Roseville Community Band - Director's Corner
Daniel Anthony Kuch
Director: Roseville Community Band
Last update: Tuesday, May 6, 2008
What music should I be practicing? Look here .
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Good rehearsal last night... It was a bit rushed, but it was nice. I was especially BLOWN AWAY by your
sight reading skills! Nice job!!!!
As I promised, on the "PRACTICE" page is the selections we will play at our Memorial Day Concert.
Very Good!! I'll see you next week (only 2 more practices 'till concert time, so
practice, practice, practice.)
See you.
Your RCBD,
Dan Kuch
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A Good rehearsal was had by all. It was a good night. My admiration goes out to each of you by reacting as you
did when Colonel Marty Coyne lost his breath.
The Colonel is at home and is doing fine!!! Marty Coyne was in top spirits last night as Steve Zaccard and I went
to the hospital. Steve and he were cracking all the jokes as the Doctor came in to check on him. We got him home
at about 10:10 p.m. So everything is good and we can go on with life. Whew!! That scared me last night. Colonel, you
should not be doing any heavy lifting, and you should not be doing any quick motions. Especially lifting drums out of
their cases, and hurrying up trying to pick up music so that it's ready for the downbeat of the rehearsal. The band
will be watching you! I will be watching you! WE WILL ALL BE WATCHING YOU FROM NOW ON!!! Won't we band?
We don't like that kind of exitement. It kind of makes for difficult
concentration!! We all love you Colonel Marty Coyne, and we are glad that you're better. We need our bass drum,
our leader of the band. Because as Steve Zaccard said last night, nobody follows the guy with the stick, but
everybody listens for the sound of your bass drum playing throughout the band!!!
Alright, now I need to get those responses in to Rick Schultz, so please respond to yesterdays email if you didn't
already, about whether you're going to do the volunteer golf outing or not.
I will talk to you next week, and definately hear from you if you can volunteer, for it will be a fun time
spending time with you away from band. I always enjoy that. You guys are like my extended family.
Later!
Your RCBD,
Dan'l
Monday, April 7, 2008
Yesterday was a day that will stay in my mind for a very long time! It was one of those magic
days which will change the way the Roseville Community Band plays its performances,
because Roseville now has a community band that shines forth in a way that very
few other bands can. Notice I said "Bands", not just "Community Bands". Yesterday, I
would definately compare you to any band around. ANY BAND! That concert was the
most prolifically superb, and outstandingly brilliant concert that
I have ever heard the Roseville Community Band play. It was just AWESOME!!!
You were EXCELLENT! Way to be.
Your intonation was almost perfect. You people really had it going on. Intonation, tempos,
articulation, timing, cutoffs, dynamics, and volume. Everything was right on yesterday. My
congratulations are placed upon you. Rings of dignity, exaltation, and splendor shall be upon
you today, and for the rest of the week.
I would mention names and instruments. But I do not want to take away something from someone whom I
don't mention. For EVERYBODY and EVERYONE OF YOU played a very good and superb concert yesterday."
Now please don't loose it. Stay relatively in shape for next week, because we have a lot of work
to do for the summer. However, it's going to be fun work, because you people played well yesterday
afternoon, and I know now that you have it in you, and you will be able to produce it whenever I ask
you to. Yes!!! It is very cool indeed!
Now I need to ask you a question about the golf tournament that we have volunteered for. It is for the
North Suburban Youth Foundation and it is on July 14-20, 2008. 10-15 volunteers are needed for
each 6-8 hour shift to run a venue. I think that we should try it. It will be fun for us, and we might
even get to know another band member a little bit more (I have learned yesterday that we have a person
who used to drive trains around. Yes that's right, our very own Train Engineer. That's pretty neat
because I grew up right in the backyard of a major line where trains moved). Organizations are
compensated approximately $20 per shift per volunteer. I know
that's not very much, but keep in mind that it is a chance to help someone, and also make some money
for our Roseville Community Band. It is sponsored in part by the Roseville Parks and Recreation
Department.
