Earth Wind And Fire Concert Band

Ever since 2011, ‘The Supremes’ has been the vocal group that most interests me. Originally called the ‘Primettes’, this female singing group was founded in 1959 and has since been one the most successful groups to date, in America. (Bronson, 265) The singing group had four original members, yet only three of the four made it to the peak of the group’s career; those women being Diane Ross, Mary Wilson, and Florence Ballard. Proof to this group’s success would be the fact that they rivaled the band ‘The Beatles’ in worldwide success and fame during their prime in the 60s. Not only did they challenge another wildly known band, they did this whilst also making a headway for future generations of African American musicians, which contributes to

Throughout history African Americans have always fought for true equality. Whether it be slave revolts or sitting in the reserved section for whites on a segregated bus, African Americans have stood up for their rights and demanded change in society. One way they fostered a change in society is through the development of music. Historically, African American musicians have uniquely expressed their ideals of the American Dream through musical periods such as jazz, rock, and rap and the historical movements behind them by utilizing their elevated platform to speak about the plight of African Americans and fight for equality through historical protests, music, and speeches.

This song doesn't necessarily have a "purpose," per se, but it may be one of the songs we play for Golden Empire (our yearly Sacramento-Area concert band festival) in April. In order to be a respected band, as we are, we need to stretch ourselves and challenge ourselves to do more and to be better musicians. "Relentless" is most definitely teaching us to do that. It has an almost labyrinthine melody which flows through the sections with variations periodically, with other rhythms happening at the same time. I, and the rest of the band, as I am sure, have learned how to count (musically counting, not counting to ten) rhythms better and not to trust the patterns we have become accustomed to. In terms of "Relentless," that last statement

On April 11th, 2017 in the Louis Armstrong Theatre, I attended the GVSU “University Band”. This up-beat ensemble lasted about 90 minutes; the talented students of GVSU’s university band joined together to perform multiple different songs ranging from a Waltz to a Dixieland Jamboree. All of the songs that the band played for the audience were all well-known, popular songs that they all enjoyed. Having the opportunity to attend this concert has opened new musical paths for myself and has allowed me to enjoy and kindly critique something that I perhaps would have never had the chance to otherwise.

In Ken Burns’ documentary Jazz and Lewis Erenberg’s book Swingin the Dream: Big Band Jazz and The Rebirth of American Culture, there is a dialogue occurring in regards to the race politics of the time. Ken Burns through his archival footage would portray in some respects, a sanitized perspective on the racial tensions that occurred at the time. In some cases, Ken Burns would seem to suggest that whatever racial issues were simply waved away by both musicians and audiences alike and that swing was a genre that transcended race and color. Though Lewis Erenberg would diverge from Burns by portraying a more radical and holistic approach to the prominence of racial politics in the genre. Whether it be through stating the prominence of jazz magazines, the support of left-leaning groups, and the integration of jazz bands, there is a compelling case made by Erenberg that such politics were prevalent and confronted by musicians and critics alike at that time.

During my junior year, all high school students of the Coachella Valley were given the opportunity to audition for the All Coachella Valley Honor Band, with a guest conductor H. Robert Reynolds. This was a significant educational opportunity I took advantage of. The audition consisted of a couple of scales, and excerpts from the music that was going to be performed on the day of the concert. When the day came I sat in front of the judge with my music and clarinet, where my nerves began to rise. Before I began to play my heart began to pound along with my hands beginning to sweat. Throughout my audition I had a few mistakes,but I stayed persistent and completed my audition. After I finished my audition, the judge said I had done great, I was

Walking up and down the two rows of hornline and drumline members at our very first show whispering encouragements and fixing aussies, I watched the terror consume face as you and those around you were trying to focus on what was about to happen. After that 9 minute show bursting with chaos and confusion, I remember coming off the field with shaky knees and hearing all sorts of positive whispers and seeing your wide, excited eyes. At that moment, you gave me hope for this season.

