Throughout the concert, a combination of still images, texts, and video were used. PowerPoint slides introduced each piece and videos accompanied over half of the concert selections. The five pieces chosen to combine with visuals were The Blue and the Gray by Clare Grundman( Boosey & Hawkes, 1961); They Shall Run and be Free by Brant Karrick (Alfred Music Publishing, 2009);Vacant Chair composed by George F. Root and arranged by Aaron Het- tinga (Daehn Publications, 2000); Home, Sweet Home com- posed by Sir Henry Rowley Bishop arranged by Marcelyn Atwood (available from arranger); and Hymn to the Fallen composed by John Williams and transcribed for band by Paul Lavender (Hal Leonard Corporation, 1999).
To develop the visual artwork the music and communica- tion design students of the community college researched musical and visual artifacts from the Civil War in order to develop an understanding of the styles of the period. Then, they used images from the Library of Congress to create storyboards or pictorial outlines depicting the lives of the common soldier that illustrated their interpretation of the music (see figure 1). A team of professors from each of the disciplines involved in the project guided this process by helping the students evaluate the accuracy of the historical information, their interpretation, and overcome any chal- lenges pertaining to the technical aspects of the production. These discussions thus ranged from the use of music during the civil war as propaganda to the process of capturing and developing photos in the 19th century. Using Final Cut Pro X, a computer motion editing software, the students then converted the storyboards into a movie, which created movement and drew the audiences’ attention to certain por- tions of the pictures.
quickly to support the coordination of the visuals and al- low the communication design students multiple hearings, which in turn, allowed the students many opportunities to revise the videos. Texture, highpoints in phrases, and form were discussed and adjusted to coordinate both mediums.
As the concert included narrators, re-enactors, soloists, and both children’s and adult choirs, it was important for the musical director to meet with these groups separately and in the last month as combined groups during four dress rehearsals in the concert hall. To facilitate working with so many participants, we used an extensive script that outlined stage directions, spoken parts, and video cues. A local or- chestra teacher served as a stage manager, utilizing a head set which connected her to the multimedia team and the backstage environment.
Your Ensemble Can Do This!
Projects incorporating visual elements can be exciting and rewarding for you and your students. However, they present unique challenges. It is important that the visual component embodies the same artistic merit as the music you choose to perform as well as enhances the educational experience for your students and audiences. The logistics of incorpo- rating different media require advance planning. It is also important to rehearse the video and the ensemble together as many times as possible to ensure coordination of visual elements, properly working technology, and to allow the musicians to practice focusing on the conductor amidst distractions (e.g. stage set-up, lighting, video).
Similar to the results obtained by professional orchestras, the use of multimedia can enrich the concert experience for both the students and audience as well as increase atten- dance. The students who participated in the concerts along with the audience gave positive feedback describing how the multimedia approach enhanced their understanding of historical events and heightened their concert experiences. For the Civil War concert, audience members commented that the concert gave them a deeper appreciation of how war affected individuals of that time.
Figure 1. Student created storyboard
For a concert of this magnitude, managing the timeline was crucial. Communication became extremely important to ensure all aspects of the program, which were prepared independently, melded together in the rehearsals and final presentation. The rehearsals, which were held for three months, were important as the band had to learn the music
These types of projects can work with any age level and with any topic. I encourage you to challenge your students to create a multimedia project significant to them. Through- out the creation and management of the concert presenta- tion, students developed skills in gathering, organizing, evaluating, and presenting information through multimedia. With careful planning and thoughtful project management, your students will develop an appreciation of the power of collaboration and the value of communicating understand- ing through both visual art and music.
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