Bandtober!

Welcome to October. Or, if you are a band director, student, parent, enthusiast or perhaps more importantly, spouse of band director, this month is not October. It's Bandtober.

Yes, we started in August; perhaps earlier. Summer band came and went. Then the start of school and also this thing called September. But, if I'm being honest, I don't really remember September anymore. That might as well have been five years ago, not less than 30 days ago.

Bandtober is the culmination of almost countless hours of preparation and rehearsal. It is, as I like to think of it, the dessert you earn after having put in all of the effort to get through your vegetables. While it is a particularly stressful month, you still get to enjoy the fruition of your work. You get to reap what you have sewn. Bandtober -- and oh, how I wish I had coined this term -- is what we preach to our kids: "I'm not telling you it's going to be easy - I'm telling you it's going to be worth it."

Has it been easy? Has it been worth it?

Last night before our competition performance, I told my front ensemble students: "You have put in the work. You've had great attitudes. You keep showing up, wanting to improve. You've done everything I've asked. Now, you get to go perform. You get to enjoy what you've put into it. So tonight, I want you to enjoy it and I want you to look up at that audience and enjoy their feedback. Make eye contact with someone -- it'll freak them out! But, most importantly, enjoy what you get to bring them: a performance you have spent so much time to craft."

Let us give ourselves the same advice: we've put in the work, now we get to see our students perform. Let's enjoy what they bring to our audiences. And, let our passion for music be renewed by their passion for music.

Happy Bandtober!

Trip to Tokyo for the IDRS Duo Recital Performance

The trip of a lifetime has come and gone and it did not disappoint. To recap, my father Richard Rath -- a professional oboist, Yamaha Performing Artist and founding member of the International Double Reed Society -- and I applied and were invited to perform at the IDRS Convention held this past August in Tokyo.




Not only was it an awesome chance to go overseas and experience a country I might not ever be able to visit, but it was also an opportunity to put together a Duo Recital of works for Oboe and Percussion (primarily marimba and vibraphone).

This first album features pics from our layover in Honolulu up to and including the recital performance.

IDRS Photos, Album #1

The second album features our trip to Hamamatsu, Japan to tour the Yamaha Factory, and also includes some of the sight-seeing we experienced after the convention concluded.


IDRS Photos, Album #2

If you want to read more about how the recital came to be, you can click this LINK and read a blog post from this past spring.

Sunday School Question Submission Link

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZMH7VBC

Discussion Questions for "The Storm," Ep. 6 "Questions About Suffering" (City on a Hill Productions)

The Storm, City on a Hill Productions, featuring Kyle Idleman

Here are some discussion questions that can accompany The Storm, Episode 6, "Questions About Suffering."

1. What one or two things stood out to you about this video?

2. When has suffering or pain caused you to question the goodness of God? What about the existence of God?

3. Why is it hard for us to understand that God often does not intervene in the laws of nature?

4. What is a good response to those who raise questions about God not being powerful enough to counterbalance (or prevent) suffering, or who think He is indifferent? What do you say to people who think that God causes suffering?

5. What comfort can we take from Job's question of God, "Why me?" (Job 38:12-21) 

6. Reassurance for those who are suffering: "You are not alone," "I know how you feel," "God knows how you feel," "Pain has purpose," and "The pain will soon be over."   

7. What is the greatest comfort to those who are suffering? What is our response to those around us when they experience suffering?"

8. What questions about suffering do you still have?

Verses to keep in mind: 2 Corinthians 7:10, Romans 8:28-29, 2 Samuel 12:16-20, 1 Corinthians 2:9, Revelation 21:3-4.

Next week: Episode 7: Questions About Prayer

Discussion Questions for "The Storm, Ep. 5 "Questions About Jesus (Part 2)" (City on a Hill Productions)

The Storm, City on a Hill Productions, featuring Kyle Idleman

Here are some discussion questions that can accompany The Storm, Episode 5, "Questions About Jesus (Part 2)."

1. At any point in your life have you wrestled with Jesus' statement from John 14:6 ("I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to Father except through me.")?

2. Did you ever believe that there were "many ways to God?" What would you say to someone who claimed this?

3. Did you ever find yourself facing the "Wrong Way" sign? When did you know that you were on the "One Way" sign?

4. Why are Jesus' claims not arrogant, but authoritative?

5. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Now read James 2:14-17 and verse 26. Why do we feel as we must do something of our own accord and will to gain our salvation?

6. Read Acts 2:27-38, then 8:35-38. What are we supposed to do if we want to become a Christian? Is baptizing "doing?" (Luke 23:39-43)

7. What did you think about Kyle's analogy about being invited to a party at the White House? Have you ever thought about finding a different way to "get to God?" Why is it acceptable that there only be one way (or road) to God?

8. What questions about Jesus do you still have?


Next week: Episode 6: Questions About Jesus, Part 2

Discussion Questions for "The Storm, Ep. 4 "Questions About Jesus (Part 1)" (City on a Hill Productions)

The Storm, City on a Hill Productions, featuring Kyle Idleman

Here are some discussion questions that can accompany The Storm, Episode 4, "Questions About Jesus (Part 1)."

