An interview by Allison Perham. For my project, I interviewed Mrs. Perham (my mom) on what being the Malone Middle School music teacher is like. Q. What got you interested in becoming a music teacher? A. I always knew at a young age that I was going to do something with music as a career. I wanted to play professionally but one summer, I coached a junior high girls’ softball team, and they ended up winning their championship game. At that moment I realized that they succeeded because of what I taught them. That made me realize that I wanted to become a teacher. Q. What instrument do you play the most? A. Piano. Q. What instrument do you think you play the best? A. Definitely piano! Q. How do you usually feel during the week before a concert? A. I feel extremely stressed. Q. How do you usually feel on the night of a concert? A. Very excited to show off what my kids can do! Q. What kind of music is your favorite to listen to and what do you usually listen for in the music? A. I mostly listen to rock. I usually listen for neat bass lines and vocal harmonies. Q. What was the first instrument that you officially played and how old were you? A. When I was 7 years old, I started taking piano lessons from my grandmother. Also, when I was in 6th grade, I started playing percussion in the band. Q. What kind of music do you like to play? A. Everything. Some examples of a few kinds are classical, jazz, and boogie woogie! Q. When preparing music for your chorus', what kinds of music do you like to pick? A. I try to pick a variety. I usually pick 1 song from a musical, 1 jazz piece, 1 folk song, 1 novelty piece, and in the spring I pick a popular song. Of course for the winter concert, I prepare Christmas music! Q. What is your favorite part of being a choral director at the Malone Middle School? A. My favorite part is when the kids feel great because of how they know that they've improved and find out what they're capable of doing! Q. Do you have any advice for anyone who would like to become a choral or band director? A. You definitely need to know how to play the piano enough to get by. Also, don't be discouraged when you find others who are as talented as you. Each person is unique and have their own gifts to offer!

FA BAND Newsletter April, 2015

The History of the Clarinet – Abigail Collins

The clarinet is an instrument that belongs to the woodwind family. The instrument itself was invented in 1690 but it evolved from an earlier instrument known as the chalumeau, which was the first single reed instrument. Johann Christoph Denner with the help of his son Jacob improved the chalumeau, creating the clarinet. Later on Klose adapted the flute key system to the clarinet making the range even greater. The first composer to use the clarinet in a symphony was Mozart. The clarinet can play roughly 40 notes, making it very useful in bands across the word. Today, the clarinet remains very popular.

Adam Gero

The Theremin is a musical

instrument that produces

sound through radio

waves. The device was

invented by a man named

Léon Theremin. It is a

unique instrument in that you

don't need to make physical

contact. Your left hand

controls the volume, and your

right hand controls the

pitch. It was used in songs

such as the Star Trek

theme. Its alien noises it

produces are strange, but

appealing.

The History of the Trumpet – Antoine Henry A popular yet overlooked instrument, the trumpet, has been used for millennia for a variety of cases, from being rallying troops in Ancient Rome to prepare for a final attack, to playing ceremonial tunes at a soldier's funeral, to leading the front line in the Dixieland Jazz from the early twentieth century. Although trumpets themselves existed since at least 1500 BC, their original purpose was very different from what it is today. Although essential to virtually every ancient civilization and commonly depicted in many cultures' art and literature, a trumpet's purpose was solely for signaling, military, and religious purposes, not for music as we know it. Trumpets were so important that manufacturing one was a highly guarded practice amongst guilds in Medieval Europe. This continued until roughly the 14th and 15th centuries. In the 16th century, partly due to advancements in metalworking and instrument design, records show trumpets playing trumpet calls, fanfares, toccatas, and sonatas, although in the lower register. This marked a very important point in the trumpet's lifetime, finally turning it into and proper instrument that had music written for it with the intent to entertain. Later on in this timeframe, a new higher register, dubbed "clarino," was starting to be played by a specialist trumpeters, notably Cesare Bendinelli. This lead into the Baroque Era, also known as the "Golden Age of The Natural Trumpet" to trumpeters. Trumpets of this time consisted of a single coiled tube with crooks in order to change the key of the instrument. Later "Baroque Trumpets" had several vent holes to correct notes that were out of tune. Although the instruments once died, playing this variation of trumpets has become a revived art and is practiced worldwide to this day. After several centuries of little long-lasting innovation to the instrument, in 1814, valves were finally added to many brass instruments including the trumpet. Valved trumpets were originally somewhat primitive at first, but in time they were eventually perfected, leaving us with the modern valved trumpet that's widely known today. The trumpet has been with humans for thousands of years. Along with them, trumpets have evolved. Although have been built in many different shapes, sizes, and materials, and even having different purposes, the trumpet hasn't ceased to serve people for many years, and still will for many years to come.

10 Fun Facts about the Clarinet – Gabby Beebe

The clarinet was the last instrument to be included in a symphony orchestra.

The first clarinet was invented by Johann Denner in the late 17 century.

The smallest clarinet is pitched in Ab; known as the Ab piccolo clarinet.

The clarinet descended from a French instrument known as the Chalumeau (or Chalumeax). The word “clarinet” means little trumpet; it is related to the word ‘clarion’, which is a kind of

little trumpet that is loud and clear.

The wood to make clarinets comes from Africa. The tree is name Mpingo (African Blackwood). It

takes a long time to grow and is very knotty.

The traditional Bb clarinet has 7 open holes to be coved by fingers. There are three holes for

each hand and one hole in the back for the left thumb.

Mozart was the first major composer to add music specifically written for the clarinet.

Anton Stadler was the first to achieve fame for playing the clarinet.

The most popular symphonic clarinet solo is the one in George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue.

Gabrielle Collins - Did You Know?

Interesting facts about brass instruments

-The trumpet contains roughly 6 & 1/2 feet of tubing.

-The first horns invented were used for hunting calls and didn't have valves.

-All brass instruments start by making a buzzing sound with their lips. The

vibration then carries throughout the rest of the instrument and makes a

sound!

-The tuba was one of the last classic brass instruments invented.

-During the Renaissance, brass instruments began to develop that resemble

the modern instruments in use today.

-It wasn't until the 1920's that jazz styles of the trumpet and trombone

became popular.

-In the 18th Century the horn began to develop as an instrument capable of

high musical expression.

