REPORT Summer 2014
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College Band Directors National Association Scott S. Hanna, editor CBDNA REPORT Summer 2014 FROM THE PODIUM Dear Colleagues, next generation? Speaking for myself, my teaching schedule simply does not allow me to visit many schools I hope you are enjoying a restful and productive during a semester. Between my teaching schedule and summer. As I write this note, the CBDNA Athletic the testing and block schedules at local schools, this has Band Conference has wrapped up at the University of proven to be a big challenge. It also seems that band Virginia. By all accounts, William Pease and his staff did directors are less inclined to ask for help than I was. an outstanding job hosting another very successful Additionally, we are all so busy keeping our programs event. Congratulations and thanks to all! afloat and thriving, it is difficult to consider helping By the time you read this, the CBDNA/Ithaca College anyone else. I would propose that it is also critical that Conference on Instrumental Music Education will also we consider helping someone else! be history. Special thanks go to Mark Fonder and Beth I believe it is easy for us at the college level to wring our Peterson from I.C. for their leadership and vision in hands and decry the quality of programs in our areas, making this event happen. This event could not have but perhaps we deserve some of the blame. I can happened without the support of CBDNA, Ithaca honestly say that, were I left to my own devices as a College, and the John P. Paynter Foundation. Again, young conductor, I would have had a much harder time thanks to all who contributed as a presenter, panelist, or achieving much success. With this in mind, I hope you observer. will consider how you personally can influence the next I would like you to consider a couple of ways that you generation of artist/teachers beyond your daily college can help our profession as a leader in the wind band classes and rehearsals. Who are the young teachers near movement in your part of the world. The first of these you who could benefit from your wisdom and a bit - is through mentorship. Did you have a mentor? I had maybe a lot - of your time? Do they program poor (have) several, all of whom share several qualities. music? Get out there in their world and show them the Probably the most important, and most challenging was good music, and how and where to find it! Invest in their willingness to give me time - lots of time. When I them and their students. If distance or time is the issue, was a young band conductor Richard Strange and Bob consider Skype rehearsals, or any of the new Fleming spent countless hours over several years in my technologies now available. Just checking in by phone or band room. They asked nothing in return but for me to computer once or twice a month could make a huge keep getting better. We enjoyed countless discussions difference. about everything from repertoire, to intonation, to Just think what we could do if every member of marching band formations, student motivation, and CBDNA committed to mentoring just one young everything in between. That gift to me (and many of my individual. That would be over 800 conductors of the young colleagues) was the best thing anyone could have next generation! Please consider how you can make a done for me in those formative years. Later, John difference with a few individuals in your area. Whitwell and John Paynter became very strong mentors for me, as did several others. In another effort to help the next generations, CBDNA, in concert with banddirector.com has started an My question is, are we, as individuals, doing this for the initiative through which you can help teach the next IN THIS ISSUE From the Podium – 1 Commissions/Premieres – 3 Call for Papers/Presentations – 7 News – 2 Dissertations/Treatises – 5 Programs – 9 CBDNA REPORT – 2 SUMMER 2014 generation of conductors. The project is called to stay at the convention hotel, the Loews Vanderbilt, conductingmasterclass.com. It is administered by Dave the amenities of which will match the spectacular Knox at banddirector.com, and provides a platform Schermerhorn Symphony Center where most concerts through which college band directors can upload short will occur. It's going to be a great week! masterclass/lecture videos about the standard repertoire Best wishes for continued success, as restful end of for the benefit of public school directors around the summer, and a great fall. country. CBDNA is serving as a clearing-house for these video submissions. Steve Peterson Currently this is a prototype, but will go live soon. We have invited a few CBDNA members to upload videos CORRECTION to "prime the pump". Now we are ready for you to In the Spring 2014 Report, Stephen Pratt’s name was submit videos about the repertoire. This can include misspelled in the list of featured ensembles to perform performance suggestions, comments about tempo, style at the 2015 National Conference in Nashville. The - just about anything that is important for a young editor regrets this error. conductor to know as they begin work on a standard work. NEWS Here is what you need to know: Small College Intercollegiate Band • Contributors must be current or retired college Plans are underway for the 2015 CBDNA Small College band directors who are members of CBNDA. Intercollegiate Band. Ray Cramer will be the conductor, (Please, no graduate students now.) and information will be forthcoming on the CBDNA web page in late August. This year's chair is James • Go to the site (conductingmasterclass.com) and view several of the submissions that are Adams. He can be reached at [email protected] currently posted. This will give you a good idea MISSION STATEMENT: The general spirit and about the quality that is expected. mission of the SCIB is to provide students (music • Send an email to the project coordinator, Eric majors and non-majors alike) from band programs at Rombach-Kendall, to indicate your interest in smaller colleges and universities, community colleges of submitting an instructional video any size, and Historically Black Colleges and ([email protected]). Eric will contact you to Universities of any size the opportunity to perform high give you additional information about the quality literature at the CBDNA National Conference project, discuss content and production under a renowned conductor. As it is much less likely guidelines, and coordinate submissions. that wind bands from these institutions may ever be selected for regional or national CBDNA performance We are hoping for a steady input of new information slots, the SCIB was conceived to give these students the from the membership over the next several years, and opportunity to play advanced literature (repertoire that expect the project to be ongoing for a long time. These their home institutions may never be able to program) at videos are only about six minutes in length. I encourage a national convention under a renowned conductor. The you to become involved in this very exciting project. SCIB makes it possible for talented students from With this conductingmasterclass.com initiative, the institutions lacking instrumentation, student resources, individual mentoring I propose, and, of course, the and/or financial resources, to gain an unforgettable work we do every day, we can make a difference for the musical experience commensurate with those gained by next generation of artist/teachers. Folks, if we don't do members of ensembles selected to perform at CBDNA this, who will? National and Division Conferences. Lastly, it is not too soon to make plans for the In general, eligibility is intended for students from any upcoming national convention in Nashville, March 25- community colleges, any 4-year universities with fewer 28 2015. Tom Verrier and I are working hard to ensure than 5000 students, and any HBCU institutions. In all a fantastic event. Performing groups have been cases it is expected that the home band program reflects announced, and we have a spectacular lineup. (Please the qualities stated above and that the nomination see the CBDNA web page.) The Convention website fulfills the general spirit and mission of the SCIB. will be live very soon, where you can find everything Directors from four year institutions that exceed 5000 you need to know. We sincerely hope that you will plan students are invited to nominate students if they believe CBDNA REPORT – 3 SUMMER 2014 their home school programs currently reflect the • Only submit copies of your score. Applicants should qualities of a program as noted in the mission statement keep their original scores. above, since there are many valid extenuating • CDs of the composition submitted are welcome, but circumstances in college band programs at larger must be clearly marked with the composer’s schools. Directors should briefly explain any extenuating name, title of the composition and circumstances that merit consideration. The chair of the identification of the concert band performing. Small College Intercollegiate Band, in consultation with CDs should be properly cued. the chair of the Small College/Community College • All scores and CDs shall remain the property of the Bands Committee and the President of CBDNA, will composer. If you wish materials to be returned, make final decisions. the entry must be accompanied by a self- addressed envelope, with sufficient return According to data gathered by the Small College/ postage. Community College task force in 2010, approximately • Please note that post office rules REQUIRE a 70% of all colleges and universities (excluding trade POSTAGE METER STAMP for returning all schools) in the USA have less than 5000 students.