Wind Conducting Symposium/Workshop Calendar

I hope Summer is winding down nicely for everyone. I just wanted to put up a quick post to point you to the newest feature on my blog.

The upper right corner now features a live link to a calendar of wind conducting symposiums and workshops. I will be adding more as I hear about them, but this is a good start.

If you have one to add let me know any info you have. In the meantime, enjoy and I hope to meet you in person at one of them soon!

Perspectives on Conducting Workshops: A Guest Blogger Article

Hello to anyone still out there. I'm sorry for the absence, but it has been a busy Summer. Professionally, I haven't been doing as much as I like. Personally, it has been the best summer of my life. More on that in another post.

I met my colleague, Josh Underwood at a conducting workshop I attended at Ball State this past February. We have since become good friends. When I found out he would be attending this workshop at the storied University of Michigan I was jealous, but the timing just didn't work out for me. I asked him to write a short article about his experience in hopes that more people would take advantage of these types of workshops. Please enjoy his perspective and please contact me if you have attended something like this and would like to write a guest post for The Virtual Podium.

Conducting Workshop Reflection

For one week at the end of June I had the privilege of attending the University of Michigan Band Conducting and Pedagogy Workshop.  Conducting workshops (or symposia, as they are often called) are interesting events to attend.  You spend a great deal of time preparing what is ultimately a very short stint conducting someone else’s band; or, if you are really lucky, a “symposium band” made up of observers and your conducting peers.  You are expected to show all you know about conducting while 1. hoping that you don’t look like a moron in front of some of the greatest conductors in the band field and 2.  praying to a higher power that no matter what you do, the ensemble in front of you follows.

My experience at Michigan was unlike any I have had before.  I spent the weeks before heading to Ann Arbor diligently studying my scores, prepared to know every note of every part, and ready to be able to effortlessly cue every major cue, and exude great passion and emotion.  What I ended up learning, however, was not only about conducting and physical gesture, but an extreme awareness of my physical self.  Every day time was devoted to body awareness sessions (which were then applied as we conducted each day).  The first exercise of the entire clinic centered on how one arises from a sitting position.  It was incredible to discover all of the extra and unnecessary tension we place on ourselves performing an activity everyone does so often on a daily basis.  The discovery didn’t end there.  As the week went on, we became aware of keeping our feet evenly balanced as a tripod (heel, inner arch, outer arch), and how tension in our ankles lead to tension in the shoulders, which leads to all sorts of conducting issues.  

Of course, the conducting sessions were just as in depth.  A great deal of time was spent discussing over-conducting, independence of the hands, and using facial expression only when necessary, and always genuine.  What was particularly fantastic about the conducting sessions was the fact that not only did I receive feedback on the podium, but also attended a one-on-one session with a Michigan band director immediately following podium time.  This was a time to watch a DVD recording and get immediate suggestions and feedback.   The conducting sessions also had the added bonus (as they most always do) of having the opportunity to conduct a few of the great band masterworks, something that graduate students and school directors don’t often get to do.  I personally conducted the second movement of Grainger’s Lincolnshire Posy and the first movement of Holst’s Suite in E-flat.

Studying with the conducting faculty at the University of Michigan was truly a phenomenal experience.  The knowledge and compassion they shared during that short six days on campus completely transformed me as a conductor.  I would highly recommend the experience to anyone serious about transcending to the “next level” in their own conducting, whatever that may be.

Mr. Underwood in performance with the Ball State Wind Ensemble

About The Guest Blogger:

Joshua S. Underwood is currently a band/conducting graduate assistant at Ball State University, where he is pursuing a Master's of Music in Instrumental Conducting and Trumpet Performance.  Prior to this he resided in north Texas, where upon graduation from the University of North Texas he spent time as a church music director, and was also the Director of Bands for the Muenster Independent School District, where he directed bands 5-12, including a competitive marching and concert program at the high school.  Mr. Underwood also served as a judge and guest clinician in the north Texas area.

