Wind Ensemble Welcomes Guest Instructors

On April 23rd, Haldane High School’s Wind Ensemble, directed by Jessica Stein, benefited from an incredible opportunity during their rehearsal to learn from professional musicians. During the exciting buildup to the Haldane Spring Concert in May, the band received special direction on their piece “Prelude No. 2,” composed by George Gershwin. Among the three special guests present on April 23 was Barton Green, the musician who arranged the piece. The second special guest was Curt Ebersole, head conductor of the Westchester Symphonic Winds. Ebersole served as a guiding force for the students, giving periodic direction. Though Prelude No. 2 does not include drums, the drum players still benefited from the arrangement. The third guest, Simon Boyar, is a composer and college educator specializing in percussion. Boyar founded the Simon Boyar School of Drums and Percussion in Westchester, which he now operates alongside his drum studio.

Green monitored the students thoughtfully throughout the rehearsal, watching his arrangement come to life. After hearing the band’s performance, he provided the group with direction on how to improve their execution, which the students incorporated. Robert Freimark, a Haldane senior who has been an outstanding talent in the band for 8 years and will continue his musical studies at William Paterson University in the fall, had a clarinet solo in “Prelude No. 2”. Green noted the importance of Freimark’s solo.

Throughout the rehearsal process, Ebersole served as a guiding force for the players. He stopped them periodically for critiques. He noted that the band was struggling to come together and play in a connected fashion. “We’re sort of playing in silos right now,” Ebersole stated. “And if we can connect those silos, this is all going to make more sense.” He also gave the students advice on their physical technique: “When you breathe and your diaphragm expands, your upper body has to move.”

Although the arrangement of “Prelude No. 2” does not include a strong percussion part, the percussionists still received a special opportunity. Boyar provided alternate activities for them, engaging all in Haldane’s music room. The group focused on technique and the core fundamentals of drum playing. Boyar pointed to specific people around the circle, asking them to tap a beat using their drum pads. Boyar’s main point throughout the rehearsal was that, to be successful as a drummer, it was crucial to be completely relaxed while playing. He then listened intently, offering guidance on how to improve.

After the rehearsal wrapped, Barton Green reflected on his high school band experience. He recognized the feeling of working to create a unified sound, and he said that watching the younger generation harkens back to that time. Green stated: “I played in a high school band myself…we would listen to each other while playing. Now that I’m on the other end of it, it feels like I’ve come full circle.”