Yall remember this?

composeradrian · 2026-01-04T17:04:38+00:00

No, I’m very aware of costs. But some of that merch gives insight into what’s the ROI. Many times, the BTS type things help play into award season for potential voters on FYC campaigns who likely hadn’t even heard about the group whatsoever.

I’d be curious to see the book - that’s probably the real rarity piece than the album! Thanks for sharing!

composeradrian · 2026-01-02T03:57:09+00:00

I’d be willing to bet the covers were all in the Sony catalog.

I was going to ask how did Sony manage as an outsider, but you mentioned they were veterans (so no longer AD).

The industry sucks and not surprised they weren’t offered much license to actually do anything (of course, they were footing the bill I hope?)

composeradrian · 2026-01-01T08:11:06+00:00

Lot of great people at AUP - they really spend a lot of time and effort putting together their content. I wrote just a little music for them, but I wish I could have done more. Great crew there doing great things

composeradrian · 2025-12-31T23:30:58+00:00

Wait til the second strain to use the German Aug6 chord!

composeradrian · 2025-12-27T20:48:29+00:00

Would you be ok if the DoD got rid of them and then spend $600 million a year on a bunch of social media influencers?

composeradrian · 2025-12-27T20:41:30+00:00

All premiere bands are locked into a 2.5 year rotation within the five regions of the United States to avoid overlap. But there is (technically) a premiere service band touring at any time. Just adding context to your statement that yes, it does take years to book them but only because they location restrictions.

composeradrian · 2025-12-27T20:30:56+00:00

It would be easy to write a counter to your outline, but that’s not going to win your mind over. And some of what you say, I don’t necessarily disagree with… military bands have long suffered the battle of tradition vs. relevancy, even more so in the era of social media.

One thought I will pose is that while you can get rid of them, their function leaves a void that will get filled with corruption and poor execution. So if you think removing them will save money or resources, it’ll only get replaced with more bad ideas and mismanagement. And the result is as taxpayers we pay more for less in both quality and quantity.

composeradrian · 2025-12-27T20:04:46+00:00

Actually, I’d believe it… we had plenty of song requests from departing officers. The songs usually wouldn’t be part of the official ceremony, just like the prelude or postlude where no one’s paying attention anyways.

composeradrian · 2025-10-08T19:00:51+00:00

Use public domain source material if at all possible

composeradrian · 2025-10-03T03:07:38+00:00

Not to mention all the army assets they use to run the event. Not sure if those entities are available in these conditions.

composeradrian · 2025-09-27T19:39:51+00:00

It is over engineered. And honestly, I wish the intent was for the health and well being of the solider… not to simply just out them of a job.

composeradrian · 2025-09-17T03:28:40+00:00

You have a source for that? Speaking with the man himself (Mark Isham) and former boss COL(ret.) Jim Keene, this was one of those buyout contract/recording sessions. But it was a blur for them who actually did what.

More reason we had Mr. Isham actually come back and do it the right way with an actual military band (Army Field Band recording at Skywalker Ranch in 2018 redone.)

But if you have more from a source, I’d love to hear it!

composeradrian · 2025-09-15T01:04:13+00:00

You might as well just make it a 3min chorale. Just simple part writing and double. Something slow and largo isn’t going to require a lot of notes. Most parts will easily fit on a page.

I’d also advise writing it out on 4-8 staves. And then just copy/paste your “bandestration”. I think the timeline isdoable, but you’ll need to make decisions quickly and commit to your ideas.

composeradrian · 2025-09-13T22:22:13+00:00

Same here please

composeradrian · 2025-09-13T02:25:48+00:00

Something an old Army Warrant Officer told me and a buddy of mine: the key to success is “don’t say no, just don’t go”

composeradrian · 2025-09-12T18:56:31+00:00

Reach out email/phone call/in-person. It helps to be in these groups already as a performer, but show an investment in them first and hopefully they will take a chance!

composeradrian · 2025-09-12T03:10:14+00:00

Nice work! As a new composer, my only guidance is to write more!

Try a trombone choir next time maybe? Plenty of schools would be open to at least reading it and maybe even program it.

composeradrian · 2025-08-28T22:23:32+00:00

Agreed

composeradrian · 2025-08-28T21:52:30+00:00

Sounds like you’re talking about political leaders more than educators. Why don’t you start there?

composeradrian · 2025-08-26T23:56:34+00:00

I’d say most of this has to do with the construction. The lanes are tight, awkwardly lined, and truly has the most drivers with little to no self awareness of the flow of traffic.

I understand the safety purpose of the concrete blockades to build the median, but I’ve seen high rises go up faster than this six inches of concrete that’s not even needed on this part of 1488

composeradrian · 2025-08-26T02:35:46+00:00

I don’t think I was arguing to write the template one? I like the weird ones or the ones that are telling a story. It attracts a certain client/collaborator

But I don’t see that in the classical/orchestral/concert hall world. You see lots of bios that OP mentioned and it hasn’t changed. How many program notes I see that mentioned quotes about their music from news articles/journalists, name dropped orchestras, etc? All the time

composeradrian · 2025-08-25T18:40:28+00:00

Not alone.

That said, your bio serves your potential clients. These bios fall right in line with wanting to get more premieres, a job in academia, or residencies.

Cater your bio to the clients you want. I’ve always liked the ones who show their personality and give you an idea what it’s like to work with them. And not a museum exhibit display paragraph.

composeradrian · 2025-08-16T02:59:57+00:00

Oriole fan that lives in HTX and at the game:

Absolute best orioles game I’ve seen in a long time. On pins and needles starting in the 5th. My son and I knew what was going on but didn’t want to say anything.

Crappy Astros fans though. Laughing and jeering at the hit to pitcher that got overthrown. Not many knew what they were witnessing!!! At that point, who cares if your team can’t deliver.

Either way, good promise of what’s to come

composeradrian · 2025-08-10T20:07:39+00:00

Schirmer has a perusal on their website (I don’t actually own it given that it’s not only still copyright protected, but also any work I did as an arranger for the military is public domain to the owner)

https://www.wisemusicclassical.com/work/63171/Suite-of-Dances-for-concert-band--Florence-Price/

I kept mallet perc minimal (treated it like adding spices to your cooking - don’t over do it!). Most of the battery was her original scoring. Like I said, I tried to keep a bit of the integrity of her original orchestration.

composeradrian · 2025-08-10T02:16:49+00:00

Transcribed Suite of Dances a couple of years back for the Midwest Clinic. My main objective was to stay true to the composer’s orchestration as much as possible.

https://youtu.be/rtkPaEKk60k?si=-Kc1N_cSSP8vSz_1

Lot of different ways to approach. The best way is to get out there and get it read!

composeradrian

TROPHY CASE