IMEA Conference - STORMWORLD

IMEA ConferenceVIDEO CONFERENCING IN A REHEARSAL SETTINGCOMPOSER THOMAS DAVIS AND THE CASTON COMET BAND, JAMES BYRN DIRECTOR

ViDEO CONFERENCINGVideo conferencing in a rehearsal settingcan be an effective tool for youngmusicians. The hardware and computerskills needed for a video conference arereadily available for (to) most schools.This session will demonstrate a live videoconference with composer Tom Davis.Mr. Davis is located in Canandaigua,New York. Of course, we are located inthe Grand Wayne Convention CenterFort Wayne, Indiana.THE CASTON COMET BANDCaston Jr./Sr. High School is located inFulton, Indiana. The school servesstudents in grades 7-12 with anenrollment of 385 students.The Caston Comet Band is under thedirection of James Byrn. The CastonBand program serves students in grade5-12, with the premier performingensemble being the Comet Band whichserves students in grades 9-12. The 65member Caston Comet Band performs avariety of music throughout the schoolyear.The band is actively involved in bringingnew music to the educational world,recently commissioning composersStephen Melillo and Tom Davis. WereYou There? by Stephen Melillo andThree Climates of Man’s Existence byTom Davis were premiered in April of2011. In May of 2012 the Comet Bandwill premiere another Tom Davis Work.The Caston Comet Band has pioneeredthe use of virtual technology in theclassroom bringing guest artists into thedaily rehearsal including Stephen Melillo,Tom Davis, Robb Torres (the guitaristfrom the band Trapt), Dr. Alice Hammelfrom James Madison University, and Dr.Ryan Hourigan from Ball State University.JAMES BYRN BIOJames Byrn graduated with a BMusEdfrom Taylor University and a Masters ofMusic from Ball State University. Jameshas taught with his wife Michelle, who isthe choir director at Caston, for the past14 years. James is involved in IMEA asthe Exhibits Chair and is the president ofthe Caston Classroom Teacher’sAssociation.Caston School CorporationAdministrationDan Foster SuperintendentAdam Strasser Jr./Sr. High PrincipalCindy Douglass Elementary PrincipalDan Williams Director of TechnologyDebb Stevens Athletic Director

Video Conference LogisticsVIDEO CONFERENCE SOFTWAREiChat or AIM• Composers like iChat andMacintosh• AIM works with iChat and WindowsSkype• Works well with WindowsVIDEO CONFERENCE HARDWAREComputer with 2GB of RAM.Ethernet Connection• 1800 Kbps of bandwidthUSB Web Camera• Any web camera works well• A camcorder is idealMicrophone• Smartmusic Microphone• External USB audio interface thatcan connect XLR microphonesLCD Projector or TV• Televisions work well as the lightsin the room can be kept onPowered Speakers• Take care when placing thespeakers to avoid interferencebetween the microphones andspeakersKEYS FOR A SMOOTH VIDEOCONFERENCEPlanning/Preparation• Make and share a lesson plan withthe composer/expert• Share the plan with the students• Have the ensemble well prepared• Prep the students to be extra quietduring rehearsal so thecommunication between thecomposer/expert and the studentsis effective• Share with the composer/expertthe strengths and weaknesses ofyour ensembleCommunication• When speaking to the composer/expert be sure to speak loudly andslowly• Make sure the studentsunderstand to speak loudly andslowly when talking to thecomposer/expert• Try not to speak at the same timeas the composer/expert• Be sure students understand whatthe composer is asking of them• Sometimes you may have to askthe composer/expert to repeatthemselvesTesting Equipment• Be sure to test with the composer/expert previous to the plannedrehearsal• Test with your technical director• Make sure to play an instrumentduring the test as playing aninstrument is different fromspeaking• Work with your school’s technicaldirector to make sure the internetfilter is not blocking Skype or Ichat.Technical Director• Working with your schools’technical director is essential• Be sure to schedule theconference at a time when yourtechnical director is available tohelp•Resources• h#p://stormworld.com/video/vidsession.html• h#p://stormworld.com/video/VideoChatDemo.mov• h#p://www.stormworld.com/STORMFilms/VidRehearsal/vidrehearsal.html• h#p://www.sweetwater.com/• h#p://www.fullcompass.com/• h#p://tomdavismusic.com/• byrnj@caston.k12.in.us ortom@tomdavismusic.com we arehappy to answer your questions via e-­‐mail.

TOM DAVIS, Composer (ASCAP)TOM DAVIS BIOTom Davis has been an educator for 31years at the high school level. He hasstudied trumpet with Herb Mueller andVincent DiMartino and has studied jazzimprovisation and/or composition with BillDobbins, Rayburn Wright, Ramon Ricker,John LaBarbera, Steve Brown, SamuelAdler, Robert Morris, and Dana Wilson.Mr. Davis currently has over 120 jazz andconcert band compositions publishedthrough his independent publishingc o m p a n y T O M D AV I S M U S I CPUBLICATIONS as well as withEducational Programs Publications (EPP),Heritage Jazz Works (a division of Lorenz),Kendor Music, and Warner BrothersPublications, and Alfred Publications.His most recent commissions include,"Kiwu for Kalama Suite" - to benefit theVillage of Kalama, Kenya Water Project,"Home Again - a Tribute to HarveyPhillips" commissioned by MichaelSalzman (Hofstra University), "With TheGrain - Three Sculptures by WillardStone" - for the 2010-2011 Locust Grove,Oklahoma High School Band, "ViaCrusis" commissioned by the 2011-2012Caston High School Band, Fulton,Indiana, James Byrn, Director and “TurkleDove”, Commissioned by the 2011-2012Midlakes Junior High Band, Joe Godfrey,Director.Davis is currently the K-12 MusicCurriculum Lead Teacher of theCanandaigua City School District. Hiswebsite, http://www.tomdavismusic.com,offers free exercises for high school andcollege jazz musicians. He also serves asguest clinician and director of the UNCWSummer Jazz Camp, Wilmington NorthCarolina.A public school band director inCanandaigua, New York, Davis earned hisundergraduate degree in music educationfrom Ithaca College and his Mastersdegree in Jazz and Contemporary Mediafrom the Eastman School of Music. Hisprominent teachers and mentors includeRayburn Wright, Bill Dobbins, MannyAlbam, Steve Brown, John LaBarbera,Ramon Ricker, and Vincent DiMartino andCOMPOSER Stephen Melillo.Special thanks to Andrew VanVeld and Circle City Audio for help with the audio for this session. http://www.ccaudio.com/