-During the 1500's, European courts would maintain corps of trumpeters

used mainly for heralding.

-The mellophone, a type of French horn, is most commonly used in marching

bands. It resembles a Trumpet but with more tubing. It is much easier to play

while moving than a standard French horn and requires the person playing to

play with their right hand.

-The French horn has the smallest mouthpiece, followed by the trumpet.

The History of the Trombone – Blayke Paquin The trombone was invented in the late fifteenth century by Flemish instrument makers in Burgundy. The Sackbut, or original name of the trombone was constructed as an improvement for the slide trumpet. The improvements made it special because it was capable of hitting every note in the overtone series. With the new idea of the trombone the family of brass instruments was born and since it was a new family, it had trouble getting into current orchestrations. A couple of years later after being an individual family, they started becoming popular and were included in city and court ensembles and were one of the go to instruments for church music. It stayed that way for a while until war broke out in various places, causing big orchestrations to make marching music to show their country’s pride and dedication. Composers realized the potential of the potential of this instrument and started including them because it showed power and emotion in the piece. As military bands grew all around the world, an American conductor named John Philip Sousa would take the brass family to an all new high and make brass instruments a big part of American culture. While Mr. Sousa was making brass instruments well known, a gifted trombonist named Arthur Pryor would demonstrate the trombone like no other player could. Mr. Pryor was in big march bands and really showed what the instrument was really capable of when he joined Mr. Sousa’s band in 1892. Pryor was also known as the Paganini of the trombone playing over 10,000 solo’s over the course of twelve years in Sousa’s band. After composers heard the true potential of the instrument it started to get accepted in bands all around the world and started getting included in many different types of music. Since the instrument has a great tone and capable of hitting notes in high octaves it has changed the least over the centuries and it would bring new styles to music such as jazz, cartoon, and symphonic genre’s. Big changes like this happened after the industrial revolution when the slide and mouthpiece became better fitted with the instrument.

Present day trombone hasn’t changed much. In fact people keep coming up with new ideas to make the instrument look better and give it more potential. Without question, trombone is a big part of any orchestra or ensemble. I feel that new generation trombonists will have more fun experimenting what the instrument can do. This will also inspire kids to stay in band because the things you discover can be quite interesting. I think that if any instrument were to lose popularity, trombone would be on the last ones to lose it.

The following piece is an interview between Carissa Robistow and Swinging Sounds member Breanna Sprague

C: Are there auditions for Swinging Sounds, and can anyone join even if they are not in band or chorus? B: Yes, there are auditions and anyone can join! C: What inspired you to join Swinging Sounds? B: My Dad's girlfriend inspired me to join. She takes me to a lot of musicals and she went to college for acting and dancing, so I decided to give it a try. C: Are you going to participate in Swinging Sounds next year? B: I think I will audition for Swinging Sounds again because it is a lot of fun and you get to be yourself and do your own thing. C: What days and how long do you have practice? B: We have practice every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30-3:10. C: What kinds/types of songs do you sing? B: We sing medleys of different musicals for each concert. C: Do you do more than singing, like dancing or acting? B: We usually have little solos for characters during the medley. C: How often are your concerts? B: Our concerts are usually in the winter and spring. C: Where have your concerts taken place? B: Well our last concert took place at the Malone Middle School. C: Is there a dress code for your concerts? B: No, we get to throw an outfit together that goes with the medley or we use costumes in the prop room. C: What song did you enjoy singing the most? B: The song I enjoyed doing the most was 'No One Is Alone' in our Into the Woods Medley.

How to Compose (Write music) by Daniel Shafer

Many a tale has been told, laughs shared and hearts won over thanks to

a well written song. From an hour long symphony to a three minute

pop hit, all music tends to have the same basic parts- a melody (The

tune of a song), a harmony (Notes that sound good with the melody

notes) and a bass line (Bottom notes to create the feel and pulse of the

song). There are other elements, including percussion (Drums) and

lyrics that can augment these parts, and you can slightly change the

order in which you write them, but these make up most of what we

listen to. Below I will outline two of the more popular patterns for

writing music: the Melody-first approach, and the Bass-first approach.

The Melody-first approach starts from the top down, with a tune. The

tune can be anything you want it to be. If you have lyrics, however, it

may be best to write those first, and then come up with a melody to fit

the lyrics, as opposed to trying to fit lyrics to the melody. You can also

write the lyrics with the melody, if you prefer. Just whistle or sing to

yourself, and sooner or later a fine melody will come to you. Write this

down, in whatever form makes sense to you, either on sheet music or

something else. Then, you can use a piano, guitar or other singer to

figure out what sounds good when the melody is playing. This is the

harmony, of two or more notes occurring at the same time. Write this

down too. If you are talented with the guitar or piano, part of your

harmony may be figuring out which chords sound good with your

melody. If not, don't worry, you can do it just by listening to what

sounds the best. Finally, find your bass line. These are typically the

lowest notes, when played with the melody and harmony. More notes

in your bass line creates a faster, more energetic feeling, while fewer,

longer notes create a slower, more relaxed feeling. Again, always go

with what sounds good. Write this down with the other two, and voilà!

You have a song!

The Bass-first approach works in reverse. This is all about

finding a groove, or a pulse or rhythm that pushes the song along.

Percussion can be very helpful in this. If you have someone who can

play them show you what they can do, you may want to add them to

your song. Find a groove you can pulse along in, then find a melody

that sounds good over top of this bass line. From there, it works like

the Melody- first approach, with finding a harmony and chords to go

with the melody.

After this, you are a composer! You write music! Now that

you've written a song, find some friends if you need to, and play it!

They will most likely be impressed that you can write songs, so don't

be bashful about getting it out of your head and off the paper. You will

just get better with practice, so do it again! A chat with a music student

or teacher can teach you the elements of music, and how it is written

on paper, so even more people can appreciate and play your music.

This whole process may seem difficult, or feel hard to get going, but

don't give up! The process is highly rewarding, both for yourself and

for us who get to listen. Most importantly, have fun, and that will

make your music all the better.

