Blue

By Robert W. Smith

Presentation by Angela Mitsuma

• Born in 1958
• From Alabama and played lead trumpet at Troy State University
• Used to work for Warner Brothers Publications
• Has published over 700 compositions!

LISTENING AND GOALS

01

• Krisanna Roberts: what’s her story?
• Blue days and yellow days
• Listen to the piece and follow along in your score. Raise your yellow paper when you hear it shift from blue to yellow.

Krisanna Roberts

Krisanna Roberts

Clarinet Solo and Chords

02

• Why a clarinet solo?
• What key is this in? Does it start on do?
• Let’s sing this on solfège
• Now let’s play measures 1–16
• Audition details at the end of class!

Clarinet solo

Chord from m. 10 (concert pitch)

D

F

A

B-flat

do

Chord from m. 10 (concert pitch)

D

F

A

B-flat

do

Which note is the root? The third? The fifth?

• Look at measure 10. Are you playing the root, third, or fifth? (First trombones and alto saxes, we’ll get to yours!)
• Listen closely to the chord as we play it. Do you feel yellow or blue?
• Balance and blend!

Chord from m. 10 (concert pitch)

D

F

A

B-flat

do

What is that?!

Chord from m. 10 (concert pitch)

D

F

A

B-flat

do

This is the seventh

• Look at measure 10. Raise your hand if you’re playing the seventh. *HINT* it’s ti in your key!
• Listen closely as we play it. (First trombones and alto saxes, now’s your time to shine!) How does it feel different from before? What color?

How to build a seventh chord

D

F

A

B-flat

do

mi

sol

ti

do

1

3

5

7

How to build a seventh chord

do

mi

sol

ti

do

1

3

5

7

Major 3rd

Minor 3rd

Major 3rd

Predict and Homework

do

mi

sol

ti

do

1

3

5

7

Major 3rd

Minor 3rd

Major 3rd

• Predict: If you added another note, which would it be? (Look at the pattern we’ve established!)
• A chordal extension is an added note beyond the seventh.
• Homework: Compose some seventh chords and pick your favorite. (You can use a piano app to listen to your chords.) Try adding a chordal extension. Why do you think Smith included chordal extensions?

03

Bell part, balance, dynamics

Bells (mm. 9–15)

• Key of concert B-flat major
• Let’s count the rhythm
• Which measure has the largest leap? Let’s practice hearing that interval.
• Sing it on solfège. Percussionists, play your bells along with us!

Measures 1–24

• Our focus is: dynamics
• Use your pencils to circle any dynamic markings
• Flutes and oboes! Look ahead and circle your dynamic markings in measures 24–33.
• Let’s play this section and focus on our dynamics

It’s baaack!

do

mi

sol

ti

do

1

3

5

7

• Remember this? Look at measure 10 and identify what part of the chord you have. (Root, third, fifth, seventh)
• Which should be strongest? Second strongest? Third? Which should be softest?
• Let’s keep that in mind as we play that chord. Listen across the band room so we stay balanced!

Don’t trip on your triplets!

04

...we’re reviewing those today

01

03

02

Triplet Exercise for m. 25

Tie it all together

05

Let’s review what we’ve done so far! Mm. 1–33. Focus on: dynamics, balance, blend, and our triplets. Also, check in on our learning goals!

06

Krisanna Roberts Video

Now that we’re half-way through, let’s remind ourselves of the story behind this piece…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ye1xgUjBXxY

Mesures 34–end

Dynamics: Circle them with your pencils.

The last chord includes the seventh. Why do you think he included it at the end?

​

07

Final review!

08–10

Review anything that needs fixing. Sometimes we can’t stick to the plan, so it’s important to plan for some buffer time before the concert!