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Elevate Your Level of Readiness: A Method for Effective Score Study

Example 4: Indicating changes in dynamics and phrasing

other directors have the
opportunity to work with
less developed players,
where “pushing the right
button” is more of a
chronic issue. Either way,
we have to determine
the order in which we
need to tackle the issues
that are standing in the
way of a superior concert
performance. I encourage
you to put these words
in order in an effort to
determine what you
“tackle” first.
Finally, after we
have determined what
musical challenges need
to be addressed, we
Plan Your Work and To determine our priorities, rank the systematically craft and
Work Your Plan words below in order of importance: successfully execute a rehearsal plan.
A dear mentor often told me, “… • Tone Quality I contend that 80-90% of the success
sometimes you have to plan a rehearsal • Correct Rhythms we achieve in rehearsal is based on our
based on musical triage,” and frankly, • Correct Notes rehearsal plan. Although the specific
the less developed the ensemble, the • Balance & Blend issues we address in rehearsal change
truer that is. Anyone who has been • Intonation from time to time, there are a few
around an emergency room for a • Precision “essential truths” that should guide our
while understands that triage involves • Articulation daily rehearsal planning.
treating patients in an order based on • Dynamics First, all plans should be time-based,
the severity of their condition. Too • Tempo where every minute is accounted for
often we want to discuss shape and • Nuance in the plan. Class may start at 10:05,
This activity always resonated with but does that mean Concert F starts
nuance before the students understand
rhythms or play accurate pitches. This me because what I value in rehearsal at that time? Probably not. Even if we
would change over time. And as I account for the five-minute passing
is the musical equivalent of treating
a sprained ankle before a compound get older, some things continue to period to set up instruments and
change. Some directors may have a allot two minutes for personal warm-
leg fracture. Once we have marked
our scores and developed a better highly developed varsity band that up before Daily Drill, we might be
consistently plays with good tone starting Concert F at 10:07. Have
understanding of the work, we have
to determine what needs the most quality and musicality, so addressing we considered if Announcements, the
nuance and shaping can occur Pledge of Allegiance, or moment of
attention first in rehearsal.
earlier in the rehearsal process. Many silent reflection occurs during our

Bandmasters Review • April 2018 26 Texas Bandmasters Association