Follow the Malone Music Department @MaloneCSDMUSIC or the FA Bands @FAHSBand

run by secretary, Lauren Reynolds on Twitter

10 facts about Frederic Chopin - Donovan Connolly

1-Chopin was a Child Pianist Prodigy and started and wrote music at a young age

2-Chopin had many young loves but none lasted unlike his relation with George

Sand

3-George Sand was a false name, her real name was Amantine-Lucile-Aurore

Dupin, and she sang with Chopin Music.

4-During Chopin’s time with Sand, he produced many pieces such as B minor

sonata and Opus 55 nocturnes

5-Chopin’s relationship with George Sand ended in 1848, breaking Chopin’s spirit

and health

6-Chopin never really got time to ever relax and recover and ran himself ragged

7-Chopin died young at the age of 38 from tuberculosis

8-Chopin had met other composers such as Vincenzo Bellini and Felix Mendelssohn

9-Chopin’s music never really attracted big crowds until after he passed away

10-Chopin was buried at Père Lachaise cemetery, but his heart was interred at a

church in Warsaw, near the place of his birth

FA band website -

Cassandra Patterson - Interesting facts

about woodwind instruments -The clarinet was invented and developed in about 1700. -Each register on the clarinet's range has its own name, in order from lowest register to highest they are; the Chalumeau register (The Lowest E - Middle A), the Clarion register (Middle B - the Highest C), and the Altissimo register (Everything above the Highest C). -The clarinet is descended from a French instrument called the Chalumeau. -A person who plays the flute can be referred to as a flute player, a flautist, a flutist, or a fluter, all are correct terms. -Leonardo da Vinci, George Washington and James Madison played the flute. -Though history flutes have been made out of, bone, wood, glass, ivory, plastic, resin, brass, nickel silver, silver, gold and platinum. -The word oboe comes from a French word meaning high, or loud, wood; Hautbois. -The saxophone was made in about 1840 by a Belgian instrument maker, who also made the bass clarinet before that.

Fun Facts About Brass Instruments – Rinn Schanck

1. The trumpet has been around since 1,500

BC. There is even artwork by civilizations dating

back to 300BC that showcase the trumpet.

2. Brass instruments are also called aerophones

because of the way air moves through them to

create sound.

3. Egyptians had made a trumpet out of bronze

and silver for military use.

4. The trombone has 9 feet of cylindrical tubing.

5. A French horn when uncoiled is 12 feet long.

Crossword by Dylan O’Connor

Performing Music outside of FA – Emily Benware

Franklin Academy has many programs and activities for music. We have the F.A Players’ musical, Swinging Sounds, Wind Ensemble, Chorus, and even a Tri-M Music Honor Society. A good amount of non-musical people in our school know at least some of these. But do they know about the music programs that happen outside Malone? Programs like Area All-State, NYSSMA, or NYSBDA? These are for very dedicated music students who love to branch out and do as many things as they can to continue to have music in their lives. I have been lucky enough to participate in all three of these. Area All-State is an event for high school music students both in chorus and band. It happens every year in the fall, usually in November. Students from Franklin County and other counties near us apply or audition to be accepted into the chorus or band, and are selected carefully to participate. I have gone to Area All-State four times now. I participate in the band there, and we have so much fun. Once the list of accepted students is sent out, the person chosen to conduct the band also sends out the music he selected so we can start practicing. On the first day of rehearsal, which is always a Friday, we travel to whichever high school has been chosen to host the festival and meet our band-mates and conductor for the very first time. There, we practice all day for two days on the music given to us, and perform a concert that Saturday. It always amazes me how much fun we have during that short time and how great we sound together as a result of just two days together. The concert is always a hit and we all have fun performing. It's a wonderful experience. NYSSMA is an acronym that stands for “New York State School Music Association.” This is a festival for music students in the North Country who choose solos, duets, trios, or quartets to perform in front of a selected judge to be critiqued on. The festival happens in early May, and is a bit different from Area All-State. Where students are selected to participate in that, NYSSMA is for any music student who wishes to perform. This year will be my sixth time performing in this festival. The process for this is to choose a piece to do at a certain level, register, practice extremely hard, and travel to the location chosen to perform in front of an experienced musical judge. For example, I will choose a solo I want to perform on my instrument and register a few months before so I am scheduled a time to perform. From then until May, I will rehearse the piece over and over with a piano accompaniment until I have almost perfected it (I'm a perfectionist when it comes to music) and then go on the selected day to be judged. When I play the piece, it is in a room with just the judge and I, and I perform different scales while having to play the solo. Afterwards, I wait in the lobby or gym for my score that the judge will give me based on how he thought I performed my solo. The higher levels are graded out of one hundred, and the lower are graded out of twenty-eight. The score helps me to improve on my musical performance overall with the advice the judge will give me after hearing my piece. This really helps with a student’s musical ability. Finally, NYSBDA is another acronym. It stands for “New York State Band Directors Association” which happens in March each year, usually in Syracuse. This March was my very first time performing in this band, and I will say it was the best musical experience I've ever had. It is very much like Area All-State where the students apply and are selected to participate, but NYSBDA is so much harder to get into since it includes the whole state of New York, and the festival is longer, lasting until Sunday. The music is much harder than Area All-State and we practice even more. The Symposium started on a Friday morning, where every student had to travel to the Holiday Inn in Liverpool. For myself and the other two students chosen from Franklin Academy, we had a three and a half hour ride. Once we arrived, we brought our luggage into a practice room and got ready for rehearsal. Our conductor was so amazing and such a wonderful person, we had so much fun getting to experience this. We had to audition in each section for the seating, and once that was all done, we started rehearsals. We ended up rehearsing for about thirteen hours in the span of two days. It was a very long weekend, but it was so worth it. We even got to perform a world premier piece written for us by a well-known composer. The better part was that the composer, Joel Puckett, actually came to the Symposium himself and conducted us on his own piece. I think we sounded unbelievable and it was the best band I have ever been a part of. The incredible talent there makes the concert truly amazing. It is definitely an experience worth having if you ever get a chance. The people who are total strangers in the beginning become close friends and the unique, one-of-a-kind sound and musical chemistry we had is something no band could possibly replicate.

