Texas Bandmasters Association
Bandmasters Review • December 2012
16
•In lyrical music with slurred running notes, good
musicians often hold the first note imperceptibly
longer. (Individual musicianship skill.)
•The lower note of an upward leap should be
energized so the higher pitch can naturally float out of
it.
…and a related idea…
•Higher notes in a passage can leap out of the
texture: control the volume of these.
•Descending passages can get lost in the texture of
the music: crescendo to define and project these lines.
•Grace notes are ornaments and should be noticed,
even though the weight must be felt on the principal
note. Tongue the start of a grace note, even when
edited under a slur.
•Vibrato waves should be faster when the music is
either higher (in range) or louder and softer when the
music is lower (in range) or softer. Try 5 per second in
mid-range, mezzo forte.
•Wind instruments should not use much (or any)
vibrato when playing in ensemble passages (tutti and
unison). Double reeds may use a bit, and flutes, even
less than that. No one else use it in ensemble unless
you have a solo. The finest musicians in the world,
members of major symphony orchestras do this.
•Short notes surrounded by longer notes need more
air to define and project them.
Hopefully these tips will aid you and your students
in creating a more musical performance out of the
“blueprint” of notes you see before you. No one will
ever accuse you of being “too musical!”
Teaching Musicianship in Band:
F inding Music Among the Notes
Fred J. Allen is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. In addition to his
conducting the Wind Ensemble, he teaches graduate conducting, orches- tration and music education classes. He oversees 300 band students
involved in the band program, in four concert groups, the athletic bands and several chamber ensembles. He is a past recipient of the College of
Fine Arts Teaching Excellence Award and has been a fnalist for the SFASU Achievement in Teaching Award.
Fred J. Allen is a product of music education in Texas, playing in the bands of Verna Covington and David Pennington in Austin, and under Don
Turner, Paul Stroud and Jimmy Yancey in Longview before becoming a member of the Longview High School Band, under John C. “Pete” Kunkel.
His undergrad-uate studies were at Abilene Christian University under Dr. Charles Trayler, who remains his primary mentor. After receiving a
Master of Music Education at Texas A&M at Commerce, he undertook doctoral work at Texas Tech. Though his doctorate was never completed,
he feels fortunate to have studied conducting and arranging under James Sudduth.
Allen is proud of his years teaching public school, beginning in Dimmitt, TX, working with Ralph Smith, and continuing with eight years at
North Richland Junior High in the Birdville School District.
Under his direction, the Wind Ensemble at SFA has performed at conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association, the College Band
Directors National Association, the National Association of Composers/USA, Texas Chapter and the South Central Regional Music Conference
in Monroe, LA. Under his leadership the SFA Wind Ensemble continues its long tradition of commissioning new works from composers. Recent
commissions have produced works from James Syler, David Maslanka, Samuel Zyman, Frank Ticheli, Jack Stamp, Mike Mower, Dan Welcher
and Jonathan Newman.
Allen has conducted All-Region and All-State Bands throughout Texas and the United States, where he is also an active concert clinician
and adjudicator. He has often served as guest conductor for bands playing at the Midwest Clinic and the Texas Music Educators Association
Convention, and has also conducted in Korea, Taiwan and Australia.
He has published several pieces for band, orchestra and fute choir that draw upon his experience in teaching in the public schools in
Texas. These works have been performed frequently at conventions and festivals across the United States and internationally. He has several
commissioned works in progress.
He was recently elected to member-ship in the American Bandmasters Association. He is also a member of Phi Beta Mu International
Bandmasters Fraternity, College Band Directors National Association, ASCAP and Texas Bandmasters Association.