Inside the Pride Performing Arts News - Volume 191

Keeping you plugged into the exciting things happening with Performing Arts

Published October 15 2023

Volume 191

 

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

UPCOMING EVENTS

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

  • 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

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

HS ONE ACT

Our HS students performed The Importance of Being Earnest this weekend, and their One Act presentation was amazing!  These performances at TCS are in preparation for the upcoming Region 4 Competition, to be held Thursday, October 26th. Well done, Roaring Dramatics!!


MS BAND

Full band performing one of two numbers at the Parent Showcase.

Our MS Band students had an early performance opportunity this school year, hosting their parents for a Parent Showcase in the Band Room.  Students performed ensemble pieces and full band numbers, providing early Fall entertainment and showing their progress already made in the first nine weeks.  Way to go, students!

The students performing in smaller ensembles for the parents.

FINE ARTS FESTIVAL - Audition information

What is Fine Arts?  Fine Arts is an Assemblies of God competition that is held in our District (Georgia). Qualified entries are then invited to the National competition, held in Columbus, Ohio. There are solo and group opportunities for instrumentalists, vocalists, physical art, technical art, drama, etc. All students grades 6 to 12 are encouraged to enter, and it is a great way to receive constructive feedback from evaluators, develop your talents, grow in your walk with Christ and meet new friends and cultivate those friendships. This is open to all 6th to 12th grade students.

Attached is the information from the followup email to our Fine Arts Launch Meeting held this past week, just in case you missed that.  We want all of you to be well informed, and also to have your group preferences in place by October 22nd.  We don’t want you to miss this deadline, as we will be assigning specific groups based on the names and numbers we have by this date, and also scheduling some auditions.  Please make sure to confirm your interest in Fine Arts by then.  Please let us know which groups you have interest in by submitting this link and then info for the placement/audition will be sent. share your group/solo interests here

There will be auditions for some categories, please be aware of that.  For ALL categories, we at least need your conflict calendars.  More information about this will go out on Tuesday of next week including how to submit those dates.  Be on the lookout for that.  

Link to the 2024 manual:

https://youth.ag.org/Participate/Fine-Arts/Rules-and-Criteria 

The "Launch" information meeting was held this past Monday and our team of leaders were present and shared about the program.

Watch meeting here

Below is the handout that was given at the meeting

DOWNLOAD FAF HANDOUT

As always, please let us know if you have any questions.

ALL THINGS THEATRE

DRAMA CLUB TICKETS - ON SALE NOW!

A Pirate's Wish / Magic Treehouse: Pirates Past Noon 

Elementary Drama Club - 1st-5th grade

Saturday, November 4th at 2:30pm:

https://gofan.co/event/1155181?schoolId=GA72962

Saturday, November 4th at 6pm:

https://gofan.co/event/1155182?schoolId=GA72962

Sunday, November 5th at 2:30pm: 

https://gofan.co/event/1155183?schoolId=GA72962

UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS - SAVE THE DATE


Finding Nemo Jr. - Middle School Musical

Friday, November 10th-Sunday, November 12th

Tickets on sale soon!

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/