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Welcome to the new school year!
Let's kick off the update with one of my famous SOLILOQUYS and please scroll down for info about the OBA BBS and GHMF, TYWO & TJAO Audition info my new BAND MUSIC TOP PICKS LIST with LINKS, and more resources!
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If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times and it will never be enough. Band Directors in Ontario are inspiring.
You are all ever-evolving, intuitive, creative, EXTREMELY expressive and above all – passionate about your students and your goals. You are TIRELESS. So much has happened and so much has changed over the last 4 years. And, it looks like there will be some more challenges ahead.
We have discussed Social Emotional Learning strategies as they pertain to the band class and rehearsal. Now, more than ever before - school band (and your room) is the safest and most inclusive place in the entire school. It is this way because of the students, the vast differences between what we do versus academics - but mostly, it is safe because of YOU.
Band as a curriculum, genre, and tradition has been called into question lately. And in many places, it is being replaced. I’m just going to say this: In my opinion – the process of learning instruments, coming together as a team, working on a common goal, and eventually sharing in the extraordinary feeling of performance excellence (regardless of how it’s measured) is the most inclusive and vital experience that a student, regardless of background, can have during their school years.
Directors in Ontario are facing too many challenges , roadblocks, and adversity right now . Time and time again, you are all finding ways for your students to COME FIRST and for your students to show their true RESILIENCY. Thank you for your amazing dedication, passion and for your FIGHT. Personally I’m looking forward to another successful year of music making and I’m happy (and honoured) to support you in any way I can.
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SHASHI’S PICK LIST FOR FALL 2023 – NEW RELEASE CONCERT BAND MUSIC
Welcome to my "Top Picks" for 2023-2024. These pieces have been selected from many publishers' new release catalogues for 2023. The criteria was simple: Pieces which are playable, accessible, teachable, and which SOUND GOOD.
Please contact your preferred music retailer for more information or to place an order for any of these selections.
Please reach out to me for specific comments such as teachable moments, venue suggestions, technical considerations etc. I did not include them on this site - as this is the first list i've created in 25 years WITHOUT a sales-driven objective - instead - just a resource of vetted new quality repertoire! ENJOY!
Performance Music has changed and it continues to evolve. It has been suggested to me that I re-evaluate my definition of "quality repertoire" to include audience and community reaction as part of the performance outcome, and not just the way a piece sounds (or the ways in which it can be taught). I've been a quality repertoire advocate for most of my working adult life and now, we have a new set of rules, definitions and even guidelines. I, like many of you, are working on the intention and perception of all of this but in the mean time - i've produced a resource list which mirrors that of a reading session or workshop collection/promotion.
Please note, I have not included new titles from MURPHY MUSIC PRESS. They carry/represent many MANY independent composers including new/up and coming, and composers from under-represented communities. There is a vast catalogue and selection, all available DIRECTLY from Murphy online. Please take a moment to visit their site and reach out anytime if you'd like to know what some of my favourites are from these composers: https://murphymusicpress.com/
GRADE 0.5
Guardians Sims MakeMusic/Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival
Skysplitter Fanfare Balmages MakeMusic/Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Fanfare/Festival
Ritual And Dance Meeboer Eighth Note
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival Canadian
Base Six Estes Excelcia
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING First Concert
GRADE 1
Clutch Balmages, Brian MakeMusic/Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Festival
Among the Stars You’ll Shine Bernotas, Chris Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Lyrical/Festival
A Scottish Hymn arr. Roszell, Patrick Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Lyrical/Festival
Petroglyphs Mullen, Jessica Barnhouse
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival
GRADE 1.5
Fire Quest Putnam, Matthew Excelcia
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Programmatic
Outta Time Huss, Christina Excelcia
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival Opener
Propulsion Sims, Adrian Adrian Sims Music (PDF)
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival Closer
At Max Power Webb, Amy Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival
