Band BFFs

Katie Lewis and Laura Bell
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Hosts Katie Lewis and Laura Bell are the Band BFF's! This podcast is The One Where We Discuss Band Music. Cheers to starting the conversation!

  1. 29. Juni

    Panther Rising

    In this episode of Band BFFs, the hosts discuss Panther Rising by Michael Sweeney, a fast-paced Grade 1 concert work that combines accessible ranges and rhythms with strong opportunities to teach dynamics, articulation, phrasing, tuning, and ensemble balance. They praise the flexible percussion writing, recurring crescendo motives, and programmatic “panther” character, noting that the piece sounds impressive while remaining approachable for younger bands and developing ensembles.

    14 Min.

  2. 15. Juni

    Knox Bridge Jubilee

    In this episode of Band BFFs, the hosts discuss Knox Bridge Jubilee by Todd Stalter, an energetic Grade 2 concert opener packed with fanfare-like moments, syncopated rhythms, and constant interplay between sections. They highlight its strong teaching value for balance, layering, counting, articulation, and ensemble precision, while noting that its brisk tempo, independent lines, and important percussion writing make it a more challenging Grade 2 than it first appears.

    15 Min.

  3. 18. Mai

    Zydeco Cajun Crawdad Dance

    Zydeco Cajun Crawdad Dance by Roland Barrett is a lively, style-driven, Grade 2 piece in cut time that leans heavily into Louisiana/Creole groove and character. It’s more rhythmically demanding than typical middle school literature, with syncopation, articulation clarity, and strong style awareness being key to success. Overall: a high-energy, crowd-pleasing piece that’s all about feel—great once students lock into the groove and style.

    17 Min.

  4. 11. Mai

    Fanfare for the Fearless

    Fanfare for the Fearless by Brian Balmages is a short, energetic Grade 1 concert opener in concert E♭ that’s perfect for middle school bands or early-season programming. It emphasizes strong articulation, clear phrasing, and basic balance concepts, with accessible ranges and engaging parts across the ensemble. Overall: a clean, effective fanfare that teaches style while sounding bold and exciting right away.

    13 Min.

  5. 4. Mai

    Dragon Dance

    This episode covers Dragon Dance by Michael Story — a short, beginner-friendly Grade 0.5 piece in concert B♭ that uses only the first six notes, making it very accessible and confidence-building. It features simple rhythms, no split parts, and light percussion (with tom instead of snare for balance), plus clear opportunities to teach articulation, phrasing, and tuning (especially trumpet Ds). Overall: an easy, effective early-band piece that’s great for fundamentals, layering, and getting young players sounding musical quickly.

    12 Min.

  6. 30. März

    Upbeat

    In this episode of Band BFFs, the hosts dive into Upbeat by Randall Standridge, a fast, high-energy Grade 1.5 rock-style piece in concert E♭ built around repeated syncopated rhythms and lots of percussion color. They highlight its strong teaching value for syncopation, layering, and style, plus its catchy grooves and repeated unison patterns that make it feel harder than it is.

    11 Min.

  7. 23. März

    Fandango

    This episode covers Fandango by Carol Brittin Chambers — a fast, high-energy Grade 3.5 piece with frequent switches between 3/4 and 4/4. It’s rhythmically challenging, highly stylized, and requires a strong ensemble with solid counting and articulation. The piece features layered melodies, exposed transitions, and a lyrical trumpet/trombone solo section, along with lots of percussion color. Range (especially brass and clarinet) and balance are key challenges.

    19 Min.

  8. 16. März

    Spring Concert Ideas - Medium Easy

    This is a re-release of an earlier episode as it is timely for band directors! Looking for fresh, engaging music for your beginner or non-varsity band? In this episode of Band BFFs, we review two standout concert pieces—Mama Paquita and The Dragon Lord—that bring energy, variety, and valuable teaching moments to your next performance. Tune in for practical insights on rhythm challenges, instrumentation tips, and how to make each piece a student favorite.

    24 Min.
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Hosts Katie Lewis and Laura Bell are the Band BFF's! This podcast is The One Where We Discuss Band Music. Cheers to starting the conversation!

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  • Erstellt von
    Katie Lewis and Laura Bell
  • Jahre aktiv
    2024 - 2026
  • Folgen
    102
  • Bewertung
    Unbedenklich
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Sendungswebsite
    Band BFFs

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