MUSIC IDEAS FOR THIS FALL

Music ideas for this 109th season are in the final planning stages. We have several terrific show ideas planned for this season. Possible ideas for this season include opening with a classic rock show with music of the bands Chicago, Journey and Kansas. Music from the popular “horn bands” CHASE and Earth Wind and Fire, such as “Open Up Wide,” “Got to Get You Into My Life” and others are also on deck.  A show featuring famous sports themes from ESPN, Monday Night Football, and FOX NFL is also in the works.  Our heavy hitter show of the season looks to be “To Tame the Perilous Skies,” a classic John Hendricks arrangement of the piece by David Holsinger and a Samuel Hazo tune entitled “In Flight.” A tribute to “The Wizard of Oz,” the theme from the movie “Independence Day,” classic swing chart “Big Noise From Winnetka,” and a tune from the Rolling Stones are also in the plans. These, along with several other new selections, should make this season very exciting! Plus, we are working on several new tunes and short “ditties” to make playing in the stands even more enjoyable and more interactive for you and our fans!!

PART DISTRIBUTION

All instrumentalists (except drumline) will find copies of the pregame music in the Pride Press mailing. You MUST memorize these parts before camp!!!!

Many of you will find that parts have been tentatively assigned. Please realize and understand that we had to assign parts in a very broad and generalized manner. Several of you (freshman music majors) were accepted into the band without us really getting a chance to hear you play. Therefore, we just tentatively assigned parts to many new members - “vets” are receiving music of the same part they played last season. EXACT PARTS WILL BE ASSIGNED AT CAMP, which means that several of you may be switched. Even though you may end up playing a different part at camp, you will still get a great idea of how the tunes go by memorizing the music that has been mailed to you.

Please also remember that everyone cannot play the 1st part. In fact, for a balanced band, we must have many of you on the lower (and just as important) parts.

*PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING ALL THIS MUSIC TO CAMP! WE CANNOT AFFORD TO RE-PHOTOCOPY THIS MUSIC FOR A FEW FORGETFUL AND DISORGANIZED INDIVIDUALS!!

MEMORIZING MUSIC

Because we learn so many tunes throughout the season, band members are often required to memorize music. With the music “under your fingers”, more concentration can be directed towards marching and performing.  We are requesting that you have ALL of the pregame music memorized by camp. EVERYONE needs to take this seriously. Vets - How can you not have pregame memorized? It is amazing how much better the band marches when the music is memorized! If you have trouble memorizing music, please contact your section leader for tips if you need help on this, and then follow-up with this at camp. Your section or assistant section leader would be glad to assist you and give you some tips to help improve your skills.

PRE-GAME MUSIC INFORMATION

The "Pride Press" packet contains the traditional WVU pre-game music for your assigned instrument and part.  Our pre-game show has a well-deserved reputation for being high-energy, demanding, and extremely entertaining. As such, we push our standards of quality every season and we constantly strive to be better and better at every “little” detail (if there is there such a thing).

YOU must practice and memorize this music. Bring it to Camp in a flip folder for your continued reference.

• Vets – how can you not have this memorized?  Please carefully review it to make sure no “adaptations” have crept in.
• New Members – it is expected that every person will come to Camp prepared with music memorized to the best of their ability.

The first few tunes of the Halftime music for the season will be distributed at Camp. We eagerly look forward to hearing the 2011 Band for the first time in just a few short weeks!