New Composition and ASU

This afternoon Dan spent a couple hours on-location with ASU's Wind Band as they performed Michael Markowskis new work Turkey in the Straw.

It is easy to see why ASU's wind band is considered one of the best in the country. The first read was a little sketchy, but the second read was solid and within 30 minutes we had some great takes that we will edit together. This recording will be used by Manhattan Beach Publishing to demo the work so directors can hear the complete work.

DHS - A Fall Preview

This evening Dan was on-location at Dobson High School capturing the first performances of their concert band season. This season marks our 5th year working with the Dobson performing arts and as always we have come to expect great things.

This event is particularly exciting as Dobson introduces a Jazz program to their already acclaimed programs. Under the direction of Jon Gomez, the Jazz band gave an impressive opening show. Stay on the lookout; you will certainly hear more about this program in the future.

This evening’s performances also featured the Dobson Concert Band, Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Concert Bands.

Yet another exciting year awaits, if you have the opportunity, check them out:

http://www.dobsonmusic.com/

Dobson Percussion, Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensembles

This evening Dan was on location at Dobson High School for a life recording of three of their ensembles. Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra and Wind Ensemble were featured as a prelude to the Band of America send off concert this coming Thursday.

This evening is also the first opportunity that Mouse recording has had to use our new Apogee analog to digital converters.

This evening’s setup uses our Royer SF-24 Stereo Ribbon Microphone and our True Systems P2 analog Microphone Pre-Amplifier. From there one set of analog out puts is taken to a Tascam CD-RW2000 CD Recorder. The Second analog output from the Pre-Amp was taken to our new Apogee AD-16x, and then the signal was sent digitally to another Tascam CD-RW2000.

The differences are simply amazing. The Tascam recorders do a wonderful job on their own, with the addition of the new converters; the sound they are recording is much more open and lively.

Once our new site is up, we will post some examples of the music recorded.

Dobson Welcomes Jr High Schools

This evening Michael Markowski was on-location at Dobson High School to provide production support and recording services for the Annual Dobson High School Step-up concert.

The evening featured performances from the Rhodes Jr. High and Hendrix Jr. High Concert Bands as well as an ending performance by Dobson’s own Symphonic Concert Band.

The evening also included a 10 minute video we assembled showcasing moments from Dobson’s 2004 Bands of America performance and last years 25th Anniversary performances.

Dobson High Prepares to welcome new Students

Over the past few years we have had the pleasure of helping the Dobson High School band with their Annual Step up concert.

This year we assembled a 7 minute video that showcases just a few of the events that Dobson has participated in the past few years.

This year’s videos include:

The Dobson Symphonic Band at the Bands of America National Concert Band Festival

The Dobson Marching Band at a Phoenix Suns Game

The Dobson Percussion Ensemble

This is a great event that gives incoming students an idea of what the Dobson Performing arts is all about. It is also a great way to see how the Dobson program will develop by hearing the talents of these young musicians.

Dobsons Concert Bands are off to a great start

This evening, Dan was at Dobson High School recording a live performance of the three concert bands.

Under the direction of Jon Gomez and Rob Lubbers, the ensembles performed many works that most ensembles do not attempt this early in the school year. Being that this is also the first performance of the year, it gives us a great preview of what is to come for the rest of the performance season.

While in some respects we feel like proud parents watching a child grow, they really do keep getting better with each new year, and they have the accomplishments and accolades to prove it.

Dobson Bands Celebrates 25 years of great music

On May 10th and 11th, Dobson Bands celebrated 25 years of historic music making.

For this event Dan and Mike brought a new level of production to the events. Not only did we capture the event in 5.1 surround, but we also captured it with 4 cameras and live video switching.

For the first time, the Dobson audience was able to watch the performances from a point of view not seen before. They were able to see the “behind the stage” laughter as the MC was making jokes. They were able to see the expressions on the director’s faces as they were conducting. This level of production created a much deeper experience for the audience and as the director of Orchestras, Rob Nichols put it, the audience was captivated. Even the younger audience that is normally….noisy was intrigued by the visual presentation.

The performance was mixed and edited and released on both CD and DVD.

