One of the biggest things I've had to do with my band is work to align the ensemble's pulse. Even once the quarter notes lined up, often eighth notes across the band wouldn't line up properly. Sometimes it's just that players aren't agreeing on how to shape the ends of notes, but just as often is can be a lack of subdivision. You can explain subdivision and tell them to subdivide, which is better than nothing, but I've found that getting them to externalize it and then referencing that is more helpful, and more fun. So here are a few ways you can try this out with your group.
Metronome Band
One of the cool tricks I picked up in a clinic (can't remember who it was... TMEA's featured clinician a couple of years ago) was using the band as a metronome instead of using an actual metronome or a snare drummer. That way you keep everyone engaged when you're working with a section of the band. I've also used this with everyone when the issues happen when everyone is playing together. We'll all verbalize the beat before putting the horns back to the face and playing again. It helps a lot.
Have them count using your counting system, but keeping the syllables as staccato as possible so they can focus on listening and lining it up. "One - te - Two - te - Three - te - Four - te". Equally challenging is to just have them say the numbers and line those up, a method advocated by Ed Lisk that I use with my beginners in the first couple of weeks to establish ensemble pulse before we play.
More often I have the band use a "Ch" sound, like a train. This is easier to line up, I think, and more accurately simulates what they need to do in their head as they play.
Regardless of how you do it, if you like you can also stress the strong beats. "ONE te two te Three te four te".
After establishing it, it's quick to say, "I need to hear this group to line up our eighth notes (or if they're rushing, dragging, etc), Band you're the metronome." and give the downbeat.
Count It
Depending on your band's counting skill, this can be the fastest fix. My high school band is still not used to having to count, much less pulse when they count, but my beginners are pros. For them, once all rhythm errors are fixed, this fixes not only pulse/alignment, but note lengths as well.
Wind Pattern/Hiss
An old trick for lining things up is to have the band hiss their part while fingering along, and then getting them to make sure they're also popping their valves/slides. They still tongue, so it's more of a "TSSSSS" sound. Another advantage is that you can hear note lengths as well.
I prefer to have them wind pattern, but the process and goal are basically the same. With wind patterns it's a little harder to hear the articulation, but you can still tell if it's lining up or not, and so can they. The advantage is that you can listen for their air speed/pressure, and if they're using wimpy air you can call them on it. It lets them practice their finger coordination and air flow while lining everything up. I haven't actually used the hissing myself, so I can't compare results, but I can say that when I force the band to use fast air and hear the difference before putting it back on the instruments, I love the results, both for alignment and tone quality.
Bop It
For those unfamiliar with this, when you tell them to Bob It, you're asking them to play every note staccato. This does a lot of cool things. First off, you can tell right away if notes are lining up, or if they're scattered, and to what degree. Not only that, but you should hear tone quality and chords in each brief sound.
If it's not perfect, you have the right to stop everything and start again. The room will fill with intense concentration as the ensemble hones in on that pulse. Ears and eyes open wide in anticipation.
If you don't hear a quality chord, you have the right to stop, then play and hold that chord. When they play it the tone quality, balance and intonation must be instantly present. Then have them get that quality in a "bop". Then back up and see if they get it.
If they can successfully bop a given section or even just a phrase, that section of the music, they will be in great shape. And they've also gained a heightened awareness of pulse. Bopping can be so strenuous, especially the first few times, that they will not want to have to do it again if they don't have to. I recall nailing it also being a rewarding feeling as well. Of course, don't forget to go back and play it as written, but with that same dedication to the alignment.
Like Everything Else...
I think it's an ongoing process. You teach and reinforce using a variety of tactics, but always aiming to make it more and more precise. If you keep at it, their skill level will continue to improve over time.
Thank you, as always, for reading. I hope it's both interesting and helpful. I admit that four is not a lot for anyone's bag of tricks, so if you think of something that I left off the list, please share it in the comment section! Until next time, take care!
Musically yours,
Mr. Cooper
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