April 2024 

Gearing Up

The grant period began on April Fool's Day! In order to begin sampling the WSU Band students, equipment needed to be purchased as soon as possible. The Creative Individuals grant is rare in that up to half of the grant money can be used to purchase hardware and software.

Gear for this project includes:

• Apple MacBook Air  (15",  M2, 16 GB, 1 TB)

• Ableton Live 12 (Suite)

• 4-Novation Launchkey Mini MIDI Keyboards

• 2-Røde NT1 Condenser Microphones

• Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 Audio Interface 

• Audio-Technica ATH-M40x Headphones 

• On-Stage MS7701B Microphone Stands

• 4 port USB C Power Hub

• Miscellaneous XLR and USB cables

Since some of the equipment won't be used until fall, it was important to test everything.

A photo of a very cluttered testing setup in my home studio

Change on the podium

WSU Director of Bands Dr. Melanie Brooks Dinh took maternity leave in mid-March 2024. She was offered and accepted a yearlong sabbatical for the 24-25 academic year. Dr. Janet Heukeshoven (yes, we're married!) was appointed interim band director and will rehearse and conduct the premiere of re-synth in November.

Sampling Begins

First chair student musicians representing all the instruments of the band were given a set of scales and arpeggios in 4 different modes: Dorian, Phyrgian, Mixolydian, and Lydian. View a PDF of the sampling music.

The work will be in 3 movements following the Concerto Grosso form of fast-slow-fast.

The WSU Band members are voting on whether they prefer Dorian or Phrygian mode for the second movement. (Results will be posted soon!)

In addition to the modal excerpts, the band members are asked what "crazy" sounds can they make on their instruments –  and were they ever creative!

Day 1: Kennidi K. does something wild with her sax neck and Chase L. nails the trumpet examples.