Good design is more than a Pyware animation or a Sibelius playback. Good design has to work where it counts -- under the hood.
In order for an ensemble to be successful, the design has to be tailored to be as teachable and cleanable as it is visually and aurally effective. Below is an example of how we approach design.
In order for an ensemble to be successful, the design has to be tailored to be as teachable and cleanable as it is visually and aurally effective. Below is an example of how we approach design.
Above, is a drill chart excerpt from a production we did featuring Gershwin's Concerto in F.
Let's take a look at the elements that turn this effect into a special moment.
Let's take a look at the elements that turn this effect into a special moment.
Here, we have our main focus for the effect: the saber duet. The brass section framed the two as they dance around the park bench (think Woody Allen's Manhattan). The brass is all "on the grid" in terms of dots to make the form easier to clean. The saber duet tosses on count 12, the same count the brass frame goes into plie, dropping their bodies in level to further draw the eye to our central couple.
The battery is staged behind our brass frame. Prior to this set, the melody was in the trombones, baritones and mellophones, so the battery was placed to give them a strong listening environment.
After this impact, the trumpets take over the melody, and are staged to be heard easily without having to over blow.
The woodwinds are at horns-down here, doing a sight-ripple lunge that begins with the end clarinet, and visually matches the mood coming from the pit's descending chromatic marimba runs in this passage. The directionality of the body movement will also lead the audience and judge's eyes toward our saber moment on Side 1 of the field.
The color guard also brings the eye along to the left, with ripple tosses happening to match the woodwind lunges.
Every page of drill and line of music from Blue Dot Marching is approached with this kind of care -- good design isn't just about the written moment; it's about the hours of rehearsal it takes to get there. Through thoughtful planning, we can make the teaching and cleaning process more efficient and more effective for you and your students.
