Park Band’s recent Pops Concert was an impressive display of preparation, skill and teamwork, which altogether created an entertaining school performance March 10. Band director Dan Anderson shares his thoughts on the concert, which included songs from various video games chosen by students in the band.
What has the preparation process been like for this concert?
The students put together the pop concert; they voted through a bunch of themes they would like to do for music, and they ended up with video games as their choice. The students also put together a list of songs that we could do for it. I just find what I think fits best for the level, the instrumentation, things like that. Then we get the music put together. The jazz band did something new. They did combos where you put together a small band instead of a big one, which we traditionally do, and then work through the music, work through the styles, the normal stuff that you would for a concert to put together for an audience.
What were some challenges you faced before this concert?
(The Pops Concert has) a bit of a tighter deadline (because) you have to order music, you can’t just get it in advance. You have to wait for the kids to decide what to do, then you gotta research, you gotta find the music and you gotta get it out to them. Then, of course, you have to learn how to play it.
What is the purpose of the songs you chose for this concert?
(The purpose was) mainly to fit the theme (of the concert) and find difficult music for them to continue to grow and learn. The younger group, group nine, did music from “Starcraft 9” that was very militaristic, very march heavy. Then they did “Cuphead” (which is) a very jazz-heavy video game soundtrack. The wind ensemble did (songs) from the “Super Mario Bros Medley,” which is the original soundtrack from when the game came out, as well as “Baba Yetu,” which is an African-themed selection from “Civilization 4.” Their own combos picked their own songs from (video games like) “Persona 5” to “Team Fortress 2.”
What made this concert unique?
It’s unique that students select the pop theme. I’ve seen a lot of school districts that do a Pops-themed concert, but it’s just the director’s discretion; they pick whatever they want rather than letting the students pick a theme and basing it around that. It’s good that you have a lot of student voice and choice within it, while still having the balance of what’s educational and what works for the groups.
What have you learned as the new band teacher so far this year?
Being the new band director, I’m used to teaching a lot of middle school, especially in a more urban environment, so it’s just getting used to a new culture and a new environment within the school. (Also, I have learned how) to plan things and be able to give kids a little bit more leeway in letting them pick and choose things on their own, rather than having to pick and decide everything for them, and having a far more limited selection.
In what ways do you hope to improve before the next concert?
I wanna do a lot of bigger, badder music (to) push the kids to do even more than they’ve already been doing. (I want to play) stuff that sounds more impressive. (I want to) test them on doing things they’ve already been doing, but also do a lot of new things so they can continue to grow and become better musicians overall, not just sound-wise and technically and listening, but also being able to play ensemble and play in a group.
