Page 18 - 2017-BMR-September

Mind the Ornaments: Setting Your Students Up for Audition Success with Flams, Ruffs and Rolls

We can further “ornament our tree” by playing two or different possible stickings for a four-stroke ruff. When
three grace notes that lead to a primary note, producing a playing at very loud dynamic levels, it can be useful to use
three-stroke ruff or a four-stroke ruff (see Fig. 6). a single-stroked sticking (lrlR or rlrL), but in my opinion
FIGURE 6: a good “default” sticking should contain a double stroke,
such as rllR or rrlR. The following exercise meters out the 4
stroke ruff in various subdivisions that gradually compress
the ruff, and could help your students to create clear, even
grace notes that have musical direction. (See Fig. 7 below.)
This year in both the TMEA and ATSSB études, the
Encourage your students to try to crescendo the grace ornaments that I have discussed figure quite prominently
notes into the primary note, rather than simply playing in the music. Take the time to work on these ornaments
two or three soft grace notes into a louder primary note. both within the context of the audition music and in
These grace notes should be played as quickly as possible various exercises to help your students to have a successful,
without losing their clarity of articulation. There are many happy audition.

FIGURE 7: Open to
compressed rhythmic
ruff exercise

Jordan Stern is a lecturer on the faculty of the Texas State University School of Music and currently serves as the Marching Percussion Coordinator for
the Bobcat Marching Band. He also teaches music education courses at Texas State. Jordan previously worked as an Associate Band Director at Claudia
Taylor Johnson and William Brennan High Schools. During his tenure at Johnson, the marching band distinguished itself with such honors as 1st place
at the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional, 3rd place at the U.I.L. 6A State Marching Contest, and was a recipient of the John Philip Sousa
Foundation Sudler Shield. As a concert band director, his ensembles at Brennan and Johnson consistently received first division ratings at UIL Concert
and Sight Reading contest. Jordan also has been on the percussion staff at Winston Churchill High School and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. As
a private teacher, Jordan has enjoyed helping many students develop into successful performers over the years. Since 2006, 13 of his students have been
placed into the TMEA All-State ensembles, with his students winning the first chair at All-State auditions in 2014, 2015 and 2016. In addition, 4 of his
students have won first place at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention Solo Marimba Competition. His students have also been finalists at
the Great Plains Marimba Festival and Northwestern International Percussion Competition. Mr. Stern is an active arranger and composer, writing for
both percussion and wind band. While at William Brennan High School, Jordan composed the School Song and Fight Song, and arranged for the marching
winds and percussion. Jordan has also arranged for the marching bands of Texas State University, Claudia Taylor Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Winston
Churchill, Cedar Park, Mustang (OK), Plano, Foster, and Gregory Portland High School, among others. He is on the design staff for 5 Points Percussion
Ensemble, who was a WGI Independent Open Finalist in 2016. Jordan Stern received Bachelors degrees from Texas State University in Percussion
Performance and Music Studies with Teacher Certification, as well as a Masters Degree in Music Education. His percussion teachers have included
Genaro Gonzalez, Tony Edwards, Matt Strauss, and Thomas Burritt. Jordan has performed as a member of the Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle
Corps, and spent several summers at orchestral festivals, including the Round Top Festival Institute and the Texas Music Festival. He has also performed
with the Texas Mozart Festival Orchestra, Austin Symphony Orchestra, National Repertory Orchestra, and Midland-Odessa Symphony Orchestra.

Bandmasters Review • September 2017 16 Texas Bandmasters Association