Zero to Sixty Grant, Tyler S. Tyler S Grant
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Programmatic
Song for Terra Nishimura, Yukiko Carl Fischer
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Lyrical/Festival
GRADE 2
Discovery Meeboer, Ryan Eighth Note
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert Festival Canadian
Starfire March Standridge, Randall Randall Standridge Music
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING March/Concert
Under the Prairie Sky Buckley, Robert Hal Leonard
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival Opener Canadian
Testament Parsons, Steve Wingert-Jones/Excelcia
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Lyrical/Festival
Now & Forever Grant, Tyler S. Tyler S Grant Publications
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING March
Red Comet Oare, Michael Hal Leonard
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Programmatic
Of Lochs and Thistles arr. Huss, Christina Randall Standridge Music
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Lyrical/Festival
GRADE 2.5
Carry on With Pride Sheldon, Robert Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival (part lyrical)
Victory in Defeat Marlatt, David Eighth
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival Opener Canadian
Leading Light Wilds, Jack MakeMusic
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival
Earth Rise Pyter, Stephen J. Kjos Music
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Programmatic
High Intensity Wilson, Chandler Randall Standridge Music
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Programmatic
Magic Sevens Saucedo, Richard Hal Leonard
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival
GRADE 3
Shift Meechan, Peter Meechan Music
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival Canadian
Music from Stranger Things arr. O’Loughlin, Sean Hal Leonard
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Pop/TV
Sunlight Dancing Buckley, Robert Hal Leonard
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival Canadian
Hope Springs Eternal Buckley, Robert Hal Leonard
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Lyrical/Festival Canadian
Centrifugal Force Gillingham, David C. Alan Publications
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival
Zip Line Hall, JaRod MakeMusic/Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival
Wolves of Alaska Galante, Rossano MakeMusic/Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival
GRADE 3.5+
Existence Infinite (4) Galante, Rossano G.Schirmer/Hal Leonard
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival
Sixty-Six (5+) Sheldon, Robert Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Pop/Jazz
Fearless (3.5) Britten-Chambers, Carol Excelcia
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Concert/Festival
Fracas (3.5-4) Standridge, Randall Randall Standridge Music
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Programmatic
Northern Lights (4) Nishimura, Yukiko Carl Fischer
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Programmatic
Rapture (5) Balmages, Brian MakeMusic/Alfred
CLICK HERE FOR RECORDING Programmatic
A FEW NEW TEACHER RESOURCES WHICH I HAVE REVIEWED AND WHICH I WOULD URGE YOU TO CONSIDER.
Choosing Help Over Hurt: Successful Habits for Teaching Band in Underserved Communities
My biggest take away from this resource which is another installment in GIA's "HABITS" project, is that Canadian underserved communities and American underserved communites are very different. Specifically with the way that our two (respective) federal governments regard these areas and what types of supports are available versus totally UNavailable.
There are stories from the author who teaches at a majority black school in a low income area of South Carolina - some of them are quite stirring, some moderately disturbing - but the resource itself comes from the resolutions which these teachers and their adminstrations found after years and years of challenges.
High Needs: Monumental Successes
There is more of an emphasis on perception in this publication. This focuses mainly on the behaviours, patterns, reactions of their own and those around them of students whose families experience poverty. There are practical ideas and solutions for keeping them engaged through instrumental music and what their trajectory can/should look like. There is some focus on diversity as well, in terms of recognizing how to meet different groups at a mutually balanced point of understanding.
The thing that I liked about this publication was how it described the level of decisions and choices that some of these students have to make on a daily basis and (as I mentioned above in my opening) how the band room really becomes the safest place in their lives.
2024 GOLDEN HORSESHOE FESTIVAL UPDATE - TEACHER'S LETTER
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DATES
Please hold the dates! Our festival is in the process of being confirmed for Monday, February 26 to Friday, March 1, 2024. We are hard at work already - and the planning has started.
