FINAL POST!!!!!!!!

So.
Final post.
I'd say that overall this project took much more effort, time, and was a lot more complex than I would have originally thought. For what sounds like such a simple song, it was interesting to dissect every separate part and line and attempt to figure out the notes. The most difficult thing was trying to figure out the timing and coordination of the bass drum line with the snares, and deciding what time to mark the song with. But once we got every part together, the song came out beautifully. what worked well on the computer, sadly, did not sound as good when played for the first time. But I believe that with practice, we can have a strong new band chant next year and during this year's basketball games.

Hoping to continue the project next semester with some MGMT to compliment the Kanye.

Phil

Day 6

After the completion of our first song, we collectively agreed on a new piece to arrange: Kids by MGMT (Irene’s favorite band, woohoo!) Both Phil and Irene know the piano parts for that song already, and Dev figured out the horn solo on his own today as well (the vocal parts), and with more experience with finale we hope that we can get an arrangement out soon.

Day 5.5

Today at the game against Reynolds, which we successfully won, we were able to play our piece with all the instruments, including percussion, in front of a live audience! It was awesome! For the next time, we want to transfer more instruments to the bass parts.

Day 5

Today was a bass-filled day! We finalized all of the parts for our song. The text “clap” turned out to be one of the most difficult parts of our project! After toggling with Finale and learning how to print out each individual part, we had Matthys help us with a slight edit on the notes of each instrument part so it was in the appropriate range for playing. Finally, we were able to test out our piece. Phil conducted and the first attempt was a little rough, but with practice and the addition of percussion instruments it’s sure to improve drastically.

Day 4

Yesterday was quite productive. All the parts are printed out and we're ready to play power at our first playoff football game coming up this week. We'll undoubtedly want to make changes to it after that, but we hope that it becomes an integral part of pep-band music in the future. It's unique in that no other 6A pep-band has music for it, let alone music arranged by students.

As far as future projects go, I'm undecided. I was considering using google days to work on either basic aspects of my horn playing - that is, scales, articulations and the overtone series. As we draw nearer to districts, I'd probably use more and more of the time to work on my solo for this year (Strauss). It seems like the best use of my time, given the circumstances. That said, it would probably be equally as much fun to arrange a different piece, perhaps of a different style for band. Maybe this time we won't do it for pep band and instead write an arrangement for wind ensemble. At the moment, it's up in the air.

Day 3.5

This post is just to recap what we've been thinking in terms of the project, and what I've done outside of school. We finished the transposition of the music for all of the pep band instruments, and after Matthys makes a few tweaks, we should be able to play it at the first home football playoff game, and all of the games during the basketball season. We're considering having everyone in the band chant the first part, then go into playing, like they do in the real song. Also, for the basketball games (and maybe playoffs), I figured out the electric guitar in the beginning, which will make a fantastic addition. Dev and I figured out the electric bass part, which adds a deep and solid tone to the back of the song. Now we just need to tab in the guitar part (maybe), and work on getting everybody to learn how to play it. After completion of this project, I was looking at some other possible songs (Paradise by Coldplay, maybe) to transpose and do a multi-track cover for band instruments with Dev and Irene.

Day 3

Day 3 of the google project was perhaps the most successful. My group members and I discussed new approaches to the baseline in the days leading up to the third google day and were able to execute them in finale on day 3. Barring a few technical difficulties with repeat signs and second time only signs, we managed to do a great job. With the exception of a very cool guitar solo, our instrumental version of "Power" matches up very closely to Kanye's. We've given it to Mr. Matthys for approval and hope to have the pep band play it during our first playoff game in 2 weeks! Now the only question remains is....what should we do next??