All-Eastern Conference: I Made It!

Yesterday morning we had the high school musical previews for the middle school students. I conducted the pit band. They sound great and Jonathan Brenner was a great help coming in this week to take over conducting as I venture to the All-Eastern Music Educators Conference.

I went into my car after the preview and started driving down Route 95. I was near the Danvers exit at which point my back right tire suddenly began to wobble. I immediately pulled over to check and see if my tire was flat. It was not! I decided to keep driving. The car kept swirving to the right side of the highway and I was losing control of the vehicle. I went off the next exit and made it to an Enterprise car rental dealer. I ended up renting a 2008 Kia Spectra. I was so thankful as my presentation at the MENC convention was only two from that time in Providence, RI.

I am here now and am thankful that my car did not fully collapse on the highway!

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Band Room: A New Design

Just in case we ever get a new or renovated high school (I might be dreaming), I wanted to be prepared for helping input the best design possible for a new band and chorus room. I ended up attending a clinic by the Wenger group. Wenger is the company that made the acoustic shells on our high school auditorium stage along with the two "soundproof" practice rooms that were installed back in the 1960's. The company is now the standard company used in the United States for music room design. I learned many things at this clinic. Firstly, I learned that most bands and choruses have their own rehearsal rooms, practice rooms, and offices. We spent a long time focusing on where sound goes after it leaves the instrument. Our music room has a ceiling that needs to be at least four feet higher. Additionally all the equipment in the room cuts down on reverberation. It is suggested that any closets or storage areas in a band room have open grilled doors so that air and sound c...

New Schedule=Big Growth!

Growth With Scheduling! It's always nerve-racking when you fight for something, get what you wanted, and then wait to see if it is actually successful. Four years ago the Pentucket Regional Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Band sported around 40 members. Band and Chorus were happening during a "Skills Period" which is a time blocked off for students to make-up tests, quizzes, do homework, and get extra help. Basically, this would compete with Band and Chorus. Each day I had over 15 students leaving to go to other classes for Skills. To help solve this issue, I served on a scheduling committee at my middle school. Change occurred as a result of this committee and the leadership of the Principal, Dr. Debra Lay. This year we have split the 7th and 8th grade into two separate bands meeting Monday-Friday. Why did we do this? Firstly, so we would not have 30 percussionists in band at the same time which takes away from the experience for everyone. Secondly, so we can now focus ...

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