The squeeze-box sound of a rhythmic brass and woodwind accompaniment, supported the soaring notes of flutes, trumpets, and clarinets, moved in time to the swish of a small white baton, held aloft by the all-important director.
The Orcutt Academy High School band students brought their reverberations to a halt as their director and instructor Brenda Hascall halted her musical gesticulation.
“Ah. See, sax players? That’s a half note there,” she said. “Everybody back at 48!”
The band started up again on her count. The error corrected, the soprano instruments had the support they needed from the bass register, so the piece was played through to the end. After finishing, a regular classroom din rose up, replacing the sounds of the instruments with adolescent voices.
“Ten hut!” Hascall called.
“Oy!” the class yelled in unison, followed by a respectful silence.
“OK, let’s talk about what’s on the board,” Hascall continued.
The Spartan band is just one of many ensembles currently spending class time preparing for the annual Band-a-Rama scheduled for April 12 at Santa Maria High School. The event will feature performances by local junior and high school bands, and even college bands. Schools with ensembles that are participating include Valley Christian Academy, Ernest Righetti High School, Santa Maria High School, Pioneer Valley High School, and Allan Hancock College. The event culminates with several pieces performed by a “mass band,” made up of all the musicians who came to participate in the event.
Until then, Hascall’s students are busy practicing and rehearsing their music. The band is not large—a charter school can only obtain so many musical students through a lottery system—and several students have broadened their musical horizons to help the ensemble.
“The first year I started band, there were only five of us,” senior brass player Gabriel Oman said. “I’ve played trombone for two years, and I’m learning tuba for Band-a-Rama.”
Students can take on a new instrument, Hascall explained, but she might also arrange a special part or be selective on the music she chooses for the band to perform. Hascall teaches band for several schools in the Orcutt area. Band-a-Rama is more of a showcase than a competition, she explained, but she still encourages her students to have critical ears.
“I think it’s important for them to hear other bands so they can judge their own musicianship,” she said. “We talk about tone quality, intonation, rhythm, technique, and musicality. These are the things that we think of as musicians, so I actually have them grade the other bands.”
Band-a-Rama also serves a duel purpose by having young musicians meet with their peers, as well as some more seasoned musicians, such as those in the Allan Hancock College Concert Band. The skills learned by working as a group can come in handy in many walks of life.
“It’s a lot of discipline,” senior flutist Nikki Tucay said, “and that is something I really need because I am going into the Air Force. It’s taught me how to work together in a group.”
Get equals
Equalsequals performs a live concert on April 5 at 8 p.m. at Randy’s Taproom, 1525 Mission Drive, Solvang. More info: randystaproom.com or 686-9456.
Feel the Roth
Steven Roth performs a live concert as part of the “Standing Sun Concert Series” on April 4 from 7 to 10 p.m. at Standing Sun Wines, 92 Second St., Buellton. Cost is $10 to $15. More info: 693-9413, candia@standingsunwines.com, or standingsunwines.com.
Ready to rock
The Radisson Hotel offers live music Fridays and Saturdays, including Juan Marquez performing April 4 and 5 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Radisson Hotel, 3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria. More info: 928-8000.
Vine ripe
The D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro features Jerry Stickell live on April 3, Kailey Stevens performs April 5, Tony Botello performs on April 8, and Kyle Reilly performs April 9, with all shows starting at 7:30 p.m. Karaoke nights are Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at the D’Vine Wine Bar and Bistro, 107 W. Ocean Ave., Lompoc. More info: 430-8356 or facebook.com.
Get creative
Creative Juices Lounge presents live music, including The Signbenders on April 4 and The Swing Shift Band on April 5 performing from 7 to 10 p.m. at the lounge, 874 Guadalupe St., Guadalupe. More info: 219-0518 or creativejuiceslounge.com.
Wednesdays are for music
Ca’ Del Grevino Café and Wine Bar features live music in the tasting room and café on Wednesdays, including Jacob Cole on April 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ca’ Del GreVino Café and Wine Bar is located at 400 E. Clark Ave., Suite A, Orcutt. More info: 937-6400, dcp@grevino.com, or grevino.com.
Maverick music
The Maverick Saloon offers live entertainment, including the Jimi Nelson Band on April 4 at 8 p.m. “Concert on the Deck” featuring Jimi and the Gang is April 5 at 3 p.m. The Jimi Nelson Band performs on April 5 at 8 p.m., followed by “Late Night with guest DJs” at 11:30 p.m. “Suds, Song, and Sandwiches” will feature “Jammin’ with Guy” live on April 6 at 3 p.m., free at the saloon, 3687 Sagunto St., Santa Ynez. More info: 686-4785 or mavericksyv@aol.com.
Contact Arts Editor Joe Payne at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Apr 3-10, 2014.