Help with Concert Band March

[nafmeadmin]

My group is working on “Americans We” by Fillmore and despite our best efforts it is not stylistically coming around the way I would like for it to. For the most part it sounds heavy and a lot of the articulations are not clear even though I have addressed this many times. We have reduced instrumentation on parts (i.e. one per part, one per stand) and we have worked on tonguing. I am going to try slowing it down just a hair today to see if that helps with the clarity. Other than that….does anyone have any suggestions on how to get a clear and precise sound when working on marches?

Thanks

[nafmeadmin]

how do you work on tonguing?

also, if working effectively on articulation isn’t solving the issue i would ask if it’s because some in the band doesn’t know the rhythms so then they are reacting to what the others play

[nafmeadmin]

I always build a march from the ground up. Start with snare and bass drum with tuba part. Get the tuba and bass drum to match articulation with a “oom” sound. Keep snare drum light and out of the way. Add the up beats (horns & sax’s). I try to get them to feel a “pah” sound. Yes “oom – pah”!! Without that bottom feel to the march the upper voices do not have anything to place their notes on. Then add the middle voices. Add the melody. Each step addressing that sections role in articulation in the march because they’re not all the same. Each step of the way you will also be able to narrow down further where you feel your articulation problem lies.

[Author]

Posts