In his inaugural address on August 9th, 1974, President Gerald Ford assured the nation “our long national nightmare is over.” He may have spoken too soon. The early 1970s were a bleak time for black America. So much hope had died with the assassination of Martin Luther King. When Malcolm X was, in turn, shot dead, the leadership of the struggle for equality was seized by the paramilitary Black Panthers, and violence became its hallmark. There were riots in cities across the United States and brutal encounters with the police. Much has been written about the state of the nation in the 70’s, how bleak and desperate things were, but something extraordinary came out of the fire, music. The music of New York City during this time

During the mid-1900’s many different types of music emerged and became popular. Each type of music that was popular brought along different social and political issues. Between 1950’s rock and roll, 1960’s psychedelic rock, and 1970’s disco, America was undergoing a great deal of changes. Among these three genres of music, rock and roll posed the greatest challenge to the status quo, with its bonding of African-Americans and white people in listening and dancing.

After reading Disney’s $1 Billion Bet on a Magical Wristband by Cliff Kuang, and The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman, one can conclude that Norman’s use of the fundamental psychological principles allowed individuals to obtain a true understanding of Magic Band. Norman began with the introduction of the first principal affordances. This principle involves the relation between objects, and the individual such as how discovering the possible actions one can afford between, or actions one can percieve to do upon an object. For example Disney’s Magic Band was designed in the shape of a wrist band giving the user the affordance of wearing it, and using it to interact with the parks.

Have you ever heard of John Philip Sousa the “First American Superstar?” John was the leader of the U.S Marine band for 12 years. John resigned to do something new.

“Do you remember the twenty-first night of September? Love was changing the mind of pretenders, while chasing the clouds away.” One of the biggest hits ever to play across the nation. Earth, Wind, and Fire gave us this classical hit. They shook the nation by surprise when they were all African Americans that gave us a chart topping hit. Earth, Wind, and Fire produced so many hit albums throughout their career. As of October 19th they’re on tour again, might just have to go see them! Everything from Boogie Wonderland to Groove is literally music to the ears. They’re stationed in Chicago, which is the birth place of the unique band as well. They most certainly changed the history of music forever.

On February 25, 2016 the Windiana Concert Band gave their winter concert, in the University Theatre at the Valparaiso University Center for the Arts, in Valparaiso, Indiana. The guest artist was Shelly Sager, a music teacher at Flint Lake Elementary School in Valparaiso. The Windiana Concert Band was conducted by Jeffrey Scott Doebler, who has been a musical director since 1992. Although, the band plays a wide variety of music, this concert was filled with classical musical.

Yes many people look down upon the blackface, which I do too in some aspects, but when you take it and bring positivity to it you see that this was a period where blackface was successful and people would pay to come see it. It wasn’t as though black people were rare or an endangered species we were quite common, and anybody could walk out on the street to see a black person. This was a time when musical theater thrived and became very popular thanks to the blacks. The two listening examples I put into my research project was one by the Carolina Chocolate drops. They have many songs, but the one I provided as a specific listening example was “Your Baby Aint Sweet like Mine” I also chose a performance by them.

Formed in the sixties, The Rolling Stones consisted of Brian Jones, Ian Stewart, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Bill Wyman, and Charlie Watts. Referring to themselves as the World’s Greatest Rock and Roll band, the song “Rollin’ Stones” written by Muddy Waters is what stemmed into the band 's name. The Stones recorded and sold what is estimated to be more than a quarter million albums until the early 1980s when Jagger and Richard had a fight over musical direction and the group grew apart from each other and did not record any music for years. Soon after The Rolling Stones were accepted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame in 1989, the band got back together and begin making more music. In 1994 the Rolling Stones won their first Grammy with the song “Voodoo Lounge”. After this success, the Stones embarked on a major tour raising a gross income of almost three million dollars. Throughout the 2000s, the band released albums and performed on tours pleasing the music world still to this day with the oldest member, Charlie Watts being 75 years old.