Picking the right show music can make or break your show. It is very important to pick good music for several reasons. Here are a few suggestions to follow when choosing music for your indoor show.
1. Choose music with plenty of dynamics. Show music should have ups and
downs; layers of sound; and definitive sections like a beginning,
middle, and end. Music that is too repetitive or monotone is not only
boring to listen to, but it is also difficult to write to. Natural dips
and changes in the music lend itself well to drill movements and
choreography.
2. The length of a song should also be considered when choosing show music.
Be sure to check the timing guidelines for your class before finalizing
your music selection. A song that is significantly longer or shorter
than the allotted time will be difficult to cut. You can easily add on
about 30 seconds to most songs by looping an introduction or repeating a
single verse or chorus. However, cutting or adding on more than that
becomes repetitive or can lose the meaning of your song choice.
3. It is a good idea to double check that your song hasn't been used in
the past five years, at least. If you use the same music as another
group, your show might be compared to theirs. You don't want judges to
have a bad memory of the song you chose -- nor do you want to live up to
their high expectations of that song if that's the case.
4. Current Top 20 songs don't always make a good choice for two reasons: a)
other groups may have chosen the same music; and b) it may be too
overplayed on the radio and disliked by the time performances start.
5. Considering the tempo of a song is a very important part of choosing music! A tempo that is too fast will be hard to keep up with, but a tempo that is too slow will be difficult to clean and performers will tend to speed up. A tempo of about 120 (two beats per second) is a good speed to stick with. Practice doing comfortable drop spins with the song as a test when you're not sure.
6. Time signature is also important to consider. Counts in 3/4 time might be confusing to more inexperienced performers. Sometimes it is easier to find a song in 4/4 time with even, 16 count phrases. A song with a strong back beat will be easier for beginners to count, and easier for you to clean once the choreography has been filled in.
7. Finally, pick music that is pleasant to listen to. It should appeal to the
judges, the audience, the performers, and the staff because you'll be
listening to it for months! Make sure it's not a song you'll soon tire
of.
THANKS FOR READING! For more tips and fun stuff about the marching arts OR if you are interested in custom Winter Guard show design, drill, and choreography or Marching Band drill and Color Guard choreography, check out my website at marchandspin.com.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Sample Winter Guard Audition Schedule
It's that time of year again - winter guard auditions! There is a lot of information to get across; skills to go over; and decisions to be made at winter guard auditions - but not a lot of time. For a beginner guard or a new director, this can be an overwhelming process. Here is a sample schedule that will help you get through the process with a little less stress. Adjust the times as needed to best fit your group, depending on time allotted and amount of weapon you intend to have in your show.
1:00-1:15 - Start your auditions with a short, informational meeting. Let your group know your process and philosophy. Give a brief history of your guard's accomplishments. Introduce staff members and if you have time, have potential members state their name, experience, and what school/group they are from.
1:15-1:30 - Begin with a nice stretch and dance basics, including across the floors. This should be a condensed version of your typical warm-up.
1:30-1:50 - Learn a short dance routine that will be part of your audition process. You really only need about 32-64 counts. It should be to music and include styles of dance you intend to put in your show.
1:50-1:55 - Water break / transition to equipment.
1:55-2:15 - Now go through a simple flag block to touch on many basics and a variety of tosses. Again, this can be a shortened version of your typical flag warm-up. Take special notes on which potential members are particularly strong on tosses.
2:15-2:35 - Teach a short flag routine to music that will be part of your audition process. Only about 64 counts is necessary but be sure to include a variety of skills in your routine.
2:35-2:40- Water break / transition to equipment. Performers that are interested in spinning weapons should come out with rifles and/or sabres. Others that are not interested should remain on flag and go with another staff member to review the routine and basics.
2:40-3:00 - Go through a short rifle warm up block, including tosses. Basics will be difficult for many beginning spinners so don't focus too long on basics. Sometimes they can perform a routine better than doing fifty drop spins. You'll have more time in your season to strengthen basic skills if your group doesn't already have a good grip on them. Learn a short rifle routine, about 32 counts. Don't focus on basics in this routine. Instead, make it more about how well a perform can move with or control their equipment. Definitely include at least on toss.
3:00-3:20 - Repeat the weapon process on sabre.
