Music Contest Reform

Restoring the Educational Value of Music Contest​
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"The benefits of music contests have been largely minimized as a result of inconsistent standards across the U.S. and abroad, damaging emphasis placed on the final results rather than a process driven endeavor with judge comments providing guidance along the way, and poor judge training."

​Brandt, Christopher. "Music contest reform: Restoring the educational value of music contest," The Instrumentalist Vol. 73, No. 4 (Nov 2018): 10-14, 38.
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Authentic Performance of Wind Band ​Transcriptions

An examination of  five representative wind band transcriptions with regard to how they relate to their original form, and how a performance of the transcription may be influenced by close study of the source material.  Using Finale from Symphony No. 9 by Antonín Dvorák transcribed by Mark Hindsley,  Danzón No. 2by Arturo Marquez transcribed by Oliver Nickel,  Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedralby Richard Wagner transcribed by Lucien Cailliet, Sanctus: Londonby Ola Gjeilo transcribed by Eric Wilson, and Johannes Brahms Blessed Are They transcribed by Barbara Buehlman, the document will identify what modifications have been made by the transcriber specifically in relation to form, thematic content, orchestration, tonal centers and relationships.  Additionally, the study will present the ways in which bowings, ornamentation, textual considerations (ways in which key phrases are often presented or executed), and other key performance practices associated with the original work may influence a wind band performance of the transcription.  

https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI13857327/
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Brandt, Christopher E, "Authentic Performance of Wind Band Transcriptions."  PhD diss., University of Nebraska, 2019.
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Essential Transcriptions

"Over the past century an increasing emphasis has been placed on the performance of original works for band, resulting in fewer transcriptions being performed each year. This article seeks to identify the origin of this trend, assert the value of transcriptions in the band repertoire, and propose significant transcriptions worthy of performance."

​Brandt, Christopher. "Essential Transcriptions," The Instrumentalist Vol. 71, No. 9 (April 2017): 18-24.
Brandt, Christopher. "Essential Transcriptions," Music Association Journal Vol. 35, No. 2 (May 2019): 18-21.

Research Interests

Comprehensive Band Metic
A quantitative study of public school band programs in Minnesota with the intent on creating a comprehensive metric to predict the quality of a given band program.  Using objective data points such as: band population (compared to school population); solo & ensemble participation and ratings; large group ratings; and more; to identify predictors of program quality and develop a model to track the year-to-year trajectory of given program.
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Vibrato Use in the Wind Band 
A search for broad criterion for the use of vibrato in the wind band (On Going)
With its vastly different timbre’s, some instruments generally expected to use vibrato and others not, how does one approach the creation of a unified sound within the wind band.  How are these principles affected by the era of a composition, the relative range of the instrument, the composer, and the orchestration?  The answer will include input from conductors (wind, choral, and orchestral), applied instructors, and composers. 
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Effective Rehearsal Strategies
Seeking potent rehearsal techniques that encourage ensembleship, and individual musicianship (On Going)
Gone are the days (thankfully) of hierarchal, oneway music making from the podium to the student musicians.  Students and musicians today warrant significant opportunities for input into the creative process, furthermore this is the best way to create life-long enthusiasts of music.  Additionally, the scope of the public school ensemble director must extend beyond the preparation of excellent performances.  The educator has the responsibility to convey the building blocks of music, relevant historical and biographical information, and to instill a passion for music that extends well beyond the concert stage.
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The Effects of Wind Instrument Performance on Cardiovascular Health 
Identifying the effects of prolonged wind instrument performance on cardiovascular health.  (Future Study)
Controlled breathing exercises have been shown to lower heart rates and other cardiovascular health indicators.  Do the exercises and demands on the lungs necessary to perform on a wind instrument produce the same benefits?