VENUE
We will continue at Ancaster High School in 2024, in partnership with the Hamilton Wentworth DSB. The 2023 event was a positive and enriching experience at AHS, as we made the return to the festival setting and we’d like to not only maintain the regularity but grow upon it. We have listened to much of your feedback and there will be some improvements in 2024 with traffic flow, storage, lunch, and other spaces. We are looking at improvements to our Jazz Stage as well.
OBA
We’d also like to take this opportunity to announce (and confirm) that we are now officially under the umbrella of the Ontario Band Association (yes, the rumours were true!) We’re thrilled about this partnership - and we’re looking forward to the continued collaboration and growth of the GHMF. We’d like to thank everyone for their support and feedback regarding this move and would like to outline some of the key points for 2024:
REPERTOIRE AND SCORES
As an OBA Festival, we will have our library of adjudication conductor scores for any pieces on the provincial band festival syllabus. As in the past, in order to be considered for a MusicFest Nationals invitation, you would need to perform at least one (1) piece from either the MusicFest Canada Syllabus or the OBA PBF Syllabus. If you choose piece(s) from the latter, the scores will be provided for you. Here is the OBA list for 2024:
CLICK HERE FOR THE OBA 2024 SYLLABUS (SCORES PROVIDED, DO NOT PURCHASE)
Here is the MusicFest Nationals list:
CLICK HERE FOR THE MUSICFEST 2024 SYLLABUS (NEED TO PURCHASE 2 ADDITIONAL SCORES FOR ADJUDICATORS)
REGISTRATION:
Registration will open a full TWO MONTHS EARLIER than 2022 (and again, we do apologize for the late timeline last year - but we’re back to normal now!). We are working on small changes to our registration platform but from the user side, it will be similar (if not better) than before.
OBA MEMBERSHIP:
The registration fee structure has changed (and subsequently increased) for 2024:
As an official festival of the Ontario Band Association, a director membership is required to enter one or more groups in the GHMF. Many of you already have this membership as you participate in other OBA hosted events such as the provincial festival, small ensemble festival, or beginning band symposium. However for those of you who are not current members at the time of registration, the annual membership to the OBA is $55.
REGISTRATION FEES PER ENSEMBLE
The 2024 GHMF entry fee will be $325 per ensemble. This reflects a slight increase in fee since our overall operating expenses have increased.
Examples:
*for ‘NEW’ OBA members who are bringing a single ensemble, your registration fee would be $380.
*For ‘NEW’ OBA members who are bringing 3 ensembles, your total would be $1030 ($55 plus $325 x 3). Please contact Shashi with any questions about this - and/or visit https://www.onband.ca/membership
COLIN
We’d like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to Colin Clarke. As many of you know, Colin has been a driving force behind the GHMF as committee director for over 10 years. In 2023 Colin started the process of stepping back from the grind of the festival administration and organization, while being very involved behind the scenes (especially in support and mentoring roles).
Simply put, the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival would not be where it is today without Colin’s tireless efforts, his passion for music education and his dedication towards music educators and their students. But - he’ll never be rid of us - as he has confirmed (for the first time in over 10 years) that he will be appearing as a key Concert Band adjudicator at the 2024 Festival! (So get your bands ready, folks!!) Please join us in a huge THANK YOU to Colin Clarke for his leadership of the Golden Horseshoe Music Festival!
Our committee meetings , planning, organizing, improving, and producing have started and we’re excited to welcome you back in 2024. Feel free to reach out to us anytime. Our main email contacts are:
Anita (Registrar) - ghmfcoordinator@gmail.com (Registration, scheduling, inquiries)
Shashi (Shashi) - ghmf@onband.ca or 647-825-7476 (sms/cell) (OBA questions, syllabus/repertoire, sponsorships/partnerships and other inquiries)
Thanks everyone, and we wish you a wonderful start to the year and good luck with your programs in the fall and beyond!
OBA BEGINNING BAND SYMPOSIUM IS COMING UP ON SEPTEMBER 3