1. What one or two things about this video stood out to you?

2. How do the historical accounts of the deaths of the Apostles strengthen the argument that Jesus was the one true Messiah?

3. How does the extremely violent nature in which Christ died strengthen the argument that Jesus was the one true Messiah?

4. Who did you think Jesus was before you came to accept him as Lord: Liar, Lunatic or Legend? 

5. What would you say to someone who sees Jesus as Liar, Lunatic or Legend? What scriptures and facts might you point them to?

6. Have you ever thought about the "swoon theory" or "wrong tomb theory" before? What about the "stolen body" theory? What would you say to someone who thinks one of these is correct?

7. Have you struggled with any of the other aspects of Jesus' historicity? What doubts have you had when accepting Jesus as who He said He was?

8. What questions about Jesus do you still have?


Next week: Episode 5: Questions About the Jesus, Part 2

Discussion Questions for "The Storm, Ep. 3 "Questions About the Bible" (City on a Hill Productions)

The Storm, by City on a Hill Productions, featuring Kyle Idleman

Here are some discussion questions that can accompany The Storm, Episode 3, "Questions About Bible."

1. What one or two things about this video stood out to you?

2. Have you ever questioned the authority of the Bible? Was there a certain part that you grappled with?

3. Why does the authenticity or historicity of the Bible matter?

4. Why is it important that all scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit? (2 Tim. 3:16)

5. How does the evidence of the Bible changing people's lives add weight to its legitimacy?

6. Why is it important for Christians to read their bibles regularly/daily and systematically?

7. Why do you think some people would rather read books about the Bible, rather than the Bible itself?

8. What questions about the Bible do you still have?

Next week: Episode 4: Questions About the Jesus, Part 1

Discussion Questions for "The Storm, Ep. 2: "Questions About Creation" (City on a Hill Productions)

The Storm, by City on a Hill Productions, featuring Kyle Idleman

Here are some discussion questions that can accompany The Storm, Episode 2, "Questions About Creation."

1. What one or two things about this video stood out to you?

2. How has the debate between Creationism and Evolution challenged or strengthened your personal faith in God?

3. Why is it important that Christians hold steadfast to the Bible's account of Creation?

4. What are some things you might say to a diehard Evolutionist to defend Creationism?

5. What has been the greatest indication of Creation you have personally witnessed?

6. Are there are any arguments made by Evolutionists that you struggle with? What are they?

7. C.S. Lewis famously argued in his book Mere Christianity that "conscience reveals to us a moral law whose source cannot be found in the natural world, thus pointing to a supernatural Lawgiver." How does the presence of a common moral code strengthen the Creationist's case?

8. What questions about Creation do you still have?

Next week: Episode 3: Questions About the Bible

The Beginning Percussion Balancing Act

In this blog post, I have recreated several emails I have received over the years that are essentially asking for advice for the same problem: beginner percussionists often only want to drum and are uninterested in playing keyboard instruments.


          Help! I'm having trouble getting my beginner percussionists to enjoy playing mallets whatsoever. They only want to play on their practice pads. They complain every day when we get out the bell kits. I have found it impossible to keep them engaged or interested without complaining.

          I've tried a number of things on bells to help increase the "fun factor." We play easy tunes and work on simple scale patterns and arpeggios. Even though they are more engaged, they still tell me they'd rather not play keyboard and would rather just "hit stuff."

          I refuse to lower my standards for them, and I've started testing them over bells more, but that doesn't even work. It's just making all of us frustrated!

          -- Ticked off in Texas



Everyone who has taught Beginning Percussion has had this problem, and it's one that we will probably face regularly throughout our careers. Having some solid strategies in the classroom certainly makes a big difference, but so does selecting the right student for Beginning Percussion. That, however, warrants its own separate blog post.

One thing I've seen advised is to start your percussion class on keyboard and only once the class has reached a certain baseline of ability do you move on to snare pad. In theory, this takes students at the beginning of the year when they are most excited about playing and puts their focus on something they might normally dread. I can see where this might work for some educators, but when I tried it, it was a colossal failure and I felt like I spent the rest of the year trying to salvage that class.

Here's why: the fundamentals of snare drum carry over in so many ways to keyboard playing (grip, stroke, principals of rebound even though it's minimal). When you target keyboards first, you have to address all of those fundamentals, but you also have to do all of the theory work that is necessary for them to be able to get started. For even the above average middle school student it can be completely overwhelming.

Consider what it's like to start a wind student: you have to work on putting the instrument together, breathing, forming an embochure and getting a good sound. You have more time to gradually introduce theory concepts along the way. By contrast, percussionists are ready to go, right away and don't struggle with getting a good sound -- just a good grip and stroke.

The most successful classes I've taught have followed this format: the first 6 weeks of school are spent on snare pad only. In the 7th week, we do a week of keyboard only to help introduce the instrument and form a foundation of simple playing. Then in the 8th week and beyond, we start each day on keyboard and after half of our time has elapsed, we switch to snare pad.

