Daniel Hand High School Band Is Revved For Concert (With Video)

Madison Patch had the opportunity on Thursday, February 10, 2011 to visit Daniel Hand High School and catch a preview of the upcoming concert.  Following the class, band director John Gage provided further insight into the music the band will play.

Q: What goes into your selection process for the musical program for each concert?

Gage: It's challenging but fun, trying to find the right music.  I try to select pieces that a) the kids will like, b) offer a balance of difficulty level and c) [music] that fits together as a program ([variation in] key, speed and genre).  Usually there's one piece that's more difficult to put together.

Q: Is there one piece in particular the students like best?

Gage: It's hard to say, but if I had to choose, I would say the piece by John Williams.  They really like [the piece from] Slumdog Millionnaire too.  One of my strong suits is programming.  I try to do [pieces] that they wouldn't normally be exposed to--like those by Copeland and Williams that are originally for orchestra but rearranged for band.  I purposefully didn't program a march for this concert, but will incorporate [a march] into the spring program.

Q: Which instruments do you most like to play?

Gage: I'm a percussionist, [but I also] somewhat play wind and brass [as well as] guitar and piano.

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 The photos and video were taken of the freshman and sophomore band, but the concert will include juniors and seniors as well.  The concert band will perform: Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copeland, a piece from the film Slumdog Millionnaire, Trail of Tears (this piece musically brings to life the struggle faced by Native Americans' forced march in the 1830's), and the Young Person's Guide to John Williams.

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