How long do you spend working up a test piece?

[Jezzabell]

Not sure if this 1s been covered! but we spent just over 2 weeks running up to the areas on our test piece, and I was wondering how long everyone else spends? (on average)

 

[drummergurl]

for the areas my band started rehearsin it in january

 

[lynchie]

we started in January as I remember it...

 

[The Cornet King]

We started work on Tristan after Christmas :?

Was a looooooooong 3 months!

 

[Hollso]

We got Vizcaya out in november! We wanted to 'break it's back' and then twiddle with it etc.

 

[Straightmute]

I normally allow six weeks but much will depend on the band's other commitments and the difficulty of the piece. With Tristan we had five weeks (following a contest and a major concert) but we used our time more intensively than usual and included a couple of extra rehearsals in the week before the contest.

D

 

[Euph-Bari]

We only started work on Coventry 4 weeks before, when we got our new conductor - we had looked at at a bit before christmas though but not much

 

[Tuba Dave]

we started in january as well on Coventry variations.

I heard that Zone 0ne brass only had 4 rehersals. :shock:

 

[Dave Euph]

From End of Christmas? So basically just over 3 months ... :?

 

[louise0502]

got it out just before xmas, but really rehearsed it after xmas

 

[HBB]

We had a few blow throughs in Nov, to get adjusted, then hard work after Jan. About 3½ months.

 

[Andy_Euph]

The band started on Kaleidescope in January and I started practises in feburary, got very bored after about 3 weeks though... but the work paid off in the end

In theory if the band can technically play the parts I think two weeks is long enough to work up a piece.

 

[PeterBale]

I know this is not my band, and is probably exceptional, but I was talking to Simon Dobson of Zone One Brass at the Areas, and he was regretting the fact that they had only managed 4 rehearsals on Coventry Variations.

 

[Dave1]

We looked at Vizcaya before Xmas then picked up with it on return in January. Never really had a full rehearsal till the week before but that is usual I'm afraid for a lot of bands.
Rehearsing test pieces is down to how settled the band are, and what piece you are playing. I think 4-6 weeks is pretty reasonable.

 

[Steve]

If the players can all play the notes I think 4/5 rehearsals is all you need really. Obviously the lower down the sections you go, the more time you need to spend note bashing rather than shaping the music. I cant remember when we started on Kaleidescope but I think it was about mid January when it started completely taking over every rehearsal.

 

[AJSOP]

but we spent just over 2 weeks running up to the areas on our test piece

Yea, just over 2 wks, with the last wk being most nights.

 

[Mike Saville]

far too long. I would like to be in the 4 rehearsal brigade!

 

[Jezzabell]

tru AJ! but to be honest we dint really need them did we!? It dint help however only having a full band on the sat, n the conest was on the sun!

 

[Australian Euphonium]

I like this topic. I think that a short run up to a test piece is good because it keeps the mottifs and ideas fresh and your performance will always have a positive intuitive energy about it. Keeping tests on the stands for ages has obvious benefits but can make a performance sound to mechanical and over-rehearsed. It's good when you can balance a healthy new energy towards music whilst still feeling the sentiment of playing a cracker contest performance of a good piece that you've grown attatched to over a period of time.

 

[eckyboy]

Early January for Tristan with real work 4 weeks before-came 5th so maybe should have done a wee bit more.