The reason this has seemed to work so well is that in addition to creating a solid set of physical fundamentals, students have also learned a good deal of rhythmic vocabulary and basic, non-pitched theory along the way. Then when you introduce the keyboards, they are only having to learn where the notes are on the staff and on the keyboard. While that can still be an uphill trek, it's a far lower grade of learning curve. As a bonus, we also know that the best percussion method books start with only a few notes to learn on keyboard, so students are still "starting small" when they are introduced to keyboard.

It's worth mentioning that during the first 6 weeks of school, even while we are working only on snare pad, I try to "hype" keyboard instruments as much as possible. You can show your students some videos of some DCI front ensembles or maybe some jazz vibraphone. I've shown kids high-end stuff like "Velocities" before and they've watched in wonderment (of course, so do I!). Also, if there's an opportunity to bring up keyboard playing I'll mention how cool it is and how much fun they are going to have doing it. Yes, it is a self-fulfilling prophecy!

My final thought is this: I would caution you to not approach keyboard playing as a gateway back to snare drum. Playing keyboards well should be the goal, not just passing it off, so you can do something different. Think about piano class in college. No one wanted to be there, they just wanted to pass it off and get on with their lives. When kids see something as just a barrier to get to something else, they won't enjoy the barrier. Keyboard playing is not a barrier, it's a joy and a wonderful part of being a percussionist. Playing music is always the goal. Getting through keyboards just so you can play snare again is a cue to your students that you don't value keyboard playing, either.

Those might be stern words, but we need to remember that our students will take on our attitude about playing percussion. If our attitude is to truly embrace percussion as a whole, we need to make sure that our words and actions follow that belief. Our enthusiasm for keyboard playing should be infectious!

Discussion Questions for "The Storm, Ep. 1: "Questions About God" (City on a Hill Productions)

The Storm, by City on a Hill Productions, featuring Kyle Idleman

Here are some discussion questions that can accompany the first episode of The Storm, Episode 1, "Questions About God."

1. What one or two things from this video stood out to you?

2. How has what you've learned in the Bible changed your view and understanding of God?

3. In Psalm 19:1-4, scripture tells us that God has revealed himself through nature. How have you felt God's presence and witnessed His design in nature?

4. While God has revealed himself in His scripture and in nature, we still have difficulty fully grasping His entirety. How does not knowing His entirety discourage us? How can not knowing God's entirety be an encouragement?

5. Let's talk about Free Will. On the extremes are Causation and Open-Theism. Causation states that every thing that can possibly be chosen is fully ordained by God -- that we effectively have no Free Will. Open-Theism says that God created the world, set everything into motion and is now powerless to control any of it. Which side do you think you are closer to? Why?

6. When have you felt strongly about needing to know God's Will in a decision you had to make? How did you come to the point at which you could make the decision?

7. How does knowing more about the revealed nature of God help us shift our attention away from ourselves and begin to focus more on Him?

8. What questions about God do you still have?

Oboe & Percussion Duo Recital Performance this August in Tokyo!

My father, Richard Rath, and I have a background of performing together. He is an oboist, but started on alto saxophone and then eventually learned to double professionally on all of the woodwind instruments. He is one of those guys who has so much talent that honestly, it can be pretty sickening.

As I neared the end of my college days, we looked for some duets that we might be able to perform on my Junior and Senior recitals. We found a few really good ones and later, when we wanted another excuse to perform together, I wrote one for us.

As a charter member of the International Double Reed Society, my father has been fairly involved at previous conventions, as a lecturer and attender. But, about two years ago he approached me about performing a duo recital at the 2015 convention being held in Tokyo, Japan. My reaction was reminiscent of my teenage days when I tended to be somewhat dismissive towards my parents: "Yeah sure. Whatever you want to do, Dad." (I always was a little bit of a people-pleaser.)

Steadily over the course of the next couple of years, we sifted through an enormous amount of literature for Oboe and any number of Percussion instruments. I was rather shocked at just how much music there is that I had never heard of by wonderful composers whose names I was not yet familiar with. This past December, we had to nail down a few of those pieces and submit them along with our proposal. Dad sent off the proposal and waited anxiously. I completely forgot about it.

At the beginning of this past March, he forwarded me the acceptance email he had received. Startled, I called him immediately only to find him as cool as a cucumber, speaking nonchalantly about performing in Japan. You know. No big deal.

No big deal? Yes: BIG DEAL.

Once I realized we were good to go, I had to ask for special permission to miss the week before school starts. The convention is August from the 15th-21st. For more info, the convention's website is idrs2015.org/

So, we are making preparations left and right to get travel and accommodations nailed down as well as obtain all of the music we'll be performing and start to work out those details. It's all very exciting and not only is the performance going to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but this will be the first time I will have traveled off the continent!

More news to follow! Stay tuned!

I'll be making some updates through my Go Fund Me page and if you are even slightly interested in supporting our performance in Japan, you can go to GoFundMe.com