Hello Guys,

I recently did this short arrangement for concert band of the Main Theme of Studio Ghibli movie "Grave of the Fireflies" (Incredible movie, you should watch it if you haven't already). Let me know what you think about it, and where it could be improved.

I'm on the board of my local community band. Our area has grown immensely in the last decade and we recently split the band because it was too large! Now the more advanced group is wanting to create strategies to move toward becoming semi-professional. We want to pay our players instead of requiring dues from them. If anyone here has been part of an orchestra or band that has made this move, whether you were a player or board member, can you share the steps you took?

We implemented auditions, then I finally convinced them to have us become a 501c3 organization but besides that and applying for one local grant, the other board members seem at a loss at what to do. They actually just raised the players' dues to cover some increased costs, which is exactly the opposite of what we need to be doing. I already know we are needing to fundraise A LOT, so I'm looking for other strategies.

Hi all,

I'm missing the bari sax part for Hunchback of Notre Dame, Selections from (arr. Lavender)

Anyone have a copy they can share?

There aren't any double-reed instruments in my high-school's Symphonic Band/3rd Band, and 9 flutists other than me, which is way too much in both my and my director's opinions.

I am looking to switch from playing the Flute to playing a double-reed instrument, and I am having trouble deciding between the Oboe and the Bassoon.

Now, since I am a flutist, it would probably be easier to switch to the Oboe for fingerings and reading, seeing as how most of the fingerings are extremely similar and it reads untransposed and in Treble Clef, but its embouchure is extremely difficult and unforgiving.

The Bassoon, I hear, has a much more complex fingering system (Nine Keys for the Left Thumb?!) and reads in both Bass AND Tenor Clef, both of which I have no experience in reading, but both of my parents can read those, so they can teach me, but the embouchure is moderately easier.

I am not going to choose one out of difficulty, though, nut I will choose one out of which one is needed most, like which one it would feel like is missing most if it's not there, or balance. Flutes can easily cover parts for the Oboe (Which I did do for last year's Concert Season), and my dad often covered missing Bassoon parts with Trombone.

That's all, and I wish everyone a good concert season.

queria site para obter partituras de solos para trombone ou até mesmo para orquestras. Onde posso achar?

I’m joining a club at my school that teaches instruments, and I’m trying to decide what to pick. Cost isn’t a concern, since they provide the instruments.
I want something that has a deep and intimidating sound. I’m pretty sure they also have marching instruments if that makes a difference.
Any advice?

Update: I put in my request with my top choices as tuba, euphonium, and bari sax!

Update Update: I got assigned euphonium, but requested to switch to guitar because I found out it was an option and I already have one to practice with at home

Me and my friends are looking for songs/ pieces that we can play at graduation that portrays a melancholy, sad type of feeling. We’ve been looking for pieces but there aren’t many that include all 3 of our instruments. Please give us some recommendations!

Hey everyone! My group and I are conducting a quick survey study for an undergrad class, about the state of orchestras: LA Phil and live music/concert culture overall, and would love to know your thoughts!

Its super super duper quick, your input would be immensely appreciated! <333333

Disclosure first: I made this. I'm a developer and a flutist, and I'm posting because the people who can tell me whether it's any good are the ones putting in the hours in a band room.

The problem I was aiming at is the practice session itself. Mine had turned into "play the hard bits again, badly" — no warm-up plan, no technique, just panic-running the parts that were due. FluteGym builds the session instead: warm-ups, technique, studies and repertoire, weighted by your level, your goals and what you already practiced.

What's in it:

• Metronome, chromatic tuner (415–446 Hz reference, with written pitch for piccolo, alto, bass and contrabass), drone and long-tone timer, and a recorder — all on the session screen, so you're not app-switching mid-session
• Tuning analysis: play, and it shows how much of it actually sat in tune and whether you lean sharp or flat, note by note
• Structured programs following the ABRSM and RCM syllabi, or build your own routine — your exercise order, your tempos — and reuse it
• Mastery and tempo tracked per exercise, with a streak and a practice calendar
• Offline-first: no account, no ads, and your recordings and practice data stay on your device

The metronome, tuner, drone, recorder, custom routines and basic progress are free — those alone might be worth it if you just want a tuner that shows written pitch for piccolo. Pro (14-day free trial) adds the graded-exam programs, tuning analysis, detailed stats, practice notes and the calendar.

• iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6786066501
• Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stornelli.flutegym
• Instagram: @flute.gym

What I'd actually like from this post is criticism: if the way it paces a session doesn't match how you or your director run one, tell me — that's the part I can still change. And if you play something other than flute and would want this for your instrument, say so, because that's the next question I have to answer.

