Dr.

David Kish November Concert, Walk in the Morning Sun Reflection

Time Stamp Comment Reflection

:48 Be careful on Upbeats are generally too heavy and not together in this
upbeats they are piece. In order to fix some of these issues in repertoire
a little bit lighter that is currently being worked on in full ensemble, I
than being played. have used sizzling, metronome, and percussion led
tempo/rhythm exercises. I have further broken down
these sections and have had students that play on the
downbeats and on the off-beats play together as
everyone else listens. Sometimes rhythms are not
together because students simply dont hear or realize
how their part fits in with the bigger picture.
1:00 The introduction The introduction has always been the weakest part of A
needs security. Walk in the Morning Sun. This is somewhat due to the
players at the beginning: 1st clarinets and 1st trumpets, as
both of these sections are fairly timid in the ensemble.
In the piece, this led to a beginning section that was
lacking in rhythmic consistency and generally slowed
down. In order to overcome some of these tendencies in
Symphonic Winds, I have since added listening warm-
ups focused on breathing together, starting, and stopping
notes together with consistent articulation and style.
This has helped foster leadership in every member of
the ensemble. I have also realized that I wasnt being
consistent in my breathing and conducting during the
first section of the piece, and I have since made steps to
correct this by giving clearer prep.
1:11 Nice sound Dr. Kish gives this comment a couple of times during
trumpets! his feedback recording. Because of this, I have come to
realize how much I dont praise the trumpets in full
ensemble even though they are doing quite well. I tend
to pick on the 2nd and 3rd players instead of using the
1sts as examples, or giving positive feedback first. I
have been giving trumpets more feedback and have
been more positive when they have done something
well.
1:16 Good syncopation. I worked on this section with the ensemble quite a bit.
While the piece is in 2, this section contains a lot of
dotted-quarter note rhythms that give it a feeling of 3 (I
conducted measures in the next phrase as a 12/8
measure (3,3,2,2,2)). In rehearsal, the ensemble worked
diligently on this syncopation, and I am thrilled to hear
it came across in the recording!
 Dr. David Kish November Concert, Walk in the Morning Sun Reflection

1:25 Be careful ends of As stated above in the comment about the intro. I have
phrases dont get since worked with the ensemble on listening/chorale
cut off. exercises and have been focusing on entrances and
releases, especially at the ends of phrases. I also found
out from my cooperating teacher, that I have been
conducting using marching band-esque cutoffs that
dont show lifts at the end of phrases. I have been
working on conducting beginnings and ends of notes
and phrases musically with my cooperating teacher.
1:38 Good transition to Students did a great job of executing this transition!
the legato melody. Sometimes the whole note before the transition isnt
held all of the way through, but they did an exceptional
job this time.
2:00 A little bit hot or I have always told the bands suspended cymbal player
loud on the to play this roll out, as she can be quite shy, but I didnt
suspended cymbal think to tell her about the sound difference between the
for the room. stage and the band room. I will have to remember to
cover this before the next concert.
2:15 Be careful on More sizzle or metronome work would have been a
upbeats rhythmic great idea to fix this issue. I will keep this in mind for
compression. the next concert.
2:33 I really like the So do I!
trumpet sound.
2:45 Work on the There is a very similar bassline during a section of
bassline to make Adventum which is a piece we are working on for the
the Tuba sound be next concert. I have tried many times to explain the
like the string bass. duration and style of this part, but alluding the style to
that of a string player, or the bassist in the room, will be
perhaps the most effective way to explain it going
forward.
3:14 Nice ending: clean The Tuba and Bass player in the Symphonic Winds
up tuba ending and almost always gets this part right! I think stage presence
final note. may have thrown him off. I did notice that the last note
had a little bit of a harsh entrance and cutoff, and further
talking about the role and style of the bass may have
helped put the finishing touch on this piece!