PLN Resource (The Wind Repertory Project)

The Wind Repertory Project
URL: http://www.windrep.org/

As I was searching through my PLN resources, one item that I found interesting and useful was the Wind Repertory Project (http://www.windrep.org/). The Wind Repertory Project is a wiki that is attempting to create a comprehensive database of wind music literature. The site provides a compilation of wind literature from grade I composition to professional level compositions. Along with a listing of pieces, the website provides information about the pieces. It includes information such as composer biographies, suggested recordings, program notes, instrumentation, as well as recent performances and ideas about the pieces. The website is still fairly new, so there is not complete information about all the pieces; however, as the site grows, I think it will be an extremely valuable resource to music educators. In addition to providing information about the pieces you are able to search for pieces by composer, difficulty level, and form and style to help find pieces of music to perform for your ensemble.

As a result of the information provided, I think that The Wind Repertory Project is a valuable resource to music educators. In the school performance setting, the music that a teacher selects becomes the facilitator of the curriculum that is to be provided. Therefore it is an extremely important part of a music educator’s job to select quality music. I think that this website can be a valuable tool in aiding in the process of quality music selection. The Wind Repertory Project allows an educator to develop an understanding of the difficulty level of pieces, as well as the genre of pieces to help aid in the selection of music. In addition, an educator can learn about the instrumentation of a piece to make sure that his/her ensemble has the means to perform a certain piece of music. In addition to helping with the selection process of music, the Wind Repertory Project can be a useful tool to educators in the teaching process of music. It is always beneficial to provide the students with information about the background of the piece and the composer to help them better understand what they are performing and how to perform the piece. This is information that can be found at the Wind Repertory Project. It is also nice to be able to hear recordings of pieces that are being taught. With information about suggested recordings and recent performances, a music educator may have the opportunity to play professional recordings for students as well as learn how other groups have performed the piece. I think that with the information that the Wind Repertory Project provides, it is a valuable resource to music educators, and I believe as it continues to grow in the future it will be even more valuable and pertinent.