Concert Review

Author's Note: Last week, I was in a band concert. Ms. Mitchell always has us do Concert Evaluations, but this time she decided to have us do an essay and pretend that we came to the concert instead of playing in the concert. Here is my critique of the 7th and 8th grade band concerts in essay format!

On March 6, 2013 at the Pewaukee High School Auditorium, the Asa Clark Middle School 7^th and 8^th grade band performed a concert.  I attended this concert at 6:30 PM and was prepared for a variety of song selection and musical talent. After the concert, I was fairly impressed. The Asa Clark Middle School 7^th and 8^th grade band performances were extremely intricate with a variety of song selection.

First, the 7^th grade band performed. Each song that they played had a different tempo and time signature, which made a lot of different variety. Within a few of the songs, there were different melody’s which also made more variety within the pieces. I was impressed that the band blended their sound very nicely. But, I did not notice a lot of dynamic contrast. I think if there were more dynamics it would have made the music more meaningful. The blend and balance was phenomenal. The only parts that really stood out to me were the articulations and dynamics. The articulations could have been more defined to make the music more clean.

After the 7^th grade band was finished performing, the 8^th grade band took the stage. When they started performing, you could hear the assortment of instruments as well as the different tempos within each piece. I was extremely impressed by the alto saxophones. They were marvelous at making the entire band blend together; they were like final string tying the band together. Just like the 7^th grade band, I did not notice a lot of dynamics. Throughout the entire performance they had the same volume. The upper woodwinds exceeded the rest of the band’s volume, and they were too overpowering; there should have been more low brass. The articulations were much better than the 7^th grade band’s; it made the music sound very polished.

A band that has an assortment of song selection and has excellent performing skills is the Asa Clark Middle School 7^th and 8^th Grade Band. Overall, I was extremely impressed. The young adults in the 7^th and 8^th grade band are very professional for their age, and exceeded my expectations. They should expect extraordinary musical futures.