Band Director Blog

Dear BC Bandos,

I just want to take this opportunity to tell you that I’m very proud of the outstanding performance last night!! I was sincerely blown away by your playing!! There were moments that were so good that I could hardly believe it. Really!! It just clicked last night and I couldn’t be more proud!!

The evening started out with the extra-large, extra-awesome BC Jazz Band playing Family Guy – in honor of BC Grad – Jeff Eliason. Next, we played Zach Attack, by Fred Sturm which featured a bunch of soloists that I can’t seem to remember at the moment, but what I DO remember about the solo section was that the rhythm section totally ROCKED IT!!! It came together very nicely and I was super excited about that and apparently couldn’t pay attention to the soloists. I’ll listen to the tape, I’m sure they were great.

The WORLD’S LARGEST JAZZ ENSEMBLE

(Yes, that’s TWO rows of saxophones. It’s fine.)

Then, we featured Noragene on the jazz standard – Don’t Get Around Much Anymore, or as Doc Carlson from Morris would say, “Don’t Get Around MULCH Anymore” (he referred to it as the “retired gardeners song”. I heart that joke and will tell it until I retire, regardless of what the students think!!)

Finally, we ended up with, Jumpin’ Jack which featured our saxophone player – Ben on drumset. We’re so lucky that he’s willing to fill in as our drummer and rockin’ as much as he is. It’s incredible to me that he can be so good at two instruments. It’s not easy to jump in and play jazz drumset . . . especially when it’s not your main instrument. He certainly makes it sound as if it is his main instrument. Good job!

That’s Ben. He plays the saxophone, but he also plays the drumset. He does both very well.

Above: our EXTRA-LARGE rhythm section. Actually, that’s only part of the rhythm section in the picture. One of the bass players is cut out the picture, as well as the drummer.  Nothing wrong with three bass players!

The Vocal Jazz group performed a couple tunes, one I don’t remember, but the other one was definitely Girl From Ipanema. They sounded great!! Way to go Vocal Jazz.

The Centaur Choir and Concert Choir performed next, and did a great job!!! I really liked the Centaur Choir video about the guys coming into choir and being shocked at all of the hot girls in there. It was very well done and definitely a classic.

After the choirs sang, the music department video was shown, “Behind Closed Doors.” It featured Mr. Vennes, Mr. Bass, and of course the BC Music Department. It was probably one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen at a concert. Very well done. I think it might be too long to post on YouTube, but I’ll see what I can do, because it’s definitely worth the watch!!

Even our weird “When Big Fake Checks Attack” trailer was cool. Weird. But Cool. I’ll try to post that up here later. It’s short. It’s weird. It’s cool. In a weird way. I can’t wait to bring five big fake checks into a bank and try to cash them. That will be great. It will also be great to develop our plot of the checks attacking people. We might have to get some 7th graders to dress in all white and carry the checks around so they can become alive. I’ll post that video here later, if I get a break during conferences.

Finally, the BC Concert Band performed four pieces: Vortex by Robert Longfield, Crossings in Time by Michael Sweeney, Monuments by Carl Schroeder , and Flight of the Thunderbird by Richard Saucedo.

The band played very well!! I thought Vortex was the most musical it’s ever been and the dynamic contrast was OUTSTANDING!! Way to go!! I loved it.

Crossings in Time also had a bunch of very nice moments. That is an “EASY” piece, note-wise, but let me tell you . . . those are the HARDEST to play musically and for me, hardest to conduct. I wish that I could take conducting lessons and try that one again, I know I could have done much better. I did practice conducting (shut up . . . stop laughing), but it wasn’t enough. I really need to get better at conducting and I will!!!!

Then it was time for Mr. Stimson’s conducting debut. He conducted, Monuments which was generously donated by the Minnesota Band Directors Association. Actually, I won it at a raffle at the Minnesota Music Educators Convention. You know it’s a nerdy event when you can win fabulous prizes, such as band songs. I make fun of that fact, but it’s a great deal for us – anytime you can save $60 – $80 on a piece of music, it’s a great deal. Thank you MBDA and also thank you Carl Schroeder (the composer) for donating it. It was a great piece and I’ll most definitely perform it again sometime.

 El Stimperino (but only during Jazz Band) – aka. Mr. Stimson on his conducting debut

After Mr. Stimson conducted his piece, the students presented him with a card they all signed and a Lil’ Jon CD as a Thank You. I thought it was very nice of the students to do this!  I know that meant a lot to Mr. Stimson!

Finally, we concluded the concert with my personal favorite (other than Crossings in Time, but I struggle with that one, so this one is my favorite I guess . . . ) Flight of the Thunderbird. I really thought the energy was great and the students played their hearts out. I heard the most comments afterwards about that piece. Well done!!!!!!!!!!

Afterwards, a whole TON of alumni and current BC Bandos and maybe some choir kids (?) went to TGI Friday’s, as it is their usual concert ritual. I stopped by to say hi and reminded our kids to tip and behave, but they always do – but somehow it makes me feel better to say it anyway. I think I would be a good mom.

Anyway, I thought that the concert was a great one indeed and I really appreciate the energy and effort put in by the wonderful BC students!! I really mean that. You guys have something special going on here and I am honored to be a part of that!!!!! Besides, where else can you make movies about the principal, shoot footage of the choir director literally in the ceiling and show videos about big fake checks with an evil laugh, attacking people?!? I love BCHS!!!!

A special thanks to Ms. Beach for taking the pictures yet again for us. Thank you so much for your time and talent, we appreciate it very much!