3:20-3:30- Give everyone an open time to review in groups or on their own. Be available to answer questions, but also use this time to take notes and speak with other staff members about their thoughts.
3:30-3:55 - Finally, go through your official audition process. Call out a small group at a time to perform the dance routine, flag routine, and weapons routines (if they participated). Take notes during each performance.
3:55-4:00 - Make your final remarks and thank everyone for coming. Answer questions that anyone might have and let them know you will make the final decision with the full staff and contact each attendee that week.
Good luck!
THANKS FOR READING! For more tips and fun stuff about the marching arts OR if you are interested in custom Winter Guard show design, drill, and choreography or Marching Band drill and Color Guard choreography, check out my website at marchandspin.com.
1:00-1:15 - Start your auditions with a short, informational meeting. Let your group know your process and philosophy. Give a brief history of your guard's accomplishments. Introduce staff members and if you have time, have potential members state their name, experience, and what school/group they are from.
1:15-1:30 - Begin with a nice stretch and dance basics, including across the floors. This should be a condensed version of your typical warm-up.
1:30-1:50 - Learn a short dance routine that will be part of your audition process. You really only need about 32-64 counts. It should be to music and include styles of dance you intend to put in your show.
1:50-1:55 - Water break / transition to equipment.
1:55-2:15 - Now go through a simple flag block to touch on many basics and a variety of tosses. Again, this can be a shortened version of your typical flag warm-up. Take special notes on which potential members are particularly strong on tosses.
2:15-2:35 - Teach a short flag routine to music that will be part of your audition process. Only about 64 counts is necessary but be sure to include a variety of skills in your routine.
2:35-2:40- Water break / transition to equipment. Performers that are interested in spinning weapons should come out with rifles and/or sabres. Others that are not interested should remain on flag and go with another staff member to review the routine and basics.
2:40-3:00 - Go through a short rifle warm up block, including tosses. Basics will be difficult for many beginning spinners so don't focus too long on basics. Sometimes they can perform a routine better than doing fifty drop spins. You'll have more time in your season to strengthen basic skills if your group doesn't already have a good grip on them. Learn a short rifle routine, about 32 counts. Don't focus on basics in this routine. Instead, make it more about how well a perform can move with or control their equipment. Definitely include at least on toss.
3:00-3:20 - Repeat the weapon process on sabre.
3:20-3:30- Give everyone an open time to review in groups or on their own. Be available to answer questions, but also use this time to take notes and speak with other staff members about their thoughts.
3:30-3:55 - Finally, go through your official audition process. Call out a small group at a time to perform the dance routine, flag routine, and weapons routines (if they participated). Take notes during each performance.
3:55-4:00 - Make your final remarks and thank everyone for coming. Answer questions that anyone might have and let them know you will make the final decision with the full staff and contact each attendee that week.
Good luck!
THANKS FOR READING! For more tips and fun stuff about the marching arts OR if you are interested in custom Winter Guard show design, drill, and choreography or Marching Band drill and Color Guard choreography, check out my website at marchandspin.com.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Top 10 Comments from an Auxiliary Adjudicator
I have judged several shows over the years and continue to see many of the same mistakes. Here is a list of some of the most common things I see on the field and some quick tips to fix them.
1. EVERYONE needs to perform, all the time. Even if you're in the back or on the goal line we can still see you. Don't stop performing even during a transition and you are on the sideline getting equipment. No fixing hair or adjusting costumes; no messing with equipment or just running off like a pedestrian. This should be an easy fix but makes a big difference to your overall show!
2. Be careful of your shoulder facing as you move through drill and spin equipment. If your shoulders are facing to the side or even on a slight angle instead of straight to the front, your equipment will spin on a different angle and look wrong or dirty. Specify to the performers which way their shoulders should be facing for each drill move - for example "to the audience"; "to the left end zone"; or "following the leader."
3. Transitions when you exchange equipment should be built into the show. Do not run off of and then back onto the field between songs to change equipment. Similarly, avoid having all members of your auxiliary exit during a song at the same time to change equipment. An easy way to fix a transition is to either stagger the auxiliary's entrance so not everyone is exiting and/or entering at the same time or have a soloist introduce a new flag silk while the others are still at the sidelines.
4. Add lower body choreography to your show, even when you are moving through drill forms. Having the equipment spinning while you are traveling AND utilizing your body is considered the Triad and should be your goal.
