August 3, 2026 Director’s Notes
What a fantastic rehearsal! 🎉
The progress we made this week was exciting to hear. Our tempos are becoming more consistent, notes are falling into place, and rhythms are really starting to come together. It’s rewarding to hear everything beginning to gel. Thank you all for the energy and enthusiasm you brought to rehearsal!
🎼 Warm-up Chorale #3
We began with Warm-up Chorale #3, which turned out to be a bit more involved than I had anticipated! Those multiple time signature changes kept everyone on their toes, but what a beautiful arrangement featuring the melody of Danny Boy. Nicely done.
💃 Dance of the Magyars
We then tackled Dance of the Magyars. I intentionally resisted reminding everyone about the repeat before Letter C because I thought I might catch someone… but you all nailed it! Great job following the roadmap.
We finished working on the piece around quarter note = 150, which seems to be about the point where our low brass and percussion begin negotiating who gets to lead. 😊 We’ll continue refining that balance as we move forward.
🌊 Go with the Flow
Go with the Flow continues to sound wonderful. One small reminder: beginning at measure 53, let’s keep the music sweet, gentle, and flowing. There’s a tendency to slow down there, which can make the music feel a little heavy and gloomy. Keep the air moving and let the melody float.
🦸 The Incredibles
The Incredibles showed the greatest improvement this week! We spent quite a bit of time on it, and it really came to life. The transitions are feeling much more comfortable, and I can hear growing confidence throughout the ensemble. Excellent work!
If you’re playing Parts 2, 3, or 4, please spend just a few minutes this week reviewing measures 23–25. A little extra attention there will help lock in that rhythm.
💃 Fandango Festival
We also gave Fandango Festival a much-needed review. Somewhere along the way it lost a little of its chutzpah—or perhaps all that energy migrated over to Dance of the Magyars! Both are dance pieces, but they each have a very different personality. Let’s bring back that bold, spirited character that makes Fandango Festival so much fun.
🎶 Review Time
We rounded out rehearsal with reviews of:
Wipe Out
Celebration for Winds
Alamo
All three benefited from the extra attention and are moving in the right direction.
Thank you all for making Monday mornings such a fun way to start the week. I’m continually impressed by your willingness to learn, encourage one another, and keep growing as musicians. See you next Monday!
📅 Next Week’s Music
Warm-up Chorale #3
Dance of the Magyars
Blue Rock
America the Beautiful
Star Spangled Banner
Celebration for Winds
Fandango Festival
Wipe Out
The Incredibles