Band Festival Results
On Thursday February 20th, both the 7th and 8th Grade Concert Bands travelled to Mesquite Jr High School to perform in the Gilbert Public Schools Band Festival. Each band performed two songs for a panel of three professional adjudicators who graded their performance based on the following criteria:
Note Accuracy
Rhythmic Accuracy
Balance/Blend
Musicality/Phrasing
Articulations and Releases
Intonation
Tone Quality
Dynamics
Stage Presence
Following the performance of the two pieces of music, the students had a chance to work with the adjudicators on the music and learn from their expertise.
7th Grade Band
The 7th Grade Concert band performed the following songs:
Glorioso - Robert W. Smith
Ritmico! - Robert Sheldon
Both songs were played beautifully and with great attention to detail. That attention to detail did not go unnoticed by the adjudicators as they complimented the band on their correct execution of dynamic shaping and articulations during both pieces.
Mr. Bryan Hummel working with the 7th Grade Band
The 7th Grade Band received the highest rating possible of SUPERIOR WITH DISTINCTION! This means that all three adjudicators placed their rating of the band in the Superior category. Congratulations to our young musicians!
8th Grade Band
The 8th Grade Concert Band performed the following songs:
As Winds Dance - Samuel R. Hazo
Afterburn - Randall D. Standridge
Both songs were played with very great accuracy and displayed very mature musical qualities. My favorite comment was from Mr. Hummel when he walked up to the band after they were done performing and asked me, “So, they are 10th graders? Yeah? Oh, 9th graders? 8th Grade!?! They sound too good to be in 8th grade!”
8th Grade Band working with Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Hummel
The 8th Grade Band also received the highest rating possible of SUPERIOR WITH DISTINCTION! Along with this rating, the 8th Grade Band received the highest average score that this band program has seen since I started working at DRJH four years ago. They received an average score of 330 out of 360!
