Community concert band directors have more decisions to make than anyone else in the group, but sometimes it’s not about what you might think. Oh sure, they have to come up with pieces for the next program, perhaps following a theme. They need to know if certain parts will not be covered and remember how […]
Archives for February 2018
Common Hand-Held Percussion Instruments
Hand-held percussion instruments are important to the style and flavor of a musical piece. They can be found in both non-profit and professional groups, and are played more often in a band than in an orchestra. Hand-held percussion instruments are also called auxiliary percussion, or more informally, “toys.” However, they are certainly no less important […]
Yankee Doodle: Current Lyrics and Meaning
Despite much research and various educated hypotheses on the country of origin, the Yankee Doodle tune remains a mystery. By some accounts, it is thought to be a derivation of the Old English nursery rhyme Lucy Locket. Still, the actual Yankee Doodle tune is a catchy piece of music, and about 190 verses have been written […]
Review – The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera is a dark, yet celebrated musical production that is performed world-wide—from famous theaters and opera houses to local high schools and community halls. Composer Andrew Lloyd Weber took the gothic story from Gaston Leroux’s book and gave it an emotional and oddly metered soundtrack, creating a critically acclaimed masterpiece. This […]