horn performance from the Cleveland Institute of Musicwhere he studied with Richard Solisand Richard King. Kevin received a Master's degree in horn from Western Michigan University under the guidance of Johnny Pherigo. He also worked privately with Kendall Bettsand Michael Gast. Kevin's career includes having performed with the orchestras of Youngstown, Tulsa, Duluth,and Monterrey, Mexico. He is currently an extra and substitute hornist with the Minnesota Orchestraand the Minnesota Opera. Active in the commercial field, Kevin can be found on a regular basis in various Twin Cities recording studios.
If your child expresses an interest in learning to play a stringed instrument you will find that you need a child-sized instrument. Unlike brass and woodwind instruments which are a one size fits all, there are many sizes for stringed instruments.  The music industry uses fractions to denote the different sizes in violins, cellos, and basses. Instruments run from 1/32 size (something a toddler would use) to a 4/4 size (something an adult would use.) These fractions are just to identify the instruments, a half size violin is not exactly half the size of a 4/4 size. Generally speaking there is about one inch difference between sizes. Violas are slightly different. They are measured by the actual body length. Anything that is 15 inches or above is considered to be full size. Full-size violas can be 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5 or 17 inches. Most adults play on a 16 or 16.5 inch viola. If a child needs a smaller size viola, usually a half-size or quarter-size violin is used and just restrung as a viola.
Professionals will tell you – developing the bow hand and mastering bowing techniques are a life-long challenge. I have changed the way I use my bow four times in the last 32 years, simply because I’ve found more-and-more efficient ways to use the bow. The bow is responsible for every way the instrument sounds – there are thousands of combinations of physical ways to use it.
 Measures of Success from FJH music and Sound Innovations for Concert Band from Alfred music publishing will be available in the spring 2010.
Click http://www.fjhmusic.com/mos/ and http://www.alfred.com/soundinnovations to find out about these new methods. I would highly recommend checking them out!!
Posted by: Teresa Heitman in Print Music, Piano and Keyboards, Music Instruction, Music Education, Lessons, Drums, Combo, Christmas, Band and Orchestra, Advocacy, Accessories on
Dec 15, 2009
Having difficulty with those last minute gifts, or finding musicians hard to buy for? Here's a list that will make your shopping easy, provided by the blog of voice instructor Cindy Shadrick. - Gift Certificate for Sheet Music
Sheet Music Plus offers a variety of styles of music for anyone and allows the customer to purchase a gift certificate right from their website and have it emailed to your loved one. - Metronome
It's amazing the number of musicians, especially singers, who do not own a metronome. This is an ESSENTIAL piece of equipment for EVERY musician. They are relatively inexpensive (many for under $20) and there even metronome apps for the iPhone. Metronomes can be purchased anywhere instruments are sold or online. Amazon has a wide selection.
Are you an advocate? Advocacy has to do with the way we make changes. We usually associate this with positive change for a specific purpose. “Music advocacy” is a term that has been in the forefront recently. What does that mean? How can we become music advocates? There are five basic steps advocacy groups take after they establish a goal: - publicly present an issue that needs change
- find and bring together people who have an interest in the issue and its change
- develop and sustain an environment that supports the change
- actively, consistently participate in events that spur change in the issue at hand
- because of all the above, be known as reliable, accountable, responsible advocates for the change
 Iowa's own Eastern Iowa Brass Band will present their annual holiday concert “Home for the Holidays” on Saturday, December 19th at 7:30 pm in the Mt. Vernon District Auditorium. This is the second in their subscription series of concerts and will feature a variety of pieces including seasonal favorites.
Under the direction of Mr. Casey Thomas, the EIBB has recently competed in the U.S. Open Brass Band Championship held in St. Charles, Illinois. The band finished among the top five bands and earned their highest point total in this competition to date. The band will be presenting highlights from the competition at this concert. Todd Bransky, principal euphonium with the EIBB, will be the soloist in “Barnacle Bill The Sailor.” Mr. Bransky performed this delightful solo at the November contest.
 With the colder, drier months here, wooden instruments start to go through some changes. A common winter complaint for string players are that pegs no longer turn smoothly.
Traditional friction pegs are wood on wood (peg against peg box). As wood expands and contracts with the changing elements, pegs will no longer operate well. If you have been having problems with your pegs and have tried peg dope or refitting the pegs or peg box, another option is perfection pegs. Perfection pegs look just like friction pegs. However, perfection pegs operate on a 4-to-1 gear ratio and turn like planets. Perfection pegs are not affected by the changes in weather, and therefore, do not slip or stick. Since you are not forcing a stuck wooden peg to move, you are not risking any damage to the peg box or pressure cracks.
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