Band Written Requirements

1. What has been your biggest improvement this year as a player?

My biggest improvement as a player this year, would have to be my attention do details such as dynamics and articulation. Before I would notice them, but this year I took great care in trying to play 'piano' when it was required, or to really accent a note when its called for.

2. What is the area you most struggle with?

There isnt really an area I struggle with. I've been playing instruments for as long as I can remember, same with theory, so I've grown up knowing the basics. And I feel that I've grasped the new theory, but that might be due to Jazz class. But I do have trouble with making proper accents, and proper fortzandos (I will just have to continue practicing those)

3. What was your greatest musical highlight this year and why?

My greatest musical highligh of this year...I would have to say Maggie's, the Canadian Nationals, and the end of the year Coffee House. Maggie's was an amazing experience, and I never imagined our band being invited to Nationals, and my friends and I have always talked about entering Coffee House but never had the guts to do it. (We decided to just go for it, and dedicate Blue Monk to Mr. Stevenson :D)

4. What areas do you feel the band accels at and what area do we struggle? Give specific examples.

As a band I think we accel in our determination and enthusiasm, and playing right notes. When the challenge calls we answer it, like for the Second Suite. The Second Suite was hard, but we stuck to it. Our enthusiasm really stuck out with Rumble, and it showed by audience reaction. I think thats the best piece we've played, and the first time we've really engaged the audience.

All we need to do is focus on blending together more, and working on dynamics and articulation, and our tone. That was pointed out by many of the adjudicators, "Never sacrifice beauty/tone for dynamics" (Rumble). It was also pointed out that we needed to learn how to flow better for the sight reading song.