The First "Oh, Pierre!" of the Fall 2011 Term in the WVU Big Band

It really went well. The students learned it in a few minutes. Seven of the eighteen people had been involved with the telematic concert last year, that certainly helped the learning curve.

They were beginning to make calls after the first fifteen minutes or so. They particularly enjoy the Landmarks and are pretty clever about it. They gravitate towards the humorous which is interesting. My personal favorite involved making monkey sounds....

I think this piece is now a permanent part of this band's repertoire.

Oh, Pierre! beyond the classroom...

Last Friday evening, I brought a high school sophomore of mine to give a brief performance for a school function. He performed a five-minute improvisation at the piano and did a great job. His performance was well-received and he seemed to feel good about it as well.

Before bringing him over to the performance, we met in the school music room. While there, he informed me that he was really enjoying the 'whole improv thing with the hand signs' we were doing in class. He told me he had been in a rehearsal outside of school with a few other student musicians where there were just jamming together. Looking for their jamming to take on some new life, he taught the group several of the hand signs from 'Oh, Pierre!'. He said this had a great effect on the music of the group and that he really loved using them and was starting to see just how useful they could be in helping his group to communicate musically.

Cool...

A New Year With Cranbury Improv

The Cranbury School Improv Ensemble began their rehearsals just last week. Student volunteers turn out for the ensemble has been wonderfully overwhelming, these kids love their improv!

We have had two rehearsals so far, with some returning members and some brand new, so much of our time the past two rehearsals have been spent reviewing "Oh! Pierre" cues. I have already seen an improvement in the students' ability to listen and react to what is happening in the ensemble, versus playing for playing sake. Students are definitely taking their time to make musical decisions that will influence the piece and are playing as an ensemble, instead of just following cues.

Next rehearsal I hope to have students call cues from the ensemble and possibly have a few student conductors lead. I think the following conversation outlines how important "Oh! Pierre" has become to these middle school students:

Student: Ms. D, I saw on the schedule we don't have a rehearsal in December. Why?

Me: I figured with the winter concert schedule and all of you being in so many ensembles we should have a break. Did I assume incorrectly?

WHOLE ENSEMBLE: Yes!

Student: Can we have an "Oh! Pierre" rehearsal before break? I can't go an entire month

without playing!