If it were up to me I would choose a Saturday morning so as not to exclude anybody because they have to
work. But that's just my decision. I would like you to decide the best day for you to work.
Everybody decide and email me at, dankuch@hotmail.com --to let me know when the best time is
for you to work the event.
Once again, superb concert yesterday!
I'll talk to you people in a week.
See you.
Your RCBD,
Dan.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Excellent rehearsal for the amount of people that we had present.
We're ready for a good concert on Sunday... PRACTICE!!!
I'll see you all on Saturday morning. Some of you (about 12 of you) at 8:00 a.m. (I'm going to show up at 7:30 a.m.
just to make sure I get everything started), so whoever wants to join in with me, please show up early. I always
worry about this pre-concert preparation, so I'd appreciate seeing a lot of you there.
Everything will go well. So I will talk to you on Saturday.
Later, my beloved Bands-People.
Your RCBD,
Dan
Monday, March 31, 2008
I want you bandsmen and bands women to know that if you feel unsafe about the weather, you
don't have to show up for rehearsal tonight... but keep in mind we only have two rehearsals
before the next really big show... tonight, and Saturday's. Alright! We'll see you tonight,
only if you feel comfortable driving. Woodwinds at 7:00, and the rest of you at 7:30.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Remember: Woodwind Players, we will have a sectional this Monday beginning at 7:00 p.m.!
Here is the selection of pieces that we will play on our concert:
* Drum Roll, and a Cadence – (Rosevile Fire Department Places the American Flag)
* The Star Spangled Banner
* First Suite for Band – Alfred Reed
* Schubert Dance Suite
* Serenade for a picket fence
*** INTERMISSION ***
* Semper Fidelis
* TV Superhits
* Summer in Central Park
* Rushmore
* Born Free
* The Stars and Stripes Forever
Very good. I'll see you people on Monday!! Remember, woodwinds, we have a sectional!
Your RCBBD,
Dan
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Good rehearsal, but just a little picky on my part, that made it just a bit boring for you -- but we NEEDED THAT!!! We have to continue
working... We need to continue to strive for perfection.
Before I explain to you how to "Phrase" the part from Reed's, "First Suite, Movement III", I need to tell you that the Band
Council needs your help with something that we talked about in the
meeting yesterday. We need help in putting together a small committee to come up with the
changes in our "Documents" regarding the "Rules of the Band." So next week
our, "President", Mr. Steve Zaccard, will announce to us who the commitee chair is, and then he will ask for a certain amount of volunteers, and I
would like the people who have been in the group for longer than 3-5 years to volunteer for this
committee. It'll only take approximately an hour of your time. So we'll take care of that next week.
Next week, we will be PRACTICING at the same place as usual, the Roseville Area Middle School. IT IS OPEN!!!! Remember: Woodwinds rehearse at
7:00 p.m. next week. Also, the percussion section has asked me, by way of Mike Manor, to provide them approximately 5 people to play percussion parts for
"Summer in Central Park."
Now for that phrasing: In order to learn how to phrase the "First Suite" by Alfred Reed, movement III, Click here. You will
find a "pdf" file which will explain it to you.
Have a good week, everyone, and remember... PRACTICE!!!
Regards,
Dan.
Monday, February 4, 2008
I really feel good about you bandsmen and bandswomen when looking ahead to the Spring Concert. It's really fun for me to be this
far ahead. We have 9 rehearsals left and we are already on our way to putting on a good show. Way to be.
That's it for this week, except for the two reminders for next Monday: 1) Remember the Council Meeting next week, and 2) Remember the
Brass Sectional Rehearsal, as it states on the bottom frame of this web.
See you people next week.
Your RCBBD,
Dan.
January 28th, 2008
Good rehearsal that we had this evening! It was both fun and challenging! We will definately need those section rehearsals to work
out the phrasing in a couple parts. We will have them starting, like I said tonight, in two weeks... I'll bring the schedules for you next week.