How to Conduct a Band (and Not Completely Fail at it) Jamie Woodworth

So, you want to learn how to lead a bunch of nerds with instruments through a song? Maybe it’s because you are stuck as a substitute teacher, or possibly have been “honored” with the opportunity to be a guest conductor. Whatever excuse you have to get behind the wheel of these band geeks, the

important thing is to look like you know what you’re doing in order not to make a complete fool of yourself. First thing’s first, keeping time. One of the main purposes of a conductor is to control the tempo of music, speeding up or slowing down like a merciless time-distorting deity. The most common

time signature is 4/4, which is four beats per measure (and the quarter note getting the beat, but that really isn’t important right now). Your hand

and/or baton should move smoothly in the order of “down”, “left”, “right”, “up”, and just repeat. Just one movement per beat; simple right? The

quicker your movements, the faster you can force your band-sheep to play. “But what if the song only has two or three beats for measure?” I’m glad

you asked ignorant reader! Just adjust the movements! The rule of thumb is that the “down” movement signifies the first beat of each measure. If the time is 3/4 then just remove the “up” motion, and if it’s more than 4/4, just

add a couple more bumps during the” left” and/or “right” moves! Next is controlling the volume of their sound. Dynamics are an important part of any piece, and really add that hot and spicy touch of pizzazz you’ve been thirsting for! When you want to make your musically-abled puppets get

louder and more obnoxious, then use your body to make yourself bigger! Spread out your hands, stand up straight, and make a very overdramatic expression in your facial features. They’ll be so intimidated by this that

they’ll want to impress you by playing loudly! If the musicians are playing so terribly that you want them to barely be heard, just reverse the actions and make yourself smaller by crouching down and tucking your limbs up against

your body. These strategies may help you recover some of the dignity that you lost in

getting on the podium in the first place and help you not be totally incompetent in conducting a band.

Scan this to listen to the Malone Band Concerts online!!

The History of the Snare Drum by Joseph Tracy

The history of the snare drum can be traced all the way back to the 1300’s. The first drum went by the name of the Tabor. This was a double headed drum with a single snare strand, compared to the usual 20 of the modern snare. These drums were often accompanied by three holed flutes, mainly being played simultaneously.

For it originally being played concomitant with such a charming instrument, the snare drum was used on the battlefield for a majority of its history. It was used by the Ottoman and Swiss military’s to communicate movement’s, signals, etc. This drum was significantly different from the original Tabor, being much deeper and having more snare strands across the resonant head. It was also worn on the right shoulder, being secured by a strap. This drum became known as a field drum, instead of the previous snare drum.

During the 1500’s, the drum was taken in by the English. They changed the way the heads were tightened, moving the tightening ropes to a W or Y pattern across the shell. They had their own name for their drum, called a drume or drome. Obviously, this name is very similar to the current term, which was taken from the English name. Then, in the 1600’s, the English created another tensioning system. This tension system is exactly the same as they use today, with tension rods screwed into lugs on the shell, attaching the rim of the drum to the shell. The head was now more securely attached to the shell, eliminating the old rattle of the resonant head and the bottom of the shell. The sound produced now was a snappier crack, more like todays marching snares.

By the time of the Industrial Revolution in England, drum shells were no longer being made exclusively from wood. They could now be made from brass, much shallower, creating a higher pitched sound, preferred by many orchestral and symphonic bands. The snare drum had now turned full circle, starting as a musical instrument, to a tool used on the battlefield, and back to a musical use.

10 Fun Facts About The Lion King Play!! Kaylea Paquin and Abby Gratton

1) This play has been seen by over 70 million people worldwide. 2) More than 232 different types of puppets. 3) There are 25 species of animals, birds, fish, and insects represented in the show. 4) It took 37,000 hours to build the puppets and masks. 5) It took 750 pounds of silicon to make all the masks. 6) 60 pounds of grass was used in the grassland headdresses. 7) There are 106 ants on the 'Ant-Hill Lady'. 8) The largest animal is an elephant: 13 feet long, 11'3" high and 9 feet wide at the ears. It collapses to 34 inches to go down the theater aisle. 9) It takes 114 people to prepare for each performance. 10) In the show the phrase "Hakuna Matata" is said 25 times during the performance.

What I like about the flute by Mackenzie Reid

The flute is a very unique instrument that can make many different sounds. It has approximately a 3 octave range. The flute can have different tones, yellow and purple, depending on the amount of air and the angle at which it is blown. A yellow tone is somewhat hollow sounding and a purple tone is more deep and rich sounding. There are also different types of flutes other than the C Flute. There is the Piccolo, Alto Flute, and Bass Flute. I like the size of the flute and its case because it can easily be carried and brought with you on a bus or place with no room for large cases. I also really like that it does not have a reed because they need to be replaced quite often. With no reed I don't need to worry about buying a new one after I have been sick or having one break before a concert. Flutes are usually fixed quite easily because they are not exotic instruments that require a specialist who may be difficult to find.

By Josh Bordeaux and Ben Walley

Maura Maguire wants you to know… It’s Not an Oboe, It’s a Bassoon!

Although the bassoon resides in the double-reed family

with the oboe; it is in fact not an oboe. The bassoon evolved from the dulcian and the racket, and has been played since the mid-1600’s. The bassoon is a versatile and mellow sounding instrument that adds depth and breadth to an ensemble. The bassoon is a complex and rather large instrument. It is made up of four parts: the bell, the long joint, the wing joint, and the bocal. Without making the bassoon u-shaped it would be seven feet long, requiring you to stand on a stool to play! At the end of the bocal (the curve that extends from the bassoon) is the double-reed. Clarinets and saxophones use a single reed, which is a flat, thin piece of wood shaped to fit the instrument. The reeds vibrate creating a distinct sound. The bassoon has two of these wired together. Only the oboe and the bassoon have double-reeds. Enough of the boring anatomy of the bassoon, the sound is what makes it unique. The bassoon is often called the joker of the band. It can easily play bouncy staccatos (short notes) that remind you of quacking ducks or the circus. One of the more famous bassoon pieces is The Sorcerer’s Apprentice by Paul Dukas. But it can also be lyrical, extending far into high and low ranges! The bassoon can reach (with some special fingerings) almost four octaves and the contrabassoon can honk out low A-flats, which is a half-step below an 88 key piano. The low notes on the bassoon are rich and full, while the highest are sweet and sometimes nasally. An ensemble or orchestra is not complete without a bassoon. A few fun facts about the bassoon: 1. It is the only wind instrument that uses all ten fingers. 2. It is all thumbs- 10 keys for the left thumb and 5 for the right! 3. Bassoonists make their own reeds, and we throw away almost half (because many just don’t sound right). 4. The bassoon is the most expensive wood instrument; a low end one costs about $7000. 5. The bassoon is a unique and complex instrument with a long history. Its mellow sound graces orchestras and ensembles

around the world, yet it is one of the rarest instruments. It is important to the sound of the band! So spread the word, a bassoon is not an oboe. Photos – Bassoon (left) Oboe (center) Double Reed (right)