A.B.O.D.A. Area Concert Band Festival Day Two

Today Dan and Mike were back at Mountin Point High School to capture the sounds from the ABODA Area Concert Festival. Here is the schedule of what should have happened:

Flowing Wells Wind Ensemble
Desert Vista Wind Ensemble
Mountain View - Marana Wind Ensemble
Sunnyside Wind Ensemble
Rio Rico Symphonic Band
Desert Vista Symphonic Band
Mesquite Wind Ensemble
Catalina Foothills Symphonic Band
Chandler Wind Ensemble
Flagstaff Concert Band
Coconino Symphonic Band
Catalina Foothills Wind Ensemble
Chandler Symphonic Band
Prescott Wind Ensemble
Barry Goldwater Wind Ensemble
Mountain Pointe Wind Ensemble

Now what actualy happened was rather different.











At about 11am or so the school went in to a lock down.....did you by any chance hear about the armed bank robery in Tempe.....well, the would be robbers made their way to the Awatukee neighborhoods and as a result all the schools in the area were locked down.....no one in or out....no lunch.....no even a bathroom.....

All in all the day had many successes, there were some wonderful ensembles and our host managed to keep things on track fairly well, with only about an hour overtime.

Following the event Mike and I met up for drinks with Jon Gomez Director of Bands for Dobson High School and Dan Schmidt, director of bands at NAU. It was a great enjoy some great conversation and laugh about the incidents from earlier in the day.

A.B.O.D.A. Area Concert Band Festival Day One

Today Dan and Mike were on site at Mountain Point High School in Awatukee recording for the A.B.O.D.A. area concert band festival.

The ensembles performing to day include:

Corona del Sol Symphonic Band I
Brophy/Xavier Honors Band
McClintock Symphonic Band
Corona del Sol Wind Ensemble
Maryvale Concert Band
Trevor G. Browne Concert Band
Sinagua Concert Band
Maryvale Wind Ensemble
Mountain Ridge Symphonic Winds
Mesquite Symphonic Winds
Mountain Pointe Symphonic Band
Mountain Ridge Wind Ensemble
Willow Canyon Concert Band
O'Connor Wind Ensemble
Shadow Mountain Symphonic Band
Red Mountain Honors Band
Gilbert Wind Ensemble

Despite an unschedule Fire Alarm the event went very smoothly. We started there about 7am and the last ensemble finished up at 7pm......18 Ensembles makes for a long day.

Dobson Goes Pops?

In a rare change from tradition, Dobson's Bands put on an evening of Pops music to celebrate the wonderful music that has been created during the schools 25 years.
During the performance, Director of Bands, Jon Gomez, gave Mouse Recording a great salute in recognizing the services we do for their program and the community.
Also, Dan was very pleased to be greeted at the end of the concert by Andrea Snyder. Her daughter Lisa, who we met through the Phoenix Youth Symphony, is the reason we have such a good relationship with Dobson High School. Then Lisa was easily one of the best clarinet players in the state. During her high school days she earned numerous awards and opportunities including being selected as a soloist for the Presidents Marine Band in Virginia. Recently Lisa has just finished up a semester studying politics in Paris, France. She will be returning to Arizona for the holiday break and to make some recordings in preparation to continue her musical studies at North West where she is a sophomore.

Dobson band steps it up

Tonight Dan was on location at Dobson High School.

This evening The Dobson Symphonic Band hosted a concert designed to show appreciation for the feeder programs that have helped Dobson gain their successes. Rhodes Jr High and Hendrix Jr High School shared the stage with Dobson allowing each ensemble a showcase for their programs.

For the members of the Jr. High Schools, they are able to see where they are heading once they enter high school. Better yet, for the members of Dobson’s Band’s it gives them a great perspective on how far they have progressed.

Dobson High School Concert's Begin

dobson percussion, lookin.....good?


This evening marked the first concert for Dobson High School's 2005/2006 concert season. If first concerts are any indication of what we can expect for the year to come, we are in for some amazing performances.

This year also marks the Schools Silver Anniversary. Looking back on the past 25 years, there have been many memorable performances as well as many who have taken their musical talents beyond their high school years. Through out the year, the school will be celebrating their past, while defining their future and paving the way for the next 25 years.

www.dobsonbands.net