Band BFFs

In this episode of Band BFFs, the hosts dive into Cumbia by Jorge Vargas, a colorful Grade 1.5 Latin chart in concert B♭ where style and groove matter more than difficulty. They stress percussion depth, clean articulation, and rhythmic independence.

In this episode of Band BFFs, the hosts dive into Above and Beyond by James Swearingen, a short concert E♭ fanfare that sounds impressive without extreme demands. They focus on phrasing, quick dynamic contrasts, and its accessibility for younger or non-varsity bands.

In this episode of Band BFFs, the hosts dive into Squirrel Chase by Carol Brittin Chambers, a playful concert B♭ gallop packed with sound effects, driving percussion, and crisp dotted-eighth/sixteenth style. They highlight storytelling, style, and why it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

In this episode of Band BFFs, the hosts dive into Triumphs by Joshua Hinkel, a fast concert B♭ fanfare with bold brass, a lyrical middle section, and strong opener/closer potential. They emphasize articulation, balance, and shaping long phrases.

In this episode of Band BFFs, the hosts dive into Whispers in the Wind by Robert Sheldon, a gorgeous Grade 1 lyrical piece in concert B♭ (about 2 minutes) that’s perfect for teaching phrasing, balance, and mature tone. They highlight its simple scoring (no split parts, limited percussion) and share rehearsal tips like shaping “4 leads to 1,” training staggered breathing, and listening for the moving line to keep sustained parts musical.

In this episode of Band BFFs, the hosts dive into Union March by Mekel Rogers, a bite-size (about 1:15) concert E♭ march in 2/4 that’s perfect for teaching classic march roles—melody, countermelody, and motor—without split parts or heavy percussion. They share quick rehearsal wins like keeping notes resonant (not too short), using “tau” for clean accents, and watching tuning/articulation in the brief “dogfight” and a few accidental moments, making it an easy, catchy programming pick for young bands.

This week's episode is a first for the "Band BFFs"! We were honored to record a crossover podcast episode with Kyle Smith of "The Growing Band Director"! We had great conversation about how and why we choose pieces and even literature for our own bands. We spoke about some of our favorite pieces and Kyle gave great insight to us as well! Check out this informative and fun Crossover episode with "The Growing Band Director"!

In this episode of Band BFFs, the hosts dive into Destiny Fanfare by Mekel Rogers, exploring its energetic march-like character, approachable range, and percussion-driven fanfare style. They share practical insights for balancing parts, shaping phrasing, and programming it as a concert fanfare or a march, or even for an All Region band!

In this Band BFFs episode, the hosts break down Randall Standridge’s Choose Joy, which is a brisk, high-energy showpiece with lots of percussion, a calm middle section, and an “Ode to Joy” moment—ideal year-round (especially winter concerts). They highlight practical rehearsal tips (clean articulation, balance), range demands for first trumpet, and all the cool percussion moments!

In this Band BFFs episode, the hosts break down JaRod Hall’s You Better Sleigh!—a funk-style, cut-time crowd-pleaser in concert B♭, which is packed with call-and-response lines, sax and low-brass features, and fun claps that make it a standout for winter concerts and elementary demo visits! They stress clean, independent counting for the syncopation, ample percussion coverage, and smart layering to keep the groove tight and the showmanship high!