The Didgeridoo by Matt Thompson

The Didgeridoo is an Australian wind instrument played with similar face movements such as that of a brass instrument, the pitch and tone are controlled with only face movements. It is a very hard instrument to play as a player must breathe out through the mouth at the same time breathing in through the nose, resulting in unlimited play time because they never have to stop to breath. The instrument itself is a long wooden tube anywhere from 1-3 Meters in length, they can also have a slight curve in the wood so that it results in a conical shape. But a longer instrument results in a lower pitch.

Didgeridoos are usually covered in drawings and/or symbols and are intricately painted, much like cave paintings. There is also a layer of wax on the side that the player is on to provide a better seal. While they are usually made from hardwood; PVC plumbing pipe can be made to make a good instrument.

The Franklin Academy Music Department will be taking our

Performance Tour to BOSTON!! We will spend 3 nights and 4

days in Boston playing in a masterclass, musical performances,

seeing a musical, touring Salem, checking out the Aquarium,

spending time in Quincy Market and much more! Ask about

our stories after the Memorial Day weekend!!!

Interview by Makayla Willett, Lauren Reynolds, Zac Stickney

Q. What is your name, and what do you teach?

A. I’m Rebecca Fiske and I am an English teacher at FA.

Q. What instruments did you play?

A. In school I played the flute. I took piano lesson outside of school.

Q. Where did you go to school? A. I went to Ilion high in New York right outside of Utica.

Q. What grade did you learn to play your instrument? A. I started playing piano in 3rd and flute in 5th.

Q. Were you in any music related clubs or groups?

A. Yes, in my church I was in the bell choir. I was in the chorus. And in 5th I was the founding member of the Barringer road elementary opera club. Every Friday we would watch videos of operas. We had 20 kids who came

every Friday. We would go see an opera every year. Carmen was my favorite Opera.

Q. When did you stop playing your instrument?

A. I stopped takin piano lessons in 7th and I played flute throughout high

school. I wish I still kept up with piano, it is something my kids would enjoy.

Q. If you could have played any other instruments, what would they

have been?

A. I don’t think I would play any other instruments, I just wish I was a decent singer.

Q. Do you think you could still play?

A. Not flute. I could probably like, no I still can’t play piano. I can still read music. But I don’t think I could play anything decent. I am jealous of my

husband he can still play piano, organ and guitar. Which my kids like a lot.

Q. How did music impact your life? A. I think that in high school immediately I learned responsibility and the skills, and today I want my kids to have that same opportunity.

Q. Are you going to want your kids to play any instruments when they

are older?

A. Yes. We are looking to get a piano for our kids now.

History of the Dulcimer - Michael Frank There are quite a few types of Dulcimers, however the main two are the

Hammered and Mountain. The Hammered dulcimer far predates the Mountain

dulcimer as its origins can be traced back to Biblical times and references to the

dulcimer are even made in the Bible itself. Evidence shows that the first ancestral

forms of the Hammered Dulcimer came from the near east such as the Greek

psalterion instrument. Today the Dulcimer is known as santouri in Greece and santur

in india. The word Dulcimer itself is derived from the Greek and Latin words dulce

and melos wich have a combined meaning of "sweet tune". Both the Mountain and

Hammered Dulcimers are comprised of strings stretched across a neckless soundbox,

however the somewhat obvious difference is that like a piano, the strings of a

hammered dulcimer are hand struck with small wooden "hammers", and the

mountain dulcimer is plucked like a guitar or banjo. The mountain dulcimer has

many names like "Appalachian dulcimer", "lap dulcimer", or "Kentucky dulcimer".

In some regions the word dulcimer itself has several variants including "delcumer",

"dulcymore", and less related names like "harmonium", "hog fiddle", "music box",

and "harmony box". The mountain dulcimer's traditional home is the southern

Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States and is comprised of a narrow

fingerboard with a larger soundbox attached underneath. However most of the actual

history of the instrument was unknown and left largely to speculation until recently

when Ralph Lee Smith and L. Allen Smith were able to analyze older documents and

reconstruct its history. They divided the history of the "mountain" dulcimer into

three major periods, the "transitional (1700 to mid-1800's)", the "pre-revival or

traditional (mid-1800's to 1940), and finally the "revival or contemporary (after

1940)". The instrument's development took place during the "transitional" period in

the "Shenandoah River Valley region of southwestern Pennsylvania and western

Virginia" and was a mix of many musical traditions including British

"(predominantly Ulster Scots and lowland Scots)" as well as a combination of many

instruments including the sheitholt of Germany, along with possibly the Swedish

hummel, the langeleik of Norway, and the French epinettes des vosges.

Phots – Hammered Dulcimer (left) Mountain Dulcimer (right)

This year was exciting for three band students! Will Bronner, Emily Benware, and Maura Maguire were selected to perform at

the New York State Band Director’s Association Honor Band! Their performance was in March in Liverpool, NY! Way to go!!

Across: 1. A note that takes up half of one beat 2. A very large brass instrument that plays very low 3. An instrument that uses black and white keys to make sounds 4. Something used by conductors or twirlers in front of bands 5. Something put on by a band to the audience Down: 1. A curved woodwind instrument that is usually made of brass or silver 2. A loud brass instrument typically in a marching band 3. A straight usually black woodwind instrument with holes for fingers 4. A skinny meal instrument that is very high pitches 5. A brass instrument played by moving a slide back and forth By Hunter Ansari and Tyler Langdon

Do you know the band teachers?

