2008 Plans Boiling...

SENSE students, families, friends of the SENSE Band -- and Boilermaker fans -- have reason to be excited for 2008.



The physical space SENSE occupies has an interesting musical history, including the fact that it is the birthplace of the famed Big Bass Drum of Purdue University, long considered the largest drum in the world. Select percussionists in distinctive helmets play the drum at every home football game, as well as parades and other special events.


Motor City Bowl, 2007. Purdue prevailed in the last seconds, 51-48.

Mrs. Chase, an alumna of Purdue and Kindergarten teacher here at SENSE, suggested the wonderful idea that we contact Purdue bands to let them know about our school history and forming band. Long story short: in March we might have a special visit from one BIG drum. What a great opportunity for our students.

Completed Mr. Holland's Opus Grant

Well, thanks to Diane Hanebutt, our Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation grant is completed and sent. I'll keep you posted on our fate!

Student's Family Donates Trombone

A family member of one of our fourth grade students donated his trombone this Wednesday. It is exciting to see people pulling together to make this band happen. As we get more information about the donation, I'll pass it along! It was something of a surprise to see this student walk in the music room with a trombone for the band this morning, as you might expect.

This student has been most excited this week about the drums, but who knows what instrument he might eventually play!

As the 2008-2009 year approaches, I find myself lapsing into more and more pleasant reveries of teaching students to play their first band instruments. For now, we're happy practicing for our singing/filming Christmas production for 2007, "Tracking Santa"...

Indianapolis Children's Choir (ICC)

While many students rest over the next two weeks, the SENSE music department will be gearing up for big events: we'll start ICC auditions, finalize our holiday program script and music, and plan the SENSE after school Acting Club (more details later)!


Fall Break is here!

The Indianapolis Children's Choir is an extremely healthy activity for band students (or any students at all). ICC has over 20 choirs, some of which are among the best children's choirs in the country. They have recorded for the MacMillan/McGraw-Hill music textbooks, performed for U.S. Presidents, and toured every year at the greatest halls in the world from Carnegie to St. Mark's Cathedral to the Vatican. For SENSE students last year, though, joining a beginning ICC choir was exciting for a different reason: first, they rehearsed on a college campus and none of them had been to one before; second, they learned difficult music, developing independence and pitch sensitivity they didn't know they had; and third, they discovered how exciting it is to work with peers in a focused, progressive atmosphere.

We have 35 students from 4th-6th grade who have asked for more information about auditions! Wow! There are only about 80+ students in 4th-6th grades here, total. I hope that we end up with at least 10-15 students who are accepted and who can make the transportation and financial arrangements.

There is a mandatory meeting to discuss these details on Friday, October 5 at 5:30pm in the SENSE music room. We will arrange carpools if possible and we enjoy refreshments. Be there!

A Little Bit about Reeds

Arundo donax, a species of giant reed plant (cleverly called "Giant Reed" in English) has a long and important musical history. Flutes and pan flutes have been carved from these wooden tubes for at least 5,000 years. Musicians now use arundo donax primarily as the material for the "reeds" that are vibrated with breath in many woodwind instruments.


Giant Reed (arundo donax) is used for musical instruments from pan flutes to saxophone reeds.


An alto saxophone reed strapped to the mouthpiece.

Warps, grain variations, density variations, shaving imperfections, and even the variations of different musicians' mouths make finding that perfect reed quite complex for experienced musicians. But for beginners what is needed is just a new, well-seated, un-chipped reed of the correct strength. Having a nice reed makes all the difference in how fun and productive playing is!

Since cane reeds last about 2 weeks to 2 months, depending upon the size of the reed and the frequency of playing, some companies have begun making synthetic reeds out of proprietary formulas. Some of these sound OK, but of course the main attraction is how durable they are.


Synthetic baritone sax reeds. Synthetic reeds are valued for their durability, not quality of sound.