Marching Band

RESEARCHING YOUR BAND - Pt. 2 If working with a new marching ensemble, the first step in putting together a successful field show is to research the program as much as you can. For me, this information gathering is done through three…
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Common Design Elements - Part 3 At this point we have gained all of the pre-design information that we will need to put a successful product on the field. ·        We know that our band has a strong history of musical excellence and…
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Writing With a Musical Purpose Pt. 5 Sccott Kurtzweil A good visual design should always take work in conjunction with the music book. Not only is it important to match drill pages to the musical phrases but also match the score in…
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More Musical Interpretation / Drawing Focus Show Design 2007 Pt. 6 Scott Kurtzweil Welcome to Cuba provides the designer, as well as directors, a myriad of challenges. The Afro-Cuban rhythms present the young musicians with plenty of…
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Teaching & Cleaning Scott Kurtzweil The complete drill package for Sterling Heights High School is now complete and it is time to begin working with the students to get the designs on paper transferred to the field.…
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How to Compete at a WGI Competition So you have decided you want to compete with WGI?  I bet you have a lot of questions!  This "How To" webpage should guide you through an easier registration process and help answer all your…
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When writing for a new band, it is integral to the success of the program to gather as much information about the band’s history, style and strengths. Another key factor is to establish a strong understanding of the expectations of not only…
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Drill Design Preparation 2009 Drill Design Scott Kurtzweil, Kurtzweil Designs Before we get into the particulars of the actual design for the 2009 Notre Dame HS Band, let’s take a few minutes to go over the design preparation that I…
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Last fall, at the end of my first Marching Band Season, Steve Martin and I sat down to talk about what worked and what didn't with regard to the design of Reno's 2011 show. Part of the problem was that the Band Director job at Reno had been…
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The Goldmine in Your Back Yard: Freshman Success The scariest moment for any director is the day the class requests for the following year arrive. It's a make-or-break moment, when you see how many new performers will be matriculating up…
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