Hello! ✨

I wanted to share the score and audio for my piece Red Rock Rhapsody! (Wind Ensemble Grade 4.5)

This piece was inspired by the tides of the Bay of Fundy in Prince Edward Island, going from tranquility of low tide into a Celtic-inspired motif and a turbulent East Coast storm before settling back into a peaceful calm.

Let me know what you think!

I can’t add videos so I’ll add a YouTube link:

https://youtube.com/shorts/yjGdAJ_eEf8?si=OWKlg4Lv6Sb7tiSm

I’ve been trying to remember the name of a piece I played in 7th/8th grade. Excuse my poor humming (noises)

I played the b flat tenor sax, so I can provide the notes for the first part: (all quarter notes)
D D D E | E E F F | E D

The second part was played by the trumpets, so i don’t know the notes played.

The tenor sax and bass instruments would play the first part for about 2 measures, then the trumpets and whoever else come in.

Edit: I found it, it’s Spania by David Shaffer. I guess my memory was foggier than I thought lol. Incredible piece btw.

Sorry if this isn't the right sub for this, but i figured this one would work.

So i played for 8th grade in concert band last year. I played piano for about 9 years up to now, so the best thing for me to do would be percussion. So the director was pleased with my performance and said i made the band great, most likely because our 7-8th grade band wasn't great.

I just recently joined ninth grade this year. Now, i feel like she thinks I dont know what im doing, and her speaking tone matches that. I'm supposed to sight read pep band songs for songs that I've never really heard, and whenever I mess up something she calls me out in a semi-yelling tone, and it makes me feel like i can't do anything right which really sucks. There's someone else who chronically messes up and she doesn't call her out. Im wondering if she just thinks I should be playing to a higher standard but I dont understand why it had to be so harsh. For instance, there was something with a measure long bass drum solo that I couldn't sight read fast enough. She then stops the band and tries to correct me on it, and i dont think me or anybody could understand what she was trying to tell me to do. So I mess it up again. She then comes over to me, tells me to move pretty rudely, then plays the cadenza herself. I then knew how to do it.

Also, kids from the concert band below us move things around pretty often, and i often cant find my mallets for the bass drum. The band teacher will then scavenge the whole room for it and then give it to me and looks at me like im stupid and like im some sort of inconvenience.

I dont know. Am I just overreacting? I'm just thinking about switching to saxophone which I've played for about 3 years or just not doing band for the second semester.

Could someone please give me some advice?

I am from Toronto, Canada, and I want to audition for a concert band called TYWO (Toronto youth wind orchestra), specifically for the symphonic winds ensemble (high school level band, they play repertoire levels from 3-5). The auditions is one of the excerpts provided, as well as a 2 minute solo piece. I'm not really sure what solo pieces would be a good level for my audition. Does anyone have recommendations for gr. 9 b flat clarinet solos?

I’m a freshman in high school and i got into my school’s musical. Our school is starting to be known as “the performing arts school” of the district and I’m pretty pround of it. I’m going to be tripling up on tenor and bass trombone as well as euphonium. The euphonium part scares me a little because I haven’t played it in a while and I have like a LOT of solo and independant parts. long story short, I’m really excited for the season!!!

Hello band folks! My community band has changed a lot since I joined nearly 20 years ago.

It used to be 30 dependable people who came every week. Now it’s 80 people with kids and families and jobs, who come when they can. We don’t want to have any sort of requirements for attendance, we’re happy to be very loose and community focused.

With this, we’re struggling with our larger, less dependable sections. Sometimes folks take folders home and suddenly a 3rd flute shows up and there’s no music for them. We are very committed to following copyright laws and do not photocopy music. So if we have 10 flute parts in our score, we may have 12 players and if folks have taken all the folders home to practice, we’re out of luck.

Does any other group have this problem? Have you found a good solution? We’re tossing around a lot of ideas but don’t really want to be the folder police.

Thanks!

I recently just got my trombone from band I have never played a trombone before she taught us how to put it together but accidentally dented it when I brought it home a dent in the bell section I just don’t want her to be mad

Midi file: https://u.pcloud.link/publink/show?code=XZWO0HJZaJyjdXhpEj0HE8D2o9id4B3aK2tV

So, I was trying to take out my valve to oil them and when I took my 3rd valve out, this was what I saw! I don't know how it happened, I haven't played it in a couple weeks! What should I do?