Everyone please remember to listen to "First Suite for Band", which I have in the January 22nd part of the notes, below.
Everyone please practice your parts!! Only 10 more rehearsals until the concert. That's not a lot. So I want you to all think, "Spring".
See you!
Your RCBD,
Dan.
January 22nd, 2008
It was a FAIR rehearsal yesterday. It is always hard to play in a new place. Especially when we have to drag all the equipment around.
Alright, I'm sure you people have come here for one reason and one reason only. Place your mouse on the next words to get the
recording of either the first, second, third, or fourth movement of the "First Suite for Band", by Alfred Reed:
First Suite for Band - I. March: Click here
First Suite for Band - II. Melody: Click here
First Suite for Band - III. Rag: Click here
First Suite for Band - IV. Gallop: Click here
Wow! That Gallop movement is certainly a "Blast" to listen to. Please everyone, Practice, Practice, Practice!! And I mean to practice more than the
IVth Movement to the Suite, although that should be part of what you practice. Let's make this "Spring Concert" a "Blast" by learning all our pieces early
this year so that we can work on "The Music", rather than the individual parts. Let's all learn the individual parts at home, now, so that we can obtain a "Musical
Blessing" from our music. A "Blessing", meaning a special favor, mercy, or benefit: like the blessings of liberty.
The last thing that I need to mention is regarding the BAND PARTY THIS WEEKEND! The "Potskill BANDQUET". "Potskill", because I don't beleive
in luck, and "BANDQUET", because it is a Band having a banquet. Even if you didn't sign up, please come. It will be fun. I even spoke to a couple of
people that have never shown up before, and they're coming. Everyone read the script that
I have placed on the bottom border of this window.
I'll see most of you this Saturday.
Later,
Your RCB BD,
Dan
Saturday, January 19th, 2008
Alright! Here are the details: We will be meeting at the MAINTENANCE OFFICE, which is right across the parking lot, a little to the
west, from the city hall entrance. As you enter into the lot you would park in for the City Hall entrance, the door is immediately on the left.
So it is on the Northwest Corner of the Lot, connected to the Maintenance Building. Hence the name: MAINTENANCE OFFICE. See
you there. ------ OH YES! ONE MORE THING! THE MINUTES OF THE PAST MEETING ARE UP ON THE WEBSITE!! THANK YOU EVE!!!! AND
THANK YOU JASON FOR PRINTING THEM UP!!! THANKS TO WHOEVER
BROUGHT THAT UP AT THE COUNCIL MEETING. Who was that, anyway?
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
THERE'S A CHANGE FROM WHAT I PRINTED YESTERDAY:
We will not be rehearsing in the Council Chambers, we will be in the MAINTENANCE OFFICE, which is right across the parking lot from
the city hall entrance. The city hall is closed on Martin Luther King Day. I'll give you better instructions
when I find them out. In the meantime, just plan on getting to the parking lot and I'll have someone
put up signs for the rehearsal.
Monday, January 14th, 2008
Good rehearsal tonight. Notice I didn't say great. It was only good. It was good just because I want you people to continue working to make us great. Ok, it was good-to-great!! Somewhere
in between good and great. We have a lot of work to go to get "Irving Berlin Showstoppers" up and working, a lot of work. Although it sounded fairly decent, we have to do
some fixing up on a lot of parts. The thing that our new "Vice-President", Rod Dockter, mentioned was one thing that will really help us, we have to be able to
"Sing" the parts with the correct articulation.
Then, we will be able to play the "Licks" correctly, and then play through the pieces so that they sound good, and they are nice to listen to.
After the rehearsal tonight, we had our council meeting, which went very well. First off, I would like to say thanks to the former council
for the work that you did. Thanks Peggy and Sarah for everything that you did, and continue to do. Peggy, thanks especially for your dedication and
work that you did for the past 2 years as our president. Thanks also for the work you've done on those cards that you made. I
know that I appreciated it. As a council we might have to ask you to continue in the card making role. Sarah. Thanks for all the
notes that you took, and for all the dedication that you continue to show. Of course, thanks go to Linda for her continued work and dedication,
and thanks go out to the section leaders for their continued
work. Anyway, Steve Zaccard, "President",
did a mighty fine job in leading the first meeting. Everyone had excellent suggestions.