Ms. Jarvis ~ Mr. Soper ~ Mrs. Vanier

10 facts about the Clarinet

Meghan O’Connor and Alexa Prue 1. The clarinet is also known as the "little trumpet". 2. It is made out of wood from the Mpingo or African Blackwood

Tree. 3. Mozart was the first famous composer who wrote music for

the clarinet. 4. It developed from the Renaissance instrument known as the

chalumeau, which was used often in Egypt. 5. The clarinet is a single reeded instrument and has a very dark

and hollow sound. 6. The clarinet was invented by a German inventor Johann

Christoph Denner. 7. Anton Stadler was the first to achieve fame for playing the

clarinet. 8. The most popular clarinet solo is the one in George

Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. 9. The smaller clarinet is less than 1 foot long and is in A flat. 10. The traditional clarinet has 7 holes on the front, and one on

the back where the left left thumb goes.

Instruments not normally seen in school by Mikeala Nugent

The valve trombone is not normally seen in a school band and is in the brass section. Another instrument is the contra bass saxophone which is at least 6 feet and very difficult to play!

The soprano sax is one of the highest saxophones know but is the smallest saxophone known to man. The aulos aulochrome

is two soprano Saxes fused together and looks like two clarinets fused together but is brass. There are many more

instruments that are not normally in school bands and these are a select few.

This year the Franklin Academy Music Department started

the first chapter of Tri-M Honor Music Society. Tri-M stands for

Modern Music Masters and is a world-wide society for students

who excel in music and demonstrate outstanding character!

Congratulations to the members of Chapter #7045!!!

Do you know which instruments are woodwinds, brass, or percussion? Try to put these instruments in one of those three cateoriges – flute, trumpet, tuba, xylophone, saxophone, tambourine, piccolo, bass trombone, oboe, French

horn, snare drum, English horn. How did you do??

Interview about being a chorus member Natalie Findlay and Shania Dollinger

NF: What do you do to warm up your voice? SD: "We do short, singing exercises and gradually make our voices higher

or lower depending on the warm up." NF: How does an average day on class play out? SD: "We chose a song to work on perfecting, section by section, working

on the different parts of the song until it sounds good enough to put

together." NF: Why do you love/like chorus? SD: "I like chorus because I like to sing with a group of people, but we

also get a chance to sing by ourselves." NF: What is your favorite song to sing in chorus? SD: "From the songs we are currently singing, it's a tie between

Tshotsholoza and Shenandoah. Tshotsholoza is a fun, African song.

Shenandoah is a soft, beautiful song about missing living near the

Shenandoah river." NF: Are you thinking about making a career with singing? SD: "I don't think I will. I like to sing just for fun." NF: Is it easy to perform? Do you have stage fright? SD: "It depends on how I am performing. I can with others no problem,

but I get a little nervous when I perform on my own." NF: Why did you choose to do chorus? SD: "I first chose chorus in fourth grade because I heard that you can sing

and possibly get the chance to sing alone. It really interested me." NF: Do you have to sing in groups? Alone? SD: "We usually sing in one big group. We don't have to sing alone, but

there are solos offered. If you want to sing alone, you have to try out." NF: How does the sheet music differ from band sheet music? SD: "In band, sheet music only has one part depending on the instrument

and song. Chorus sheet music tends to have five to six parts. The five

parts are piano, soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Sometimes the individual

parts will sing different parts, adding more parts depending on the song." NF: How do you perform at singing events, such as all-county? SD: "At singing events like all-county, we usually do the same as we do in

chorus. We just might use different warm ups or singing techniques."

History of Percussion Instruments

Paul Tighe and Alex Premo

The history of percussion instruments go back

thousands of years to around 6000 B.C., and it is believed

that percussion instruments were the first musical

instruments ever invented. Ancient Africans used drums as a

form of communication, to send signals. When drums were

first invented, they were made out of natural materials such

as animal hides. Since drum sticks were not around then,

people would simply use their hands. From there onward

drums have evolved by the people and cultures that made

them and the styles of music they were designed to play.

Today, advancements are still being made in what was once

a very simple instrument.

During the Middle Ages, percussion mostly consisted

of jingles, long drums, side drums, and timpani. Many of

today’s modern instruments can be traced back to this era as

well. By the time of the Renaissance, percussion consisted of

tabors, timbrels, long drums, jingle bells, snare, and monk

bells. Many of the percussion instruments were the same as

the Middle Ages, but over time they became highly

improved. During this time, people came up with new ways

to use the drums, and for the first time drums were used in

the military and during battles. During The Classical Period,

percussion consisted of the kettle drum, snare, vibraphone,

the gong, the whip, the triangle, the marimba, and the

tambourine. During this time the cymbals and brass

instruments were invented to add more “excitement” to the

band. Up until the Twentieth Century/ Modern era where

bands with a drummer only needed to have one drummer

instead of four or more and technological advances led to

new styles of music such as techno, rap, pop, etc. The use of

recording studios also made it easier and faster to distribute

to the public.

What year do you think the saxophone was invented?

A. 1743 B. 1628 B. 1891 D. 1846

What Musical is This? By Madeleine Champagne

Across

4. There are 'revolting children' who sing 'revolting songs'

10. Grizabella and Macavity both sing important solos, hope

12. There is a Singing Candelabra and a Grumpy Grandfather Clock.

15. 'All of the waiting...and the waiting...and waiting' but she knows 'It's

Today' and Duloc will never be the same again.

17. There is an 'easy street' but it is a 'hard knock life for

18. When unsure who your father is, invite all possibilities

19. 'Dolly won't ever go away again'

20. The main characters are all looking for something; a heart, courage, a

brain, and ruby red slippers.

Down

1. 'It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship, when other friendships

have been forget...ours will still be

2. 'Tradition...Tradition...Tradition'...In Russia, with

3. Remember a 'Secretary is Not a Toy' and there is a 'Brotherhood of

Man'(only part of the title)

5. 'Under the Sea' is where there is a 'hot crustacean band' and a large

collection of Thing a Ma Bobs and

6. 'Getting to Know You' is a great way to teach a king

7. Venture into 'the darkness of night' and find a

8. One wishes for a 'castle on a cloud', one wishes for a better life, one

wishes for returned love, one wishes for political freedom, and one's prison

number is

9. 'You ain't never had a friend like me'11. 'Pink Ladies' and Greasers' are the

main characters in this musical.

13. 'Look beyond what you see' to find 'Pride Rock'

14. Dancing isn't 'black and white' and sometimes 'the richer the chocolate

the sweeter the taste'.

