Directors' Guide to Performance Preparation

Jump to: Chamber Ensembles | Orchestra / String Ensembles | Choral Groups | Jazz Bands

Concert Band Performance Preparation

Sound:

  • Is the tone appropriate for the styles being performed?
  • Is the sound in each section blended? A good blend is achieved when each musician makes their tone part of the ensemble rather a separate and distinct sound.
  • Is the tone well supported, strong with controlled air?
  • Is the music in tune?

Balance:

  • Is the melody always audible?
  • Are the chords full?
  • Can you hear everyone?
  • Are the sections well balanced?
  • Are the instruments/sections overpowering?

Technique:

  • Do all the musicians have control of material?
  • Do they make the performance sound easy or do they struggle?
  • Is the group tight? “Tight” is when everyone has the same concept of where notes begin and end.
  • Does the ensemble follow the conductor?

Musicality:

  • Do you agree with the band’s interpretation of the music?
  • Is there sufficient variety in dynamic (volume) levels?
  • Is the music expressive when called for?
  • Does the group generate excitement at the appropriate time in each piece performed? One sign of a highly musical performance in positive audience response.
  • Is there a good balance between the exciting and the emotional aspects of the performance?
  • Are there any changes in the mood?

Overall impression:

  • Does the music sound too easy or too difficult?
  • Are the pieces performed in a satisfying order?
  • Do the musicians appear at ease on stage?
  • What are your general impressions of attitude appearance and discipline?

Chamber Ensemble Performance Preparation

Sound:

  • Is the tone appropriate for the styles being performed?
  • Is the sound in each instrument blended? A good blend is achieved when each musician makes their tone part of the ensemble rather than a separate and distinct sound.
  • Is the tone well supported; strong with controlled air?
  • Is the sound forced or overblown?
  • Is the music in tune?

Balance:

  • Is the melody always audible?
  • Are the chords full?
  • Can you hear everyone?
  • Are the individual instruments well-balanced?
  • Are the instruments overpowering?

Technique:

  • Do all the musicians have control of the material?
  • Do they make the performance sound easy or do they struggle?
  • Is the group tight? “Tight” is when everyone has the same concept of where notes begin and end.

Musicality:

  • Do you agree with the ensemble’s interpretation of the music?
  • Is there sufficient variety in dynamic (volume) levels?
  • Is the music expressive when called for?
  • Does the ensemble generate excitement at the appropriate time in each piece performed? One sign of a highly musical performance in positive audience response.
  • Is there a good balance between the exciting and the emotional aspects of the performance?

Overall impression:

  • Does the music sound too easy or too difficult?
  • Are the pieces performed in a satisfying order?
  • Do the musicians appear at ease on stage?
  • What are your general impressions of attitude, appearance, and discipline?

Orchestra / String Ensemble Performance Preparation

Sound:

  • Is the tone appropriate for the styles being performed?
  • Is the sound in each instrument blended? A good blend is achieved when each musician makes their tone part of the ensemble rather a separate and distinct sound.
  • Is the tone well supported; strong with controlled air and/or bow technique?
  • Is the sound forced?
  • Is the music in tune?

Balance:

  • Is the melody always audible?
  • Are the chords full?
  • Can you hear everyone?
  • Are the sections well balanced?
  • Are the instruments overpowering?

Technique:

  • Do all the musicians have control of material?
  • Do they make the performance sound easy or do they struggle?
  • Is the group tight? “Tight” is when everyone has the same concept of where motes begin and end.
  • Does the ensemble follow the conductor?

Musicality:

  • Do you agree with the ensemble’s interpretation of the music?
  • Is there sufficient variety in dynamic (volume) levels?
  • Is the music expressive when called for?
  • Does the ensemble generate excitement at the appropriate time in each piece performed? One sign of a highly musical performance in positive audience response.
  • Is there a good balance between the exciting and the emotional aspects of the performance?
  • Are there any changes in the mood?

Overall impression:

  • Does the music sound too easy or too difficult?
  • Are the pieces performed in a satisfying order?
  • Do the musicians appear at ease on stage?

