Music of Robert Buckley

Over the years, Northwest Music has endeavored to promote local composers whenever possible. Around 2005, the North Shore Concert Band was a testing ground for new band works by local composer Robert Buckley. Two enterprising band members, John Gosden and Dave Simpson, decided to form their own publishing company, NS Musico, to promote these new works, many of which Northwest Music has highlighted at our annual reading sessions (see below).

Bob Buckley went on to have many of his pieces published by De Haske/Fentone Music in Europe which was subsequently purchased by Hal Leonard Corporation. Today Bob is one of Hal Leonard's most popular writers and also has works published by Alfred and Barnhouse. I listened to a demo recording of his new works due out this year and am certain he has more winners on the way. Look for them at this summer's reading sessions...

Robert Buckley selections featured in our reading sessions include:

2005: Cathedral Grove (Grade 3 Band), Shadow Play (available from Barnhouse through Northwest Music), This Is My Home (available from NS Musico through Northwest Music)

2006: Sea To Sky (available from NS Musico through Northwest Music)

2009: Procession Of The Sorcerers (Grade 4 Band)

2010: December (Grade 3 Band with Choir), Thunderbird (Grade 3 Band)

2011: Continuum (Grade 4 Band), Windjammer - Voyage Aboard a Tall Ship (Grade 4 Band)

Teaching Band with Excellence

Teaching Band With Excellence A Complete Curricular, Pedagogical and Administrative Resource written by Bruce Pearson and Ryan Nowlin, is a wealth of information for the band director compiled in one flexicoil book. All aspects of curriculum including music reading, sight reading, ear training, rehearsal structure, improvisation, breathing, articulation, balance, intonation, phrasing, assessment and more are covered in the first section.

The second section has an introduction to band instruments followed by an in depth coverage of each instrument. Topics covered are history of the instrument, members of each instrument family, playing range and transposition of each family member, how to select an instrument, choosing reeds, ligatures, mouthpieces and mutes, care, feeding and assembly of each instrument, posture, embouchure and tone production, as well as recommendations for identifying a student's suitability for a particular instrument.

The third section deals with administrative issues including recruitment and retention, budgets, understanding Purchase Orders, classroom management, motivation, lesson planning and organization, copyright, private lessons and parent support groups.

A Personal and Professional Growth section deals with resumés, cover letters, professional development, time management and personal wellness.

This is a valuable compendium, particularly for new band directors, and comes with a ringing endorsement from Peter Stigings at UBC MusEd, who was the first one shown the book, and the first one to buy it!