The East Jordan High School Band (EJHSB) has been practicing day after day, week after week, for one performance that will be judged on their tone, technique, and rhythm.
EJHSB performed in Elk Rapids for the annual Band Festival that took place on February 25th. The crowd that attends this event is usually family members of the students and the band director, but EJHS’s Principal Tammy Jackson is another you will see in the audience.
“I always attend the band festival and the pre-festival concert. Attending events that showcase student talent is my favorite part of my job!” Jackson said.
The EJHSB performed three tunes; “Alamo”, “Variants on a Shaped Note Tune”, and “Nathan Hale Trilogy.” “Alamo” is a march style piece of music and challenges the band to play each note short and separate, “Nathan Hale Trilogy” is three movements, the first and last movements are fast parts, while the second part slows the musicians down and they let the music flow and show emotion through each note.
The EJHS pre-festival concert was on February 15th, 2012 which was set up similar to the District Band Festival. Adam Hendry, Band Director of EJHSB (including Middle School), has his band take the pre-festival as seriously as the real thing.
Three judges appear in the audience and listen intuitively to the band performance, and jot down their notes and comments on the performance.
After all three songs have been completed; one judge rises from their seat and takes the place of the band director, in this case Adam Hendry, and works through each song with them and attempts to help them sort out their glitches. Then they give their encouraging words and exit the stage.
“I'm a ‘band geek’ at heart! I look forward to watching my students perform. Go Red Devils!” Jackson stated.
Following right after the performance, the band makes their way to sight reading. Sight reading is a part of their ratings from another judge, but sight reading is separate from the performance stage.
Bands will receive one song to perform in sight reading that they have never seen before, and will be required to play it on spot. Fortunately, they have five minutes to go over the tune with the band director. After the band performs this tune, the judge in that room does the same as the other judge in the performance room.
According to Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA), in order to attend State Band Festival, bands must receive an overall one in their ratings from the judges. The scale ranges from one to five, and only bands receiving a one may attend State Band Festival.