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Recording Your Band To Better Ensemble Outcomes

where they finally heard what I was hearing. Their “light With everyone’s VERY limited rehearsal time, I needed
bulb” reaction was telling and needed to be replicated, but to create another way for our students to access rehearsal
how? How could I provide the students access to how it recordings outside of the rehearsal time. If we played
sounded from the front of the ensemble all of the time. In their recordings back to them in rehearsal after every run,
my mind, that was the next critical step in our ensemble it would have the students not playing enough in our
development. rehearsal. So, the next step was providing access for them
Then, I realized the simplicity of the answer to that on evenings and weekends. With the use of one of many
question. I already have access to pertinent information, I available programs/apps, I could post all of my rehearsal
just needed to create a way to disseminate that information recordings for the ensemble to access. The availability of
to the individual ensemble members. My first goal was to be these recordings would allow section leaders access to
able to play a recording back to the ensemble in rehearsal the information needed to plan sectional time from week
as soon as they performed it. In many ways, a musician to week. In addition, I could use those recordings as a
can make significant changes in their performance if they way to have each student create a self-assessment plan
have the ability to access how it sounded as soon as they for themselves and section in ensemble playing. That self-
finished playing a particular passage. Technology has made assessment plan could also be part of a larger outcomes/
this process much easier than it was twenty years ago. We reflection paper. These activities would provide students
have our recording devise synched with our speakers in the with enhanced listening and awareness skill sets that
rehearsal room and it was as simple as taking the recording would help to refine and focus their musicianship at a
devise out of record mode and then hitting play. They did much faster pace than using traditional rehearsal methods.
not have to listen to me tell them what was wrong, they Recording rehearsals/performances and making them
could actually hear what was not correct for themselves. available for you and your students will allow you to
In the initial rehearsals doing this, I was always directing become more efficient in rehearsals and, in turn, will
their listening. I would assist them by focusing their allow your ensemble to achieve at a higher level of
listening on a specific concept that we needed to correct. performance. The enhanced awareness and listening skills
Through that process of directed listening, the ensemble of your students will continue to improve as they have a
members were able to enhance their listening skills in a heightened sense of individual performance. A better, more
way that allowed them to increase their awareness of our informed performer will elevate the ensemble’s outcomes
ensemble concepts and, in turn, made them more efficient and musicianship. Instead of complaining about limited
at correcting ensemble deficiencies. Allowing them access rehearsal time, it is more important to find ways to assist
to their rehearsal recordings provided the ability to listen our students in accessing the information that is available
without performing. It gave them a much more objective at every rehearsal. That most challenging part will be being
view of their current performance level and what they willing to listen to that first rehearsal and embracing how
needed to do to raise that level. your ensemble sounds through that recording devise. Press
record, share with your students and observe the individual
and ensemble growth of exponential proportions.

Dr. Bradley Genevro is Director of Bands at the University of Texas at El Paso. In his duties at UTEP, Dr. Genevro actively oversees all aspects of
the Band Program. Prior to his appointment at UTEP, he served on the faculties of Messiah College, Oklahoma State University, and the University
of North Texas. Ensembles, under Dr. Genevro’s leadership, have performed multiple times at Texas Music Educators Association and Pennsylvania
Music Educators Association Conventions as well as international conventions including the International Trumpet Guild. In addition, his groups have
albums released under both the Mark Custom and Klavier Record labels. Dr. Genevro maintains a very active schedule as a clinician, adjudicator, guest
conductor and recording producer having worked across the US, Australia, Europe, Hong Kong and mainland China.
Dr. Genevro holds professional memberships in the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Texas Bandmasters Association, Texas Music
Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, College
Band Directors National Association and was elected into the prestigious American Bandmasters Association.

Bandmasters Review • April 2018 21 Texas Bandmasters Association