Wind Band Composer Snapshot: Ralph Vaughan Williams

Ralph Vaughan Willliams(1872-1958) English 20th Cty Composer/Conductor
- composed symphonies, chamber music, opera, choral music, and film scores.
- collected of English folk music(over 800 songs) and used them in compositions.
- attended the Royal College of Music where he met Holst in 1895
- Served in WW I as stretcher carrier, named Director of Music, First Army.
- The bulk of his major works are his 9 symphonies, yet his contribution to the wind world is important.
- He is considered, along with Holst and Jacob, to be one of the British Band Masters

The first page of the Score

Major Wind Works:
English Folk Song Suite (1923) 10:30Min Grade V
- Full military Band Instrumentation
- 3 movements: March-Seventeen Come Sunday(title song, Pretty Caroline,and Dives and Lazarus), Intermezzo-My Bonny Boy(and Greenbushes), and March- Folk Songs from Somerset(blow away the Morning Dew, High Germany, The Tree So High, and John Barleycorn)
- Gordon Jacob arranged this suite for orchestra.
- Its world premiere was given at Kneller Hall on July 4, 1923 in London.
- Made known in the US by the 1957 Fennell Eastman WE recording.
- Most of the 9 melodies appear first in solo lines making it a great piece to showcase multiple players.

Sea Songs (1923) 4 min Grade III
- Originally part of the aforementioned suite as the second movement, there is some debate on this, but I believe it to be quite plausible..
- based on folk songs Princess Royal, Admiral Benbow and Portsmouth.
- written for the band of the Royal Military School of Music

Toccata Marziale (1924) Meaning “Martial(soldierly) Toccata” 5 min VI
- Full military band instrumentation.
- broke away from the concept of the military band original repertoire being mainly a vehicle for ceremonial purposes.
- extensive use of counterpoint and dynamic ranges(like Hammersmith, maybe an influence on Holst because of their relationship?)
- 158 measures based on one motive that is developed into 5 additional themes. Great study in balance of melody/counter melody.
- Fennell has a “Basic Band Repertory” essay on it(Instrumentalist 1976)

Ralph as a Young Man

Scherzo alla Marcia(1956) for Chamber Winds 4min Grade IV(MD)

- This an extracted movement(2^nd) from Symphony #8 The first uses full orchestra, second winds, third strings, fourth all.
- Instrumentation: fl, pic, ob I/II, 2 clar, 3 bsn, 2 horns, 2 tpts, 3 tbns
 
Other Works of Significance:
- Variations for Wind Band (1957) arr. Hunsberger(1988) originally for orchestra 14Min Grade VI
- Rhosymedre (1920) Trans. Beeler(1972) 4min Grade IV

Oh, and by the way...make sure you pronounce it Rafe, not Ralph. It'll help you sound like a learned band nerd!

While it is not an in-depth scholarly article I hope it is of use. If you have suggestions for composers/conductors you'd like to see, or information you think it relevant feel free to comment or send me an email,  k.freesen@gmail.com I'm always ready to talk about the art of wind band.

Grad School: Week One

I am tired. I am asking myself questions about my life and my goals. I'm working very hard to fit in, yet be myself. I'm listening, playing, and conducting all day while teaching all night. I'm drinking coffee(and I don't like it). I am a graduate student, graduate teaching assistant, and adjunct faculty member at Wright State University. I'm earning my Master of Music Performance Degree in Wind Conducting.

Week one started on Tuesday with listening to Wind Symphony auditions. I also did some PDF scanning and organizing. In the afternoon I conducted the non-majors who are hoping for a spot in Symphonic Band while the director listened for who she would select. Then it was off to Centerville for a couple hours where I worked with the marching band. Then right back to school, Jes is singing in the Dayton Philharmonic Chorus and she had rehearsal at Wright State so I rode with her and got more work done.

Wednesday it was more listening to more groups. I'm glad that the band faculty here are seeing me as one of their own so quickly, every time they go to lunch or to get coffee and I'm in earshot I'm invited. I learned a lot sitting at Wendy's with them. Three very different personalities, teachers, and conductors. Even though I'm assigned to the Director of Bands since he is in charge of the graduate wind conducting program, all three of them have been open to me and I feel safe discussing a multitude of things with them. I will be in as many rehearsals as possible. I will try not to let a second of observation and dialogue go by in these two years. I think lunch with them was the only time I eat a meal this week...

The next day was my trumpet audition. I prepared to the best of my ability. I had been telling the professors not to expect much from me. They were shocked by my audition. When we figured it up I hadn't taken a lesson in 5 years or played in an college ensemble in 4. I wish I would've played like that at WIU, I might've had some more respect for myself...but hindsight is 20/20. I played with the trumpet ensemble in preparation for our upcoming performance for Doc Severinsen. I'm thankful Mr. Zehringer chose to include me in that group. I pulled two pieces to read with the non-majors again and both selections were well received by Dr. Jagow, the Associate Director of Bands, so I conducted those in the afternoon.

