Inside the Pride Performing Arts News - Volume 189

Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening with Performing Arts

Published October 1, 2023

Volume 189

 

Tim Hurt - Performing Arts Director

 

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

(Borrowed from Robert Stocklas, University of North Alabama Bands)

Why band? ... here's why ... grab your coffee and read this ...

Let’s assume, for simple math, we have a moderate to above average-sized marching band of 100 wind players, 20 percussion, 20 color guard, and two drum majors. Now, while it seems fairly straight forward…just play your music and march to various spots on the field… here’s what REALLY is facing them.

In an average production of 2 minutes duration, there will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 300 notes played per student (some parts will be less, some more). For each note played, the student must be responsible for:

Correct fingering of note

proper tone quality

proper pitch

correct beginning articulation

correct release/ending

correct duration/timing

balance to other players

blend with other players

appropriate volume

This means at least 9 responsibilities per note times 300 notes…understand that sometimes the student will not play during segments, so this is an average…2,700 responsibilities per student…times 100 players = 270,000 musical responsibilities for the wind section.

Percussion will have more notes in snare/mallet parts, perhaps fewer in bass drum and accessory parts, but on average, about the same number of musical concerns …substitute stick heights for pitch correctness, since it is not typical to tune drums as you go. This adds 2700 responsibilities…times 20 percussionists = 54,000 musical responsibilities for percussion.

Color Guard must be concerned with:

timing

hand positions

equipment angles

speed of spins

height of tosses

direction of spins…not to mention holding on to or catching equipment

Number of counts roughly parallels musical notes, so assume 300 beats times 6 responsibilities, or 1800 items per guard member…times 20 members = 36,000 more things to do.

So far, we are up to 360,000 responsibilities, and we haven’t touched marching. With marching, there are at least the following considerations:

posture

direction of facing

instrument position

staying in step

staying in form

size of step

tempo

style of movement (Toes up? Knees straight? Shoulders square?)

control of space between members

On average, there will be one step per beat of music, or approximately 240 steps. This means 240 times 9 responsibilities per member,…times 140 members …302,400 more things to think about.

The drum majors must be on top of:

tempo, beat pattern

dynamics

communication of style/energy to band

poise/showmanship

or approximately 1200 items… times two majors…2400 more responsibilities.

Keeping up so far? We’re up to 664,800 things that have to be done correctly… AND WE’RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE FIRST PRODUCTION OF THE SHOW!! Assume there are three segments in the average show, our grand total jumps to a staggering 1,994,400 responsibilities on the members for a single performance.

The next time you watch a marching band show, examine the level of expectation and delivery that occurs with each student. It is truly remarkable, and it will help you appreciate even more the feeling that comes from a well performed show. When they are done, stand up and cheer their efforts…they are truly at the top of the ‘responsibility pyramid’ when performing in marching band.

Why Band? That's why ...

Our Marching Lions and their 2023 show, Back to the Future

Our Marching Lions and their 2023 show, Back to the Future

Bearing the image of the Creator as we

cultivate creativity

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOr

Our Performing Arts staff are all so amazing!  The quality and dedication of each of these educators is unmatched, and I am so thankful for each of them and what they bring to each of your students.  We currently have 6 full time staff members, 3 more part time, 15 instructors within our Arts Academy, and countless volunteers who help to make it all happen.  Thank you so much to all of you for who you are and what you bring.  You are the best!!

Performing Arts Staff

Homecoming week themed days can be so much fun!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Want to stay informed?  Check back here weekly for upcoming events including concerts, shows, trips and more…

  • October 14-15 - HS One Act Performances

  • October 26 - HS One Act Region Competition

  • November 4-5 - Elementary Drama Club Performances

  • November 10-12 - MS Musical Performances

  • November 30 - December 2 - HS Theatre 2nd Stage Performances

  • December 2 - MS Band All State Audition

  • December 4 - 4th Grade Recorders Christmas Concert

  • December 4 - Orchestra Christmas Concert

  • December 5 - Band Christmas Concert

  • December 7 - Chorus Christmas Concert

  • December 9 - All State Band Auditions (HS)

  • December 12 - Dance Club Recital

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL 2024 LAUNCH MEETING

COWETA COUNTY MARCHING BAND EXHIBITION

This past Tuesday our Marching Lions participated in the annual Marching Band Exhibition at East Coweta High School.  Marching bands from Trinity, Newnan, Northgate, East Coweta and Pike County High Schools all performed, and the shows were outstanding!  It is always so much fun to enjoy time together with the marching band communities of Coweta County!  Well done, Marching Lions!!

ALL THINGS THEATRE


HS ONE ACT

Saturday, October 14th at 2:30pm and 7pm

Sunday, October 15th at 2:30pm

Tickets can be purchased here: 

Saturday, Oct. 14th at 2:30pm - https://gofan.co/event/1147578?schoolId=GA72962

Saturday, Oct. 14th at 7pm - https://gofan.co/event/1147579?schoolId=GA72962

Sunday, Oct. 15th at 2:30pm - https://gofan.co/event/1147580?schoolId=GA72962

The Importance of Being Earnest (in 30 minutes) adapted by Jason Pizzarello from the play by Oscar Wilde

In this one-act adaptation of Oscar Wilde's beloved romantic comedy, the stakes are even higher and the deadlines even tighter for poor Jack Worthing, whose alter ego "Ernest" comes back to haunt him in the form of his rakish friend Algernon Montcrieff, who adopts the false identity to woo Jack's ward Cecily. But Jack-as-Ernest has just proposed to Algernon's cousin Gwendolen, to the great disapproval of her mother, the rigid Lady Bracknell. When the two ladies -- both engaged to Ernest Worthing -- meet up, chaos ensues. All the wit of Wilde in less than half the time.

UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS - SAVE THE DATE


A Pirate Wishes / Magic Treehouse: Pirates Past Noon - Elementary Drama Club -1st-5th grade

Saturday, November 4th and Sunday, November 5th

Tickets on sale soon!

Finding Nemo Jr. - Middle School Musical

Friday, November 10th-Sunday, November 12th

Tickets on sale soon!

THESPIAN CARDIGANS

A representative will be on campus October 5th if you would like to purchase your Thespian cardigan. The cost for a cardigan is $105 plus shipping and handling and is only available for CURRENT Thespians!

MUSIC ARTS ACADEMY

NOW ENROLLING - SIGN UP TODAY!!

To enhance the Performing Arts experience at Trinity Christian School, we offer the opportunity for private instruction, with a growing number of vocal and instrumental options. We have several new offerings this year, including clarinet, voice, and even harp. Our programs offer instruction at various levels to include those who are newly discovering their musical talents, as well as those who have been refining their art for years.  Interested in private instruction?  This is the place for you!

Here is a list of our current instructors.  

For information regarding private music lessons, please contact one of the above instructors or visit https://tcslions.org/arts-academy.  

To register, please contact performingarts@tcslions.org.  All private music lessons are taught on the TCS campus, and are scheduled on an individual basis.  We can’t wait to get you started!!

INSTRUMENT REPAIR

We use Big Note Music for on site repair of many of our musical instruments.  If you have an instrument that needs repair as the school year begins, this may be a great option for you.  The process works with you filling out an online form, pre-paying for the repair, and then they come for a scheduled repair session right on our Trinity campus.  Your student wouldn’t be away from their instrument except when it’s on the repair table.  This convenient option has worked for us for a few years now.  Simply fill out the online form and let us know that a repair has been scheduled.


Online Link to Schedule a Repair: https://bignotemusic.com/product/schedule-repair/