Choral Performance Preparation

Sound:

  • Is the tone appropriate for the styles being performed?
  • Is the sound in each section blended? A good blend is achieved when each musician makes their tone part of the ensemble rather a separate and distinct sound.
  • Is the tone well supported; strong with controlled air?
  • Is the sound forced?
  • Is the music in tune?
  • Is the ensemble singing with uniform vowels?

Balance:

  • Is the melody always audible?
  • Are the chords full?
  • Can you hear everyone?
  • Are the sections well balanced?
  • Is the accompaniment overpowering or too soft?

Time/Rhythmic Feel:

  • Is there a good sense of rhythmic energy?
  • Is everyone in the ensemble working together?
  • Does the music speed up or slow down inappropriately?

Technique:

  • Do all the musicians have control of material?
  • Do they make the performance sound easy or do they struggle?
  • Is the group tight? “Tight” is when everyone has the same concept of where notes begin and end.
  • Do members of each section match the others?
  • Do all the sections match each other?

Musicality:

  • Is there sufficient variety in dynamic (volume) levels?
  • Is the music expressive when called for?
  • Does the group generate excitement at the appropriate time in each piece performed? One sign of a highly musical performance in positive audience response.
  • Is there a good balance between the exciting and the emotional aspects of the performance?
  • Are their any changes in the mood?

Overall impression:

  • Does the music sound too easy or too difficult?
  • Are the pieces performed in a satisfying order?

Jazz Band Performance Preparation

Sound:

  • Is the tone appropriate for the styles being performed?
  • Is the sound in each section blended? A good blend is achieved when each musician makes their tone part of the section rather than a separate and distinct sound.
  • Is the tone well supported; strong with controlled air?
  • Is the sound forced or overblown?
  • Is the music in tune?

Balance:

  • Is the melody always audible?
  • Are the chords full?
  • Can you hear everyone?
  • Are the sections well balanced?
  • Are the electronic instruments overpowering or too weak?

Time and Rhythmic Feel:

  • Does it groove?
  • Is there a good relaxed feel to the swing concept or is it stiff?
  • Is there a good sense of rhythmic energy?
  • Is everyone in the ensemble working/articulating together?
  • Does the music speed up or slow down inappropriately?

Technique:

  • Do all the musicians have control of the material?
  • Do they make the performance sound easy or do they struggle?
  • Is the group tight? “Tight” is when everyone has the same concept of where notes begin and end.
  • Do the sections match each other?

Musicality:

  • Is there too much or too little dynamic variation?
  • Is there sufficient variety in dynamic (volume) levels?
  • Is the music expressive when called for?
  • Does the group generate excitement at the appropriate time in each piece performed? One sign of a highly musical performance in positive audience response.
  • Is there a good balance between the exciting and the emotional aspects of the performance?
  • Are there any changes in the mood?

Improvisation:

  • Are soloists improvising or playing prepared, written ideas?
  • Does the performance “sag” during the solo section or does the soloist manage to keep the music moving ahead?
  • Is there evidence of good technique (see above)?
  • Does the soloist communicate any excitement or emotion?
  • Does the style of solo fit the rest of the piece?
  • Do the soloist’s melodic ideas fit the chords being played by the accompaniment?
  • Is the phrasing clear?
  • Does the soloist hold your interest?
  • Are the solos too long or short?
  • Do a majority solo?
  • Do vocalists use good scat syllables?
  • Are the solos imaginative?

Comping/Rhythm Section:

  • Is there good communication between the soloist and the comping instruments?
  • Do they play too much or too little?
  • Is the accompaniment cluttered?
  • Does the volume and energy level of the accompaniment match the soloist?
  • Do the bass and drums complement each other?
  • Does the drummer set-up and punctuate the band appropriately?
  • Are the piano/guitar voicing stylistically correct?
  • Does the drummer use cymbals and brushes appropriate to the various moods and levels of excitement?

Overall impression:

  • Does the music sound too easy or too difficult?
  • Are the pieces performed in a satisfying order?
  • Do the musicians appear at ease on stage?
  • What are your general impressions of attitude appearance and discipline?