After the auditions were done, Dr. Booth found me and we headed to Starbucks(I think he practically lives there) to talk about my audition. I missed Wind Symphony by sliver. He knew I was disappointed, but understanding I mean how could I compete with the trumpet grad students and the studio players who were consistently taking lessons? I made the decision there to take lessons if the professor would have me. Who would've thought, me wanting to take trumpet again?

Dr. Booth and I talked for many hours about our stories and why we ended up in this job. He explained to me that we're friends now and we're going to work closely to highlight my strengths and my weaknesses strengths. I wish I had as much confidence in me as he does. He says we put up screens to protect ourselves, but they don't let us grow. He asked how he can get rid of my screen. I feel like he has quite the handle on my psyche already. The stories he shared blow my mind. He compared me to Gary Green, the director at the Frost School of Music. Ironically, one of my mentors, Doug Phillips, is studying with Dr. Green now. I thought I could never be anything great from the middle of nowhere IL...has that all been a lie I've told myself for 26 years? Do I have the ability to be great? Dr. Booth sure think so, I guess I picked the right mentor. It's great to have someone believe in me.

As for that audition, maybe I'll get back in shape...maybe I'll make, or not. I'm so thankful he made me try again.

Today I was tired. Dr. Booth says that all the faculty I work here will charge my batteries so that I go out and set the world on fire. He told me as a 5-12 director I gave a lot of myself and now it's time to refine and replenish. I was tired, but I'm motivated. I worked a few hours at the music table at "Fall Fest" recruiting for my pep band. God help the Pep Band here. We meet Monday night and I have no idea what kind of shape the group is in since I haven't heard a good thing about it yet. It's college teaching experience nonetheless!

After more auditions and a talk with the trumpet professor(by the way the reason I didn't make Wind Symphony? My tone is has too much sizzle, they pegged me a jazz lead player which made a whole lot of sense) The professor says he can easily help me and trumpet lessons start on Wednesday. Then I went to Centerville to get the band practiced up for the big Alter v. Centerville game tonight. The place was packed tonight! On a random note, Wayne Markworth friended me on FB. Look him up if you don't know that name!

I'm glad I had the night away from the game though. It's nice to sit in my shorts and blog. I see this blog evolving a bit into reflections on what I'm studying. I can always pull it up on my BB to remember talking points right? I guess I just don't know how to internalize and study the books he just gave me to read this weekend. Well I better get to reading "Conducting Technique for Beginners and Professionals"

My mind will stretch and tonight I sit here wondering what can I be? What will I be?

Long Time, No See

Hello Blogosphere, it's been awhile.

I always get myself excited to blog and then life gets in this way. Now I feel like I have reason to blog, that's not just purely for my own archives. I've locked on to to Twitter and it's given me an instant connection to around 80 educator all over the globe. I'm serious this time(and with summer coming up it should be easier) to any of you who find this I'm looking forward to reading comments and adding your blogs to my reader.

So here's the reasons I've been so absent. I will go into more detail when break starts, especially about future plans as they unfold.

In the next few days I will finish my year at Schuyler-Industry. I know it was a short-lived, but I learned a lot about myself and where I want to go. I think I did a fair job of helping some young musicians attain some lofty goals as well(middle schoolers knowing all 12 major scales in a little rural school!) I'm not sad to be going just because things are looking so bright.

I'm leaving to attend Wright State University to earn my Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting with Dr. David Booth. While I'm there I get to earn my assistantship(full tuition and stipend) by serving as Athletic Band Director, teaching a jazz history course, and being the assistant conductor for the Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds. In addition to that I emailed some area band directors about helping with marching band and the response was great. A few schools were interested in my help, but I never would imagined getting a spot on my "Dream Team". I get to help at Centerville High School with the CHS Jazz Band. Earning a conducting degree in a great midwest town while staffing with one of the best marching bands in the country. Oh I'm all smiles here!

I also spent the last 6 weeks working as the Music Director for Community Players production of "The Producers" by Mel Brooks. As you know musicals take a ton of time, to make matters worse the show went up in a town 93 miles from where I work. I know, it was not the best judgement to take on the show, but they needed someone and I got to work with some of my good friends in Bloomington/Normal. Not to mention my lovely fiancee was a featured dancer and I got to watch her on the monitor every night. It was a hit, I've never heard so many good things about the orchestra. Since we were hidden in the back and piped through the speakers some patrons thought we were a CD. I take it as a compliment to the pit!

Tonight is #musedchat and I have a class coming up. Today we are playing "May Madness" we have a scale challenge bracket and we're going head to head to see who's the scale master today!