Civil War Suite

lula · Post by **lula** » Fri Apr 16, 2010 4:14 pm

My band is attempting to learn the Blue and the Gray (Cicil War Suite) and it's not going so well. I can't really read music and rythms that well so it's harder for me than it should be. The notes are easy and I recognized most of the tunes in it, but I can't READ the music. My band director has no idea that I can't read it, so if he finds out, he will be seriously mad. We have two weeks to get this song sounding right or we won't get to play it. I like the song and I'm one of the people that has to play when it says 'Two Flutes Only.' Has anyone ever played this song and if so, do you have any recommendations on how I should go about improving this song?

Thanks in advance for your time and help.
-Lula

c_otter · Post by **c_otter** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:52 am

Since time is short, would learning what is supposed to sound like help? A few options for this are:
1. Get your friend to help you. Maybe she can show you what it is supposed to sound like and possibly even record it.
2. Search youtube for the piece. There are some recordings, which do have intonation issues, but they should help you with the rhythm.
3. Buy the mp from Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Gray-Clare-G ... B001BWGW3U

Good luck.

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 9:30 am

The best way to deal with your problem would be private lessons. There should be two goals. First get help with learning to play your piece correctly. Second, LEARN TO READ MUSIC! Find a private teacher that will help you achieve these goals.

It's great that you have a good ear. That's what has allowed you to skate by without learning to read music. If you don't learn to read, you will be severely limited in the future and the problem you have now will be repeated for other pieces and only get worse.

If you only want to play by yourself and just play songs that you already know, then you don't have to learn to read music. But, if you are going to play in a group with other musicians, you have to read. If you want to continue to play in a band, reading is an absolute requirement.

I have to be blunt. If you are not willing to put in the work to learn to read, then you should not be in band because you will become a liability to the rest of the band. The bottom line is put in the time and effort to learn to read music or give up band.

lula · Post by **lula** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 2:07 pm

I can read music to an extent, probably not as well as I should be able to. I can read most of the piece but time is short and this piece is hard I think. Reading music is hard for me but I can do it if I have the time to learn the piece. My band director keeps picking out songs last minute, so that stresses me out. I played the piece today, and it is sounding a little better. I think I will have my friend show me some pointers on reading this piece. I know I say I can't read music, but I can but not as well as my superior can. I think if I can find some more time for this piece I can get it right.

Piedpiper, being blunt was fine. I know that I should be able to read music better than I can, but I need someone to tell me that. Thanks for your advice.

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 2:41 pm

OK, you have realized that you are not as strong at reading and learning new music as some of the other players. That's good that you realize it. You know that you have a weakness and that you need to do something about it.

You said that your band director would be mad. I suspect that he/she would be more disappointed than mad. Take the initiative, go to your director and explain that you are finding some of the new music difficult to learn and ask for help to improve your sight reading skills.

Again, get a private teacher, even if it's just for a short period of time. It will greatly help if you get some one-on-one instruction to help you improve your reading skills.

lula · Post by **lula** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 2:48 pm

Thanks Piedpiper. I think I will get a private teacher. It helped when I used to have a teacher, but he graduated and went to a college in a different state.

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Sat Apr 17, 2010 8:59 pm

Try to find an adult private teacher who specializes in flutes. If you have a professional orchestra or a university nearby, that would be a good place to look. Also, try local music stores that offer private lessons.

lula · Post by **lula** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 6:43 am

We have a college close to us that has a private flute teacher that my band director recommends. Also at this college they are having a week long camp to help players one on one or in classes; it costs a lot, but I might be able to work out the money. As for finding an adult teacher, I will. I had a high schooler helping me and he did wonders for my flute playing. He was sort of a prodigy one might say. LOL Anyway he moved away because he marches for a college band now and plays in their orchestra.

I'll ask my band director about the teacher at the college near to us.

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 11:12 am

Excellent! Good luck on your search for a teacher.

lula · Post by **lula** » Tue Apr 20, 2010 3:45 pm

The Blue and the Gray Civil War Suite is much better now. I can play the parts that sounded horrible the other day and have improved much more on them. We will be playing this song at our concert Sunday. We have a bunch of songs to play but the Blue and the Gray is the hardest by far.

lula · Post by **lula** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:59 pm

Concert was today and my Blue and the Gray duet was perfect. I practiced it and finally figured it out. The song was a big hit so my band director was happy. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.

-Lula

pied_piper · Post by **pied_piper** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:36 pm

That's great. Glad you got it worked out.

Just be sure to follow up on the work to improve your reading ability!

flutepower · Post by **flutepower** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:35 pm

YAY!!!