Unwritten Rules

There are a lot of rules for attending Festival (Contest, Assessment, etc), and many are in relation to music selection. Things like:

• A march is required
• Music must be chosen from the list related to your school classification size

There are also basic rules of good performances to take into account:

• Choose contrasting styles
• Pick a variety of keys
• Select music that plays to the ensemble's strengths

But then there are the unwritten rules of attending band festival related to selecting music. And that's where I've been hung up this year. I considered taking Erickson's classic Air For Band with my 8th Graders this year. They needed something lyrical both because it's a good contrast for our other selections, but also because it pushes them as musicians. 

But it's on that unwritten rule list of Pieces Not to Take, especially with young musicians. It's one that everyone knows well and has their own idea on when it comes to interpretation. Additionally, it could even come across as cocky to perform a piece like that with such a young group, regardless of its placement on our classification list. 

While we don't attend Festival for the ratings, let's be honest and say it certainly doesn't hurt to do well. Students feel successful after earning a higher rating and it sets the tone for the rest of the year as well as boosting recruitment for the coming year. Choosing a piece that is so well known could make for a challenging experience, and not necessarily in a good way.

I debated for days as to whether to take the piece for its inherent value and take a chance on our overall outcome or go with something "safer" to help set them up for a better experience in the long run. And then I'd bristle at the idea of "safer" because what kind of example does it set when I tell students to set high goals and try new things, but then won't do it with them? Are we in it for the experience of performing and gaining feedback from other musicians or for the rating?

While debating, I asked for alternative suggestions to see if something else stood out. A friend sent several, including Ticheli's Earth Song. When reading the lyrics to the original choral work made me cry, the choice was made for me.

The music is still very challenging and is going to require some serious focus and musical maturity, and I feel very comfortable in the selection. I especially like that our lyrical selection actually has lyrics that we can use as we explore the phrasing and expression. However, I know that there will be times in the future when I hit this issue again, and there still won't be an easy answer.