Sounds of Music B

[gneissisnice]

Is this event worth the work?

That's highly personal opinion, but I believe so.

It's difficult, I'm not going to lie and tell you it's not. But I love writing and transposing music. It's so much fun, and I personally love that part. I dislike learning the physics of Sound, but my partner is a ringer for the test/interview portion. We're a good match in the way that we can split up the work, so maybe that influences my feelings about this event.

It takes many hours of building, tuning, studying, and dedication. But in the end, it's going to pay off. At states, my partner and I didn't think we broke the top 10, even though we did our best. So at awards, as they called the places, he hugged me and told me that we tried. Just then, our name flashed onto the powerpoint as the silver medal, and I think I screamed. All of that work, all of that time, all of that stress... It's worth it.

However, I may or may not repeat this event next year. It can be extremely exhausting at times, but one can argue that it's all worth it.

Haha well, you also might want to start working on the music before the Thursday before the competition, it'll be less exhausting. But you guys were fantastic, I'm proud of you.

[silverheart7]

Haha well, you also might want to start working on the music before the Thursday before the competition, it'll be less exhausting. But you guys were fantastic, I'm proud of you.

Not my fault! My partner created an arrangement with three flats in the key signature and strange sharps everywhere. Therefore, our coach made us rearrange a different song! Thanks for helping me, though! I hope you're around before Nats, I need you!

EDIT: I feel inclined to note that my partner is brilliant, and that the arrangement was amazing. I just couldn't physically play the song!

[ScienceOlympian]

Hi guys.
Is creativity, in your opinion, important? If you get 0 points in creativity (what if), but you get relatively high scores in the interview, playing and the scale, is it possible to get a medal in Regionals? State? (Just estimate).
Would you care if you got a low score in creativity but got a pretty good score on everything else?

[silverheart7]

Hi guys.
Is creativity, in your opinion, important? If you get 0 points in creativity (what if), but you get relatively high scores in the interview, playing and the scale, is it possible to get a medal in Regionals? State? (Just estimate).
Would you care if you got a low score in creativity but got a pretty good score on everything else?

I don't see how you could get absolutely no points on creativity. However, you still could medal depending on the competition. Many teams will lose more points on tone/performance/test, so you could probably comphrensate theoretically.

[ali941]

I do know that at the Churchill Invitational this year, the 5th place team for Sounds of Music placed because they were the only team to answer the questions correctly. I went afterwards, and the questions were all very simple. As in stuff that it only takes a day to master. You could completely bomb creativity (not sure how), but if you do well enough on the other portions that should provide some compensation. Besides, I think it's only 5 points anyways, out of total 100.

[ScienceOlympian]

You can't go over the allowable range, right? I wanted to make a three octave concert marimba but (if the next year's rules did not change), then I could only do two octaves without losing points.
Am I right? Hopefully that rule should change.
Also, a PVC flute can go higher or lower than the allowable range if you have a tight embouchure (spelling).
How is it allowed then?
Also, is a Harry Potter Medley a good piece to play? Or is it too common? Like Harry's Wondrous World or something like that,

[silverheart7]

You can't go over the allowable range, right? I wanted to make a three octave concert marimba but (if the next year's rules did not change), then I could only do two octaves without losing points.
Am I right? Hopefully that rule should change.
Also, a PVC flute can go higher or lower than the allowable range if you have a tight embouchure (spelling).
How is it allowed then?

Yes, you're supposed to stay inside the two octave range.

I've always understood that it's the demonstrated range that they grade you on. So, you would generally make a good attempt to play only within the specifications. However, this is my first year of Sounds and so, I don't really know.

Anything that sounds good and that the judges will recognize is fine. Even if they won't recognize it, the piece should be arranged to show off your instruments. You want to demonstarate range, tone, chords, etc. as much as possible.

[ali941]

I wouldn't call a Harry Potter medley common in the least. But, following what silverheart7 said, you want to make sure that your piece shows off both instruments. Depending on what you built, maybe have a few harmonious chords in there, or do offbeats for part of it. You can always change the piece to fit your instrument.

Oh, and last ditch plan: you can always resort to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

[silverheart7]

I wouldn't call a Harry Potter medley common in the least. But, following what silverheart7 said, you want to make sure that your piece shows off both instruments. Depending on what you built, maybe have a few harmonious chords in there, or do offbeats for part of it. You can always change the piece to fit your instrument.

Oh, and last ditch plan: you can always resort to Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

Other last ditch plan: Ode to Joy

[ScienceOlympian]

Thanks!
I can't wait until the rules come out!
But this year's rules for instrument 2: I want to build a marimba for Instrument 2, but the scale is pretty low so I have to make a bass marimba instead.
So is it better to make a marimba for my Instrument 1 and a bass flute or something for Instrument 2?
Hopefully they will change the scales next year.