LIVE CONCERT WEBCAST
Monday, December 17, 2007 - 7:00 PM Central
Please join us, online or in person, as the McCracken Middle School Symphonic Band presents a live concert webcast Monday, December 17 on BandDirector.com. We're very excited about the program we've prepared for this performance and look forward to sharing it with you:

• Tricycle - Andrew Boysen, Jr.
• A Renaissance Revel - Tielman Susato, arr. Ken Singleton
  I. La Morisque
  II. Pavane: Si par souffrir
  III. Ronde & Salterelle
  IV. Ronde & Aliud
• Lydian Lullaby - Robert Sheldon
• Overture for Winds - Charles Carter
• Simple Gifts - Frank Ticheli
  I. In Yonder Valley
  II. Dance
  III. Here Take this Lovely Flower
  IV. Simple Gifts
• The King Across the Water - Bruce Fraser
  I. Battle
  II. Lament
  III. Dancing

If you know of anyone who may be interested in seeing this concert (friends, family, students) please pass the word or forward this email to them. We'll send out a reminder email the day of the concert.

2008 IMEA ALL-STATE CONFERENCE
Attending the 2008 Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Conference? Be sure to check out our session Beyond Their Years II: Tone, Pitch, and the Young Band on Friday, February 1 at 11:00 AM in room CC403/404.

Using the McCracken Symphonic Band as a demonstration group, the session will cover strategies for getting young students to play with mature characteristic tone and pitch. While geared towards the middle school level, the concepts are universal and can be used at any level. If it's a topic that interests you, or if you just like to listen to chorales, we'll see you there!

Also, if you missed Bruce Pearson's Principles of Expressive Playing: Bringing Life to the Notes with Young Ensembles at the Midwest Clinic last year, be sure to check it out at IMEA Friday, February 1 at 2:00 PM in room CC401. We jumped at the chance to serve as a demonstration group for this session again. His work with our students was a real turning point in our Midwest Clinic preparations a year ago. You will leave the session with several effective and practical methods to getting your students to play more expressively. Mr. Pearson's handout from the 2006 Midwest Clinic is archived at the Midwest Clinic website.