16. When true love argues and where 'Angels' 'Cover you' and you have to

'Take me or Leave me'.

All-State Experience by Sophie Child Conference All State was an experience of a lifetime. Not only was the

music incredible, but I met some pretty amazing people. My conductor, Dr. Joe Miller of Westmister, was so inspirational, and had an incredible way of explaining things. He made us use our bodies to express ourselves. He not only focused on the music on the page, but also the emotions the music conveyed. On Saturday, about five hours into our nine hours of rehearsal, we talked about a happy place, and what that meant to different people. We sang some truly beautiful music, two pieces written by one of Dr. Miller's students, Daniel

Elder. I also made several friends, people who were just like me. It was amazing to be surrounded by such talented people who

understood me. This truly was an experience that I will never forget.

Did you know that there are two bands at FA? Symphonic Band is made up of 33 9th and 10th graders

Wind Ensemble is made up of 42 10th-12th graders

Sara Beck reflects on performing Performing on a stage

Performing on a stage may be difficult for some people because they have stage fright but once you get accustomed to performing on a stage it can be as easy as riding a bike. When you start performing on stage it might help to perform in a group first to get all the jitters out. Also it would help if the group contained your friends and people who have performed on stage before so you can all help each other and support one another.

Performing in a Group Performing in a group is not as bad as some people might think it is. There are multiple people that will be there to support you and that you can fall back on. Also performing in a group is a good way to make new friends and hang out with old ones. When you start to perform start with something simple and fun like the Franklin Academy Talent Show doing that with friends will create a confidence in yourself and create a performer at the same time. It is not so bad it preform in a group especially when you are having fun with friends.

Preforming a Solo Preforming a solo is for the more advanced performers but if you don’t have stage fright then you should try it. Preforming a solo is a little bit more nerve racking and stressful because you are the only person on the stage during that one time. Also if you mess up you have no one to fall back on it is all you. Before doing a solo you should practice a lot and make sure you have the piece or act memorized to a crisp. Performing a solo is one of the most difficult performances a person can do. If you would like to start to preform just have fun with it and relax it is not as difficult as some people say it is. Try out for school musicals, do the FA talent show or join chorus or band they will make you better performers. Try new things like performing and you might really like it but you will never know until you try.

Tom Shafer - The History of the Saxophone The saxotromba was is a valved brass wind instrument. It was invented by Adolphe Sax the inventor of the saxophone. He also invented the saxhorn which is quite similar to the saxotromba. The saxotromba family is composed of the E flat soprano, B flat contralto, flat alto tenor, B flat baritone and the E flat bass. The music for the saxotromba is written in the treble cleft. The name saxotromba comes from the Italian word for trumpet tromba and Adolphe Sax's last name.

The saxotromba is now an obsolete instrument. Only six saxotrombas produced by Adolphe Sax remain today. It was invented in 1845 and was used by mounted French military bands as a substitute for french horns. The French military stopped using it in 1867. However the saxotromba was produced into the early twentieth century. The saxotromba was occasionally used in opera houses in the pit and on stage. The saxotromba is very similar to the saxhorn which was used by many American civil war bands. The saxotromba is a very strange instrument with limited practical use.

Chandler Rivers and Will Perigo

This is the Contrabass Saxophone. It is tuned one octave below the Bari Sax. It sounds like a Tuba and a Saxophone met.

This is a Slide Trumpet, sometimes referred to as the Soprano Trombone. It is basically a trumpet with a slide.

This is our all country conductor, Dr. Robert Bridge. He is the Drum Line conductor for Syracuse University. He also teaches at Onondaga Community College

This is called a podium the conductor uses this to see better. In our band when Ms. Jarvis stands on this we stop talking, look at her, and get ready to play.

This is what we call a baton. The director of the band will use this to keep time while the band is playing. The part that you grab with your hand is usually made out of wood. You can have your hand measured so that your baton will be custom made to fit your hand.

Puzzle by Tyler Gadway, Nicole Humphries, and Jordyn Conklin

Across

7. A small drum consisting of a circular frame with a skin stretched

over it and several pairs of metal jingles attached to the frame

8. Musical group composed of different instruments

9. A valved wind instrument of the trumpet family

10. Person who directs an orchestra or chorus

Down

1. Woodwind instrument made of wood

2. Device that makes clicking sounds at an adjustable pace

3. Horn Brass instrument with long, coiled tubing

4. Woodwind instrument having a slender conical, tubular body and a

double­reed mouthpiece

5. Device of various shapes and materials for muffling the tone of an

instrument

6. A small double­headed drum, placed on a stationary stand, produce

a rattling effect

8. Wand used by a conductor

The Music Department collected over 11,000 cans and bottles at

our bottle drive! Thank you for your support and donations!!

Word Bank: Baritone, Clarinet, Flutes, Miss.Jarvis, Oboe, Saxophone,

Symphonic Band, Trombone, Trumpets, Tuba, Woodwind

Puzzle by Kamden Spicer

Trombone Fun Facts – Will Bronner History -The first documented mention of a trombone occurred in 1488, making it at least 527 years old today! -It is the ancestor of an instrument called the Sackbut. -Trombones must resemble trumpets, because trombone means “large trumpet” in Italian! -If you’ve watched Charlie Brown, you’ll have heard the voice of the teacher, or someone on the phone. That noise was made with a trombone and the business end of a toilet plunger, hopefully clean! Design and Function -The trombone is one of the only brass instrument to exclusively use a slide to change pitch. -It is meant to be played on an instrumentalists left side, meaning the right hand moves the slide. It’s a lefties worst nightmare. -Its range is the closest of any brass to that of a humans vocal chords. -Many famous composers have referred to trombones as “The Voice of God” for that reason. “Voice of God?” -The range of a trombone is closest to that of human vocal chords. -Also, the trombone is basically a massive tuning slide, able to become in tune at the instrumentalists will. -For these reasons, many famous composers refer to it as “The Voice of God”. -Composer Felix Mendelssohn states, “The trombone is too sacred for frequent use.” Indeed, patience is a virtue to trombonists. Famous Opinions -Many people have mixed emotions over trombones, one of the potentially loudest brass instruments available. -Mark Twains stated, “If it please your neighbor to break the sacred calm of night with the snorting of an unholy trombone, it is your duty to put up with his wretched music and your privilege to pity him for the unhappy instinct that moves him to delight in such discordant sounds.” -“...Don’t look at the trombones it only encourages them....” A reference to their volume, this famous quote has been attributed to both Richard Wagner and Richard Strauss, no one knows who.