Wow! I'm looking forward to seeing that council perform this year and next. Way to be! Then we even thought of
a name for the the concert: "Salute to Public Service". Actually "Vice Pres" Rod Dockter thought of that. Way to be Rod! Then
"Secretary" Jason had a few thoughts, I thought that he was busy taking down notes for the meeting, then all of a sudden
he pops up with these excellent ideas. I thought, wow, that is good! Anyway, You
bandsmen and bandswomen will find out what else we talked about next week when we meet. We're going
to set fifteen minutes aside at the end of the rehearsal to spend 5 minutes in order for the
section leaders to brief their members about what happened and what we discussed. Then we will spend
about 10 minutes to enjoy the "Section Treats", which the trumpets are going to bring, and Andy Mobley is
going to call everyone in the Trumpet Section regarding this. So look for a feast! I know that this is not going to
be an ordinary "Section Treat" night. So come hungry!!
Come hungry so you can eat!!! See the "Scrolling Banner" below!!!!
I'll see you Bands-people next week at the Council Chambers Room...
Later,
Your Director,
Daniel Anthony.
Monday, January 7th, 2008
Great rehearsal tonight! It was a far better rehearsal than I can remember us having for the first time back since I've started with you 6 years ago. Way to be!!!
I was talking to our vice president elect, along with our president elect, and Sarah (will be our former secretary), and we were talking about all the things
we could do as a council as we prepared for the first meeting which will be next week. We talked about the list of by-laws, uniforms, how to run a meeting,
Costa Rica, the pancake breakfast, volunteers for
many things that need to be done to make this band continue working, and functioning as a group. We do need volunteers! We need them as much as we need each of
you to play the instrument that you play. Because without a voluteer to run a pancake serving, or a volunteer to take care of the Scholarship Committee, we will not continue to
function as a group. We will DIE!! Even though the band may hang together for a few years, or maybe even a few decades, that is not where we want to be.
We want this GROUP (THE BAND) to be around for a good while longer than a few decades. I know that the Roseville Parks and Recreation Department wants us
to be around a lot longer than a few decades or even a few centuries. We need to get all people involved, to make them feel a part of the group, take up their portion of
the group (however small or however large), and carry it, so that we can have this group a lot longer than a few years or a few decades. We want it available for our grandkids, and
so on, and so on, and so on! Alright! Enough of that!
I also had a conversation with Nancy Veerkamp, and Linda Oberg after everyone had left. They mentioned to me several excellent ideas. I will summarize them by listing them out:
1. All sections are to hold back from having any member play their "FALSE VIBRATO". I've heard several players in some sections playing false vibrato when they are
playing their parts (We should use natural VIBRATO, and not "FALSE VIBRATO", and we can talk about what that is when we meet next week). False vibrato is the
thing that makes a section seem "Out of Tune". We don't want that.
2. All sections are to divide up their parts so that you are balanced. I'm going to start listening and telling people when they are unbalanced. Example: Trombones. If they
have 5 people, they should put 1 person on 1st, 2 people on 2nd, and 2 people on 3rd... etc... Trumpets, with 8 or 9 people, should have 2 people on 1st, 3 on 2nd,
and 3 or 4 on 3rd. It has
to be that way because it takes more players, ussually, to balance a higher part, and they need more sound coming from a 2nd, or a 3rd part... We will discuss this next
week also.
3. Section leaders can be using the slots outside the door (to the left) when collecting their parts for the Christmas Music that we are collecting now. That way you don't have to
carry the music with you, and just in case you are missing when we pass them in, someone in your section will be able to get the music. We will discuss this next week also.
That's it for now. I'll see you all next week. Remember to practice early for the spring concert.
Your Director, from his corner,
Daniel Anthony Kuch.