The Yellow Board

How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?

Posted by New Teacher on 1/6/2021, 1:56 pm

Hello!

How do experienced teachers know when a piece is too hard (or too easy, which I feel is more difficult to figure out) for their group?

I knew programming would be a challenge, but there are some things I really need help with. I have a good idea of the repertoire out there, and the strengths/weaknesses of my group. I just don't know what the piece should sound like on day one if the goal is a performance 3-4 months away. Should it be very rough but recognizable? If they can breeze through it, is it too easy?

I hope this question makes sense. Thanks for any help

Re: How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?

Posted by GG on 1/8/2021, 9:29 am, in reply to "How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?"

Your question is very valid as the biggest UIL mistake new directors tend to make is over-programming. Picking UIL music is not just about what the students can play but also about what you - as a new teacher - can teach. I never tried to sightread UIL possibilities because I preferred to read them in chunks over the course of several days. What did the group play last year? If they were successful you might want to drop down half a level because of Covid. And, yes, there are 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 pieces on the list. Just ask the members of this board. If the group was not successful last year go even easier or, if that's not possible, consider not doing UIL this year. And remember, the amount of time it takes to improve weaknesses is exponential. Wrong notes and rhythms can be eliminated quickly while style and balance take longer. Tuning is the most elusive of all as it varies from day to day - that flute soli that's terrific on Tuesday can be wretched on Wednesday. And I pray you never experience a day-of-performance issue like I did where the warmup room is 20 degrees hotter (AC broke down) than the stage. Trying to tune that day was a challenge!

Re: How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?

Posted by Klaactu on 1/7/2021, 7:56 pm, in reply to "How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?"

No piece is ever performed perfectly, so regardless of how easy it seems on first reading, there are so many ways to make it better.

Re: How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?

Posted by Teach on 1/7/2021, 6:49 am, in reply to "How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?"

To quote one of my mentors-Francis McBeth- if they can't read through it (maybe roughly- but read though it start to finnish) then you have not taught them the skills they need to play the piece. So read it and fix it, clean it, or go back and teach them the skills they need to know to be able to play the music.
Don't be like so many of our kids today, they WANT to do great things but they don't want to do the Work necessary.

Re: How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?

Posted by Kilgore Trout on 1/6/2021, 4:12 pm, in reply to "How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?"

Normally, the biggest issue is age of the group. I've always heard (and found to be pretty accurate) that a High School group should be able to at least "chunk" their way through it upon first reading. With Junior High/ Middle School Group it can probably be a little less "recognizable" on the first run-through because the learning curve is so much quicker.
That being said...this year, I'm aiming a lot lower. There's just no telling when individuals, sections, or I might have to spend time quarantined and/or sick.
A good piece of advice I once heard - no judge ever said "this piece was too easy for this group". I'm taking that to heart and saving the tough stuff for Spring Concert...IF we have a Spring Concert.
GOOD LUCK - stay well, stay safe!

Re: How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?

Posted by DesertJazz on 1/6/2021, 3:50 pm, in reply to "How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?"

Depends on the type of the group and your relationship with it. When I was trying to build our JH Varsity (1C) group to get its first ever sweepstakes, I pretty much aimed for a piece that they could at least make it through it on their first read. That let me know I could focus on bringing my younger kids up to the better kids, work tuning, dynamics, tone, balance/blend, etc. Years later with an established program, my HS Varsity group generally can push it further knowing they can probably pull off a more difficult piece with some work.

Honestly there's a lot of gut feeling that you get. My general rule is that if my gut says something, I should probably listen to it. If the kids like a piece I'm more likely to ignore it a little longer though.

I think the wisest words are these though: "Play what you want in your band hall, play what you can play well on your concert stage, but only play what you can play perfectly at UIL."

There may be no such thing as a truly perfect performance, but in UIL you need to get as close to that as possible. This year I would advise you to play it safe - especially as a first year teacher!

Best wishes!

Re: How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?

Posted by Been around on 1/6/2021, 3:37 pm, in reply to "How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?"

If they can play beginning to end through it with no mistakes, it's too easy.

If they can't play more than 16 or so measures without it falling apart completely, it's too hard.

You want something they can read big chunks of, but that will need polish/cleaning. Your 3-4 months away performance goal isn't realistic, either. You'll have TONS of lost days due to testing, pep rallies (yes, even in the Spring, and even at the JH level), snow/cold weather days, fair/show days, athletics, and the like. In a normal year, you should plan on only having 2 months to get ready for UIL. If you can't do it in twenty to thirty rehearsals, it's too hard. If you're *ready* and UIL is in three weeks, work on more sight reading stuff and throw in a piece for your Spring concert.

Most bands don't have 100% of their students in class between February and UIL, even in non-COVID situations. This year? All bets are off. Play what you can put together.

Re: How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?

Posted by Great Info on 1/7/2021, 12:41 pm, in reply to "Re: How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?"

I want to echo the idea of having only 2 months for UIL. I'm nearly 2 decades in and finally had this realization last year after attending Reid Atkinson's TMEA clinic. He discussed scheduling "macro" to "micro" and it was eye opening. He talked about scheduling every week within a "concert cycle" and really seeing how many rehearsal days you have.

If you paid for the audio recordings for TMEA 2020, you can go listen to it. The handout isn't there, but you might be able to contact him directly.

Re: How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?

Posted by Birdale director on 1/6/2021, 3:30 pm, in reply to "How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?"

I would say too hard would be if the group had to stop every 2 measures or so.

Too easy if they can pretty much get it down in a couple of days.

But also considering the circumstance of this year, I don't blame any director that goes too easy. Just the fact they can go to UIL is a success IMO

Re: How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?

Posted by Not so young on 1/6/2021, 3:18 pm, in reply to "How do you know if a piece is too hard/too easy when first reading it?"

Generally if a group can get all the way through on the first read, it's too easy. If they can get it about 50% correct on the first go, that's generally the sweet spot. For a 2nd/3rd band, err on the side of easier. Especially this year.

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