Working with Pizitz
Our collaboration began about three years ago when I was approached by Kim Bain and Leah Seng to conduct one of my works with their 7th grade band. To say that I was blown away with the level of musicianship would be an understatement; it was so refreshing to walk into a band room where the students had a level of pride and ownership that I had, honestly, never seen before. Since that first visit, I have come in to work with the Pizitz ensembles a number of times. During my last visit (before the news came about Midwest), the idea of commissioning a work in the near future was brought up, and we agreed to keep it in the back of our minds for future years. When the news came about their Midwest performance, it felt as though the stars aligned in order to make the project happen; I was approaching a break-period in my writing schedule and Kim mentioned that a new concert opener might be fitting to celebrate such an occasion.
A New Composition
Regarding the collaboration of the piece, we all agreed that the music had to have some significant connection to Pizitz and the Vestavia community and agreed that one way to do this was to pay tribute to former Pizitz principal David Miles, who was, and continues to be, a major advocate for music education in the public schools. As the Pizitz principal for more than twenty years, he made sure that the bands had everything they needed to be successful. He was always willing to provide encouraging words, volunteer as a chaperone for their trips, and provide the financial means necessary for the students to achieve high levels of success. Because of his years of contribution, we felt that the opening work should pay tribute to his desire to see students soar to new heights.
On Composing
My advice would be simply to start; the best way to learn is to jump right in. Begin with small melodies, then expand your work from there; the only way to perfect your craft is through trial and error. Most importantly, have fun as you learn; do not stress about getting your music played or getting published right away. Develop your voice first.
Tyler S. Grant began composing at age 10 shortly after he started playing euphonium in band. His first work was published when he was 13.
