Director's Corner...

Daniel Anthony Kuch

Roseville Community Band Director (RCBD)

December 31, 2025 - New Years Eve Day

Hello Bandsmen and Bands Women:

It was a very well-played Christmas season this past month.  I was very impressed by how you played, especially at the Mall of America.  The sound you produced was absolutely fantastic!

Although it was an awesome year last year, this year promises to be a very challenging year as we will be celebrating our United States Semiquincentennial.

I look forward to spending yet another year with the Roseville community band as your conductor!

Sincerely,
Dan Kuch
RCBD

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Some other stuff:

Salute to the Armed Forces - 1st One

OR:

Salute to the Armed Forces - 2nd One

Do not use the above as an absolute (if you decide to practice with this); but rather use it as a reference, not a model to copy exactly.  Because, the cutoffs at the end of the phrases are not there; they should be distinct.  The cutoffs are not distinct on this recording.  They hold onto each note without cutting the note off -- without ending the phrase.  I am a stickler on this, as you all know.  So please remember my rehearsal instructions for phrasing and cutoffs.

Star Spangled Spectacular (Wow!  This performance is "spectacular"!!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuQmQ5u6oEU

Semper Fidelis (It's so good to listen to - you just can't stop!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgABUZ4i9co

Some other beautiful arrangements of these pieces, which you should all be listening to, because these pieces are so very precise and exact, I want everyone to listen to their "Precise Cutoffs", and dynamics... It is excellent:

⭐🦅⚓ ARMED FORCES SALUTE ⚓🦅⭐ #veteransday 

...and I know the ever-important TROMBONES will appreciate this one (it is not the cutoffs that I am looking for, but it is very cool):

A Trombone Salute To The Armed Forces 

Then, what kind of wind ensemble director would I be if I did not include woodwinds?  Salute to the Armed Forces played by a woodwind quintet is a rare find.  But here is an excellent performance of one that hits the mark or comes very close. Here is a curated lineup featuring woodwind quintets performing patriotic medleys and tributes to the United States Armed Forces. This is a good arrangement for woodwinds:

Patriotic Medley for Woodwind Quintet (plus one!) 

Here is a recording of my daughter's recital:

Josianna_Recital_04-26-2025_PianoSolo_andAccompanyingDad

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This is a good arrangement of "Chorale and Shaker Dance", by John Zdechlik:

Chorale and Shaker Dance recording 

...and here is the conversation that I had with one of the trumpet players about the artistry of "James Morrison"; it is just amazing!

Here is one which demonstrates his ability to play polyphonic notes on the trombone:

James_Morrison_PlayingMultiphonics_OnTrombone

...and here is James Morrison playing on the trumpet and piano:

James_Morrison_Playing_Piano_and_Trumpet

...and here he is on the trumpet and trombone:

JamesMorrisonTrumpetAndTrombone

...and this one is really wild....  He is an "Entire Band"....  Amazing!!!

JamesMorrison_He_Is_The_EntireGroup

The selections that I list below, are pieces, that I want you to be listening to.  The first one is the band composition "Pictures at an Exhibition, movements VIII, and IX.  Its URL is:

Pictures_At_An_Exhibition

So, either you can mouse click on the above, or copy it to your browser.  If anyone doesn't know how to do that, I'll be able to explain it to you sometime when I have my computer with me.

Another song I want you to listen to is "Chorale and Shaker Dance":

ChoraleAndShakerDance

Then I might place some selections that are just good listening aids at the bottom of each email (or I might just leave them there).  You can refer to them to listen so that you can become a "Sharper" musician.

GOOD LISTENING AIDS:

Pictures at an Exhibition - An excellent piano performance:

PicturesExhibition_ExcellentPianoPerformance

Please, note the telephone ringing as she sits down -- funny!

Flight of the Thunderbirds - Richard L Saucedo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGOfzghqFPU

Cloud Dancing - Richard L Saucedo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIXWAvQLPdA

Into the Clouds - Richard L Saucedo:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHwqHZ-hzuQ

Another fine arrangement of "Pictures at an Exhibition" to listen to is this orchestra arrangement -- So you can get the entire experience of the whole group -- it is with a Conductor's Score".

Pictures_at_an_Exhibition_Orchestra