Page 16 - 2018 June BMR

Rehearsal Strategies Employing The Yamaha Harmony Director Keyboard

n Have the ensemble work on two voice parts at a time, three-note chorale the most beautifully, with the students
starting with Soprano-Bass. Prompt the students to listen acting as judges.
to the counterpoint between the two lines, and try to make n Try having the band play the chorale with only one
the tuning beatless and the sound as colorful and free from player per instrument part (One 1st trumpet, one 2nd
extraneous noise as possible. trumpet, etc.). Then have the full band imitate the clarity
n Try having the students perform the three-note that they heard in the context of one player per part.
chorale for the class in different quartet settings (i.e., Hopefully these rehearsal applications for the Yamaha
trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba; or two alto saxes, tenor HD keyboard will inspire you to come up with your own
sax, bari sax). You could have the students participate in a variations to best fit your ensemble and your repertoire. I’ll
fun competition in class to see which quartet can play the see you this summer at the 2018 TBA Convention/Clinic.

Jordan Stern is a lecturer on the Music Education faculty of the Texas State University School of Music. His responsibilities include teaching methods
courses, teaching a course on arranging for concert band, instructing the Bobcat Marching Band Drumline, and supervising student teachers. He
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 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.

Bandmasters Review • June 2018 14 Texas Bandmasters Association