When writing a winter guard show, it pays to be organized so all the components of your show come together. Drill needs to match the choreography and it all needs to match your music. Once you have your music picked out, the next step is it make an outline of your show. Begin by listening to your music. A lot. Over and over. Discover the different layers and timing of the piece. Now you can write your music map.
The first step is to make a list of counts and which part of music it corresponds to. Like this:
1-16: intro
1-32: verse 1
1-32: verse 1
1-16: bridge
1-32: chorus
1-8: transition
1-32: verse 2... and so on.
Next you can add details about what is happening in each section of music. You can list the timing of big hits, cymbal crashes, quiet parts, or even lyrics. Like this:
1-16: intro (piano)
1-32: verse 1 (cymbal crash on count 9)
1-32: verse 1
1-16: bridge (building bigger)
1-32: chorus (big!)
1-8: transition (instrumental)
1-32: verse 2 (says "turn around" on counts 13-15)... and so on.
Finally you can outline what will happen in your show for each section of music. Like this:
1-16: intro -- solo dancer
1-32: verse 1 -- small group of flags enter. flag toss on count 9
1-32: verse 1 -- continue flag work
1-16: bridge -- add-on flag work, adding more members on floor
1-32: chorus -- large ensemble flag feature
1-8: transition -- rifle line exits floor to exchange equipment. feature small flag line
1-32: verse 2 -- rifle line enters. performers turn or face back on counts 13-15... and so on.
Once you have this outline all laid out for your show, it is so much easier to write your drill and choreography. You'll know all the important counts to hit and where each toss or feature should occur. You can also share this outline with all the other instructors so everyone can work on different sections of the show and not be confused about where each part it. This extra work before you start is a great way to keep your show organized and will facilitate a smooth process. 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.
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Tips on Choosing Winter Guard Show Music
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.
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.
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