5. If you have a small auxiliary, please do not split them up in your drill. Having three members on one thirty yard line and three others spinning on the other thirty yard line is a very split perspective and not very effective.
6. Another note on color guard drill, please incorporate the auxiliary into the band forms. It is not a good idea to keep them in an arch along the back of the band for your whole show.
7. Try to stage equipment changes in different places around the field. If you always exit to the front sideline your show will become repetitive. Plus, your equipment can be mixed up or damaged if it's all thrown together. It also takes away from the effect of your show if your equipment becomes messy and distracting.
8. Clean up your technique. Clarify where hand placements should be. For example, are you supposed to be covering the tip or at a cheater tape? Hit your angles and catches a exact angles and be strong with them. Also, release a regular toss from inside the silk, and pay attention to free hands. All these little details should be addressed during basics rehearsal and need to show through in your performance. Even a small deviation in angle or height is amplified to the judges.
9. Watch your equipment pathways! It is not only important to make it to the right angle, but also you need to pay attention to how your equipment cuts through space. Do you slice on an angle? Stay in the toaster (lateral plain)? Your equipment pathways need to be clean so your choreography is readable.
10. Finally, do everything full out. Straighten your arms, lower your lunge, and use full energy in everything you do. You may be far away from the judges in that press box, but we can still see every detail of what you do.
THANKS FOR READING! For more tips and fun stuff about the marching arts OR if you are interested in custom Winter Guard show design, drill, and choreography or Marching Band drill and Color Guard choreography, check out my website at marchandspin.com.
1. EVERYONE needs to perform, all the time. Even if you're in the back or on the goal line we can still see you. Don't stop performing even during a transition and you are on the sideline getting equipment. No fixing hair or adjusting costumes; no messing with equipment or just running off like a pedestrian. This should be an easy fix but makes a big difference to your overall show!
2. Be careful of your shoulder facing as you move through drill and spin equipment. If your shoulders are facing to the side or even on a slight angle instead of straight to the front, your equipment will spin on a different angle and look wrong or dirty. Specify to the performers which way their shoulders should be facing for each drill move - for example "to the audience"; "to the left end zone"; or "following the leader."
3. Transitions when you exchange equipment should be built into the show. Do not run off of and then back onto the field between songs to change equipment. Similarly, avoid having all members of your auxiliary exit during a song at the same time to change equipment. An easy way to fix a transition is to either stagger the auxiliary's entrance so not everyone is exiting and/or entering at the same time or have a soloist introduce a new flag silk while the others are still at the sidelines.
4. Add lower body choreography to your show, even when you are moving through drill forms. Having the equipment spinning while you are traveling AND utilizing your body is considered the Triad and should be your goal.
5. If you have a small auxiliary, please do not split them up in your drill. Having three members on one thirty yard line and three others spinning on the other thirty yard line is a very split perspective and not very effective.
6. Another note on color guard drill, please incorporate the auxiliary into the band forms. It is not a good idea to keep them in an arch along the back of the band for your whole show.
7. Try to stage equipment changes in different places around the field. If you always exit to the front sideline your show will become repetitive. Plus, your equipment can be mixed up or damaged if it's all thrown together. It also takes away from the effect of your show if your equipment becomes messy and distracting.
8. Clean up your technique. Clarify where hand placements should be. For example, are you supposed to be covering the tip or at a cheater tape? Hit your angles and catches a exact angles and be strong with them. Also, release a regular toss from inside the silk, and pay attention to free hands. All these little details should be addressed during basics rehearsal and need to show through in your performance. Even a small deviation in angle or height is amplified to the judges.
9. Watch your equipment pathways! It is not only important to make it to the right angle, but also you need to pay attention to how your equipment cuts through space. Do you slice on an angle? Stay in the toaster (lateral plain)? Your equipment pathways need to be clean so your choreography is readable.
10. Finally, do everything full out. Straighten your arms, lower your lunge, and use full energy in everything you do. You may be far away from the judges in that press box, but we can still see every detail of what you do.
THANKS FOR READING! For more tips and fun stuff about the marching arts OR if you are interested in custom Winter Guard show design, drill, and choreography or Marching Band drill and Color Guard choreography, check out my website at marchandspin.com.
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