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Brian Balmages 37, Male Lutherville Timonium, MD United States: Share on Facebook Share on Facebook Share Twitter

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Measures of Success - Website
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Started this discussion. Last reply by Brian Balmages Aug 18, 2010.

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Brian Balmages replied to Brian Balmages's discussion 'Measures of Success - Website'

Hi Julian - the programming for SmartMusic 2011 is already complete. They are just checking it for accuracy. My guess is that it should be finalized in the next couple of weeks, maybe sooner. You can contact them directly for a more exact date, but…

Aug 18, 2010

Julian Wilson replied to Brian Balmages's discussion 'Measures of Success - Website'

Hey guys. When will Measures of Success be available in Smartmusic 2011?

Aug 17, 2010

Sharon L. Posey left a comment for Brian Balmages

Dear Brian: My students love your pieces. Hope JR & I can get you to come back to H'burg for another "Day with the Composer". Have a great summer. Sharon

Jun 23, 2010

Brian Balmages left a comment for JT Houser

Thank you JT. I appreciate the kind words. I just conducted that last night in Charlotte - I am very happy with the piece and what I've heard ensembles doing with it. All the very best to you and your group! -BB

May 19, 2010

JT Houser left a comment for Brian Balmages

Brian, My concert band just performed "Reverberations" this past weekend at Festival! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wonderful composition! I've tried introducing minimalism to the kiddos several times without success. My…

May 19, 2010

Brian Balmages commented on Brian Balmages's blog post 'BAND METHOD!'

I wanted to add a bit more information about the method. Many people have been asking about the HORN and PERCUSSION books. I'm happy to provide more specific information on both below... HORN: The horn has two approaches. The first is the…

Apr 13, 2010

Bryan Itzkowitz commented on Brian Balmages's blog post 'BAND METHOD!'

Brian, I'm very intrigued by the new method. I have requested from my music representative that they bring out a conductor's score so I can take a look at the rest of the instruments. From first glance, I have to agree with Russ. The…

Mar 28, 2010

BAND METHOD!

Hello all,Very exciting news from me and FJH. This week I'm going into the recording studio to begin recording a new band method that will be released by FJH with preview copies available at Midwest. The method, "Measures of Success," is written by an amazing team including Deb Sheldon (Temple University), Robert Sheldon, Timothy Loest, David Collier (Percussion, Univ. of Illinois), and myself. While we're not seeking to reinvent the wheel as many other methods have sound approaches, there are…See More

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Brian Balmages commented on Brian Balmages's blog post 'BAND METHOD!'

Russ, SmartMusic will definitely work with the method. I met with them in Chicago and they will have our entire method on SmartMusic by the time we release everything. So that's an absolute guarantee. We even have the logo on the front cover!…

Jan 13, 2010

Brian Balmages replied to Brian Balmages's discussion 'Measures of Success - Website'

Hi Tyson - great question. When EE2000 came out, SmartMusic was trying to increase their market share and visibility, so they made a deal with Hal Leonard to offer a sample of the method for directors to use and included all the software, etc. on…

Jan 6, 2010

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Current School Band Website: http://www.brianbalmages.com

Current School or School District Affiliation: The FJH Music Company

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BAND METHOD!

Posted on October 5, 2009 at 11:18am 6 Comments 0 Likes

Hello all,

Very exciting news from me and FJH. This week I'm going into the recording studio to begin recording a new band method that will be released by FJH with preview copies available at Midwest. The method, "Measures of Success," is written by an amazing team including Deb Sheldon (Temple University), Robert Sheldon, Timothy Loest, David Collier (Percussion, Univ. of Illinois), and myself. While we're not seeking to reinvent the wheel as many other methods have sound… Continue

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At 11:05am on October 9, 2010, Russ Weaver said…: Performed Reverberations last night. Big auditorium, great acoustical space and the students really enjoyed the piece. Really makes them count, and is a great piece to begin the year with because of this. I truly feel that pieces in this style allow young professionals to enjoy a composition with the safety of appropriate-range section security, while making each section listen across the band (at times across their section) and "Count" their parts to become part of larger line, phrase or musical sentence. Thanks for this composition, the students do not wish to have it picked up, but rather to leave in the books for future performances.

thanks Brian!

At 8:34am on June 23, 2010, Sharon L. Posey said…: Dear Brian:
My students love your pieces. Hope JR & I can get you to come back to H'burg for another "Day with the Composer". Have a great summer.

Sharon

At 8:20am on May 19, 2010, JT Houser said…: Brian,
My concert band just performed "Reverberations" this past weekend at Festival! Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wonderful composition! I've tried introducing minimalism to the kiddos several times without success. My students absolutely LOVED the piece. Thanks again so much for your hard work!

JT

At 9:09pm on April 27, 2010, Russ Weaver said…: Brian,
We are performing your African Journey tomorrow for recital with the developing band. Thanks for the forgiving scoring, the students really enjoy this piece because it was well thought through and well crafted.

At 3:05pm on December 25, 2009, Alex Shapiro said…: Hi Brian,

Thanks for your kind words about my work-- and back at ya! I listened to recordings of several of your pieces on the FJH website, and you absolutely walk the talk: you offer students real inspiration and beauty with your music! Bravo!

At 10:58pm on December 18, 2009, Ed Nagel said…: Brian,
Great to meet you at Midwest. I'm looking forward to working on "Fusion" after the break. Btw, I forgot to mention I guest conducted the Indiana Middle Achool Honor Band last month, and had "Rain" on the program. It was a big hit. I drop you an mp3 when I get a copy of the reference recording. Thanks for the great music. Wishing you the best for a happy holiday season.

Ed

At 12:20am on October 5, 2009, Russ Weaver said…: We will be performing Rain this year! Thanks for writing this piece.

At 9:59pm on June 2, 2009, Alan Nowell said…: Hi Brian! Didn't you do the SC All State Band in March at Furman in Greenville?

At 9:01pm on April 17, 2009, Russ Weaver said…: Brian,
Amazing! I will add these to the list and remember that you can change your lists at any time. As they are placed into the master lists, you have currently:
2 on the 3 list
5 on the 2 list
3 on the 1 list

thanks for the submission and I look forward to discussing these pieces and choices of your "Top 10" list.

At 1:01pm on April 17, 2009, Brian Balmages said…: First of all, none of this "Mr. Balmages" stuff. I go by Brian unless you are a middle or high school student! Next up, while it is very difficult, I am posting some of my favorite pieces for MS band. Keep in mind that these range in difficulty from a 1.5 to a 3 and are not based on sales at all...

1. Rain (Gr. 2.5)
2. Midnight Sky (actually a 0.5, but musically a 3!)
3. Starscapes (Gr. 2)
4. Chant and Savage Dance (Gr. 2.5)
5. Through Courageous Eyes (Gr. 2.5)
6. Rhythms and Riffs (Gr. 2.5 - 3)
7. Etowah (Gr. 1.5)
8. Scenes from an Ocean Voyage (coming this summer) (Gr. 1.5)
9. Reverberations (Gr. 3) (coming this summer)
10. ...Not Afraid to Dream (Gr. 3)

Now, ask me in another month and this list may change. But I like all these pieces because they defy the stereotype of what "educational music" should sound like. They are not formula pieces and all come from true inspiration. A lot of middle school literature is not inspired when it is written - thus it is impossible to inspire your students without creating something beyond what the composer intended - essentially, "making things up." Truly inspired music has a much more profound effect on conductors (yes, many directors forget about themselves!) and students... Pieces like "Through Courageous Eyes" remind us that middle school students have the capability to "feel emotion" and realize that in music... Hope this helps you all!