A Tour of the Band Room by Erin McDonald, Brenna Hudson, and Taylor Gadway

Band lockers are an important part of a

high school musicians’ life. This is the home to their instrument

and where the instruments are stored. Without the lockers the entire school would be filled with French horns and tubas everywhere!

The percussion! A percussionist has the most variety of sounds. They have

the drums, xylophone, drums,

bells, and many more instruments!

The famous band MVP board!

Every concert we vote on a most valuable section for each piece and three most valuable players. If you are hardworking

maybe you can get on the famous board.

In this picture Maura Maguire is playing the piano! A piano has 88 keys that all make a

unique sound.

This board is not as famous as the MVP board but it’s still very important. This board has all the information for lessons! Lessons are important for a musician because they keep

their skills in shape!

Upcoming Concerts

Wednesday, April 29th – Symphonic Band at 7:00 PM at FA

Wednesday, May 20th – Wind Ensemble, senior recognition, and

awards night at 7:00 PM at FA

Thursday, May 21st – Symphonic Jazz Band and FA Jazz Ensemble at

7:00 PM at FA

Want to learn more about the Malone Music Boosters? Join us at our

next meeting – Monday, May 11th at 5:00 PM in the FA band room!

Ten Fun Flute Facts - Mina Fakir -There are different names for a person who plays the flute. They are: flute player, flautist, flutist, and fluter.

-There are different kinds of flute: piccolo, alto flute, tenor, flute, bass flute, and contrabass flute. -The standard pitch of a concert flute is in the key of C.

-The alto flute is pitched in the key of G. -Flutes can be made out of the following: bone, wood, glass, ivory, plastic, resin, brass, nickel

silver, silver, gold, and platinum. -Theobald Boehm is credited for creating the modern day flute.

-Some famous historical figures played the flute. Some people were George Washington, James

Madison, and Leonardo da Vinci (Can you imagine.. George Washington playing the flute? I can’t!) -Flutes are one of the earliest instruments to be created. It was almost 35,000 years ago when

the flute first made an appearance. (Wow is an old instrument!) -Many cultures have their own variation of a flute. For example, the Japanese have a traditional

flute in the Shakuhachi culture. -The earliest recorded use of the word “flute” was in the fourteenth century.

Anna Zheng – Pop Music Is there a formula for a popular Pop song? The winners of this year’s Grammys seemed not a surprise, and every year people wonder, or joke if there is some formula for writing the perfect pop song. Over the years, there were a lot of research about this notion. One researcher is Paul Lamere, a software developer and Director of Developer Platform for The Echo Nest, a music intelligence company located in Somerville Massachusetts. Paul created a software on his web site Music Machinery. With the software, he scanned a variety of popular hits in the music industry and found surprising similarities between them. The software, the Infinite Jukebox, produces plots of songs and it connects similar beats with arcs. He called these plots, cantograms. On his website, he shows an example of a labeled cantogram of Adele’s Rolling in the Deep. Paul writes,

“One thing that’s interesting is that most of the beat similarity connections occur between the beats in the three instances of the chorus. This certainly makes intuitive sense. The verses have different lyrics, so for the most part they won’t be too similar to each other, but the choruses have the same lyrics, the same harmony, and the same instrumentation.”

Adele’s Rolling in the Deep (Above)

The colors in the ring represents the beats from the beginning of the song to the end. Paul then compares it to another popular hit, Kesha’s Tick Tock, and notes that both songs had long intro+ first verses and almost identical three choruses.

Kesha’s Tick Tock (Above) To prove that many of the pop songs were similar, Paul showed more plots:

Lady Gaga- Paparazzi (Left)

Justin Bieber- Baby (Above Left) Taylor Swift- Fearless (Above Right) shows two verses before the chorus, but regardless to that the pattern follows.

To compare and contrast, Paul ran through some songs that weren’t radio pop. The first one he showed was Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, and you can clearly see the difference. The song doesn’t show repeating choruses or “global song repetition”. The repetition in the long arcs are the during the guitar solo in the last quarter of the song.

Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven (Above) Here is an example of an electronica song by Deadmau5’s Raise your weapon. (Left)

“Dave Brubeck’s Take Five (Left) has a very different pattern, with lots of short term repetition during the first half of the song, while during the second half with Joe Morello’s drum solo there’s a very different pattern.” In the classical perspective, Yo-Yo Ma’s performance of the Cello suite No. 1. Wise Words from the Creator of the Software: “ Looking at the pop plots one begins to understand that pop music really could be made in a factory. Each song is cut from the same mold.”

Citations: http://musicmachinery.com/

Check out an interview with Rinn Schanck by Patrick Bilow, Ian Mahoney, and Charlie O’Connor

Music for Cats – Anna Zheng

Dr. Charles Snowdon, a psychologist of University of Wisconsin-Madison is creating music for cats. And according to him: "Cats are not humans and humans are not cats and it is important that we humans, as the servants of cats, be aware of this difference." ‘“We were motivated to make music for cats for two reasons," he told The Huffington Post in an email. "First, many pet owners told us that they play radio music for their pets while they are at work and we wondered if this had any value. Second, we have developed a theory that suggests that species other than humans can enjoy music but that the music has to be in the frequency range that the species uses to communicate and with tempos that they would normally use." ’For creating music for the cats he and his colleagues tried to mimic the natural sounds of a cat and slurring high pitched notes, since cats are a few octaves higher than human voices. In the experiment, they used 47 male and female cats and played "Cozmo's Air" and "Rusty's Ballad," and to compare they played two human songs, Gabriel Fauré's "Elegie" and Johann Sebastian Bach's "Air on a G String." What they found when they played the cat music, was the cats’ attention was drawn towards it and they even rubbed up against the speakers.‘ "We interpret this as indicating that the cats showed a preference," Snowdon said in the email.’Snowdon’s research has been accepted in the journal of Applied Animal Behavioral Science.

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