Student Band and Instrumental Experience at PC
Kerrie Stewart
Class: 2010
Major: Music Education
Concentration: Flute
My experiences playing with Symphonic Winds and PC Band during the past three years have been some of my best memories at Providence. When I first came to PC, I was hesitant to join the ensembles because I didn’t know if I could play well enough, but I soon learned that the all of the ensembles on campus are accommodating to instrumentalists of any level. Participating in Symphonic Winds, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many seasoned and student conductors, which I’ve found extremely beneficial both to my growth as a musician and to my education as a future music teacher. I’ve played everything from adaptations of orchestral classics to 20th century wind ensemble masterpieces to Broadway showtunes. My favorite part of Symphonic Winds has been the variety in music we play.
Although I enjoy Symphonic Winds, my favorite ensemble on campus is PC Band. I didn’t register for pep band my first semester at Providence, thinking that I couldn’t make such a time commitment and keep up with my studies. However, at the first hockey game, while sitting with some friends in the student section, I realized that I was making a huge mistake. I didn’t play one of the instruments in the ensemble, but the director was nice enough to give me a trumpet and introduce me to one of the trumpet players who was willing to teach me. Three years later, the majority of my friends on campus are involved in pep band, and I've witnessed some great victories for the Friars, most notably the hockey team beating BC on Halloween my freshman year and the basketball team upsetting #1 ranked Pittsburgh this past season. Free courtside seats at the Dunk are a great perk, and I’ve also been lucky enough to travel with the basketball team down to New York City for the Big East Tournament and with the hockey team up to Boston for the Hockey East Tournament. Sports aside, my favorite part of PC Band is the fact that over the three years that I’ve been involved with the group, our sound has improved so much that I just might call us the best band in the Big East!
All of the instrumental ensembles on campus are always looking for new members, so I would highly encourage anyone who plays an instrument, or who wants to learn, to sign up for one the ensembles, or at least to come check out a rehearsal or performance. Whether you want to play music by Mozart, Holst, Ozzy Osbourne, or the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, there’s an ensemble on campus waiting for you!
Stephanie Meyer
Class: 2010
Major: Music Education
Concentration: Saxophone
I didn't know that I would be so involved with music until my senior year of high school. I wasn't very serious about practicing or growing as a saxophonist, and that could have been a result of my high school concert band. I had a few great experiences during my high school career, but I never had what I considered a memorable or remarkable time in concert band. I was a marching band geek, and I didn't care much for sitting in an auditorium playing the same hokey Christmas songs every year. It wasn't until I got to PC that I really understood what a good concert band consists of - hard work and dedication on the part of the members and director, as well as quality repertoire that was challenging but unique. Although the directors always find a way to get a march somewhere in the concert, I do not recall ever playing the same piece twice, which is saying something, since I've been involved in the concert band since my Freshman year (count it, that's six semesters!). That's what is so great about the band - we are exposed to a wide variety of music from different time periods and genres which are challenging but achieveable. The group is open to anyone who can play an instrument, so there are many different levels of skill, but you wouldn't know that just from listening to the concerts we've put on. The concert band (or Wind Ensemble, or Symphonic Winds, whatever it's called now) has also given me the opportunity to learn soprano sax, something I've always wanted to do but never had the chance. It is an amazing feeling knowing that I am not wasting my time in rehearsals. The adage "You learn something new every day" definitely finds truth in the concert band.
One thing that has greatly contributed to the diverse repertoire is the equally diverse selection of directors I've had the pleasure to work with these past three years. Not only has the group had three different directors (four if you include next year), it has also brought in other conductors to work with us in conjunction with the Rhode Island All-State Festival held at PC every spring. Many people may see this as a negative, but I can guarantee you that the vast range of musical selections, from Tchaikovsky orchestra reductions to Bernstein concert band pieces, is worth it. I always have something new and exciting to look forward to each year, and I know that my senior year will live up to the standards of years past.
John Ryan Cummings
Year: 2009
Major: Music Performance/Political Science
Concentration: String Bass
Playing both the String Bass and the Electric Bass afforded me a multitude of opportunities in the PC music department. Being one of only a few bass players in the department, I was needed from day one, and it provided me with a great experience from the very beginning. I was lucky enough to join the Big Band as a freshman, and I benefited from it greatly. I was not the best player in the band as a freshman obviously, but my playing improved significantly as a result of being surrounded by superior jazz musicians. Dr. Kelton chose an appropriate repertioire for our instrumentation, and it was a fun and educational experience.
The orchestra, while underwhelming at first glance, proved to be much more rewarding than it originally appeared. The size is that of a chamber orchestra. While most institutions with an orchestra this size might choose to play music of the high school nature, our director Alexey Shabalin, his first year being my freshman year, was confident enogh to choose challenging material that made our rehearsals worth our time. We recently performed the entire Carmina Burana to two sold out audiences, and it was largely successful. The PC Orchestra is fortunate to be exposed to a top notch conductor (Alexey) at such an intimate setting.
However, my favorite ensemble that I took part in in my four years at PC was the Pep Band (also known as the PC Band). Being able to attend every basketball and hockey game is a blast to begin with, but to play music that we love at courtside for free is the ultimate icing on the cake! The camaraderie of the band through the games, weekly rehearsals and dinners, and other 'gatherings' were the best part of my undergraduate experience, and being elected conductor for my last two years added a whole new element to it.
Whether you sing, play an instrument or just want to broaden your musical horizons, the PC Music Department provides ample opportunity for all to experience music at its finest!
Zach Matook
Class: 2012
Major:
Concentration:
Before I arrived as a freshman in the class of 2012, I would never have thought that I would discover my major first semester. I was sure that I would take as much time as possible to settle on the right one. However, after joining Jazz Band, Symphonic Winds, and taking some various music courses, I realized that playing music is the one thing I love to do and that it would have to be part of my career. I am a jazz performance major here at PC and have loved every moment. I was the lead player in both the Symphony and the Jazz Band, which was a huge accomplishment for me and a great experience overall. The practices were fun and the performances exciting. I had gained a greater confidence in my abilities as a trumpet player and now want to play/perform as much as possible.
In Symphonic Winds I was able to play pieces that I never thought I would have the chance to play. The director, Dr. Kelton, does a great job of getting the band excited about every piece and makes sure we give our all when we practice as well as perform. He is very professional about his work and it shows through the level at which the band plays. He, like the band, strives to make great music whenever we perform. The Jazz Band is my favorite ensemble here at PC. This past year we were able to perform some of my favorite charts by greats such as Lee Morgan and Clifford Brown. Before I came to PC I was a shy player who never wanted to solo or play lead. However, after a couple months as a freshman, all I wanted to do was work on soloing as much as possible and building up my high register. As a member of the Jazz Band, I also had the experience of opening for the John Allmark Big Band, which was an awesome experience.
The PC music department has done so much for me. I have been part of something truly special and have grown immensely as a trumpet player/musician over all. The entire staff already knows my name and I have become friends with all the music students. It really feels like a separate school because everyone knows everyone and they all are here for the same reason, to play great music.