Klarinet Archive - Posting 000262.txt from 1996/02

From: "Lorne G. Buick" <mcheramy@-----.CA>
Subj: Re: Wind Ensemble/band
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 1996 10:41:02 -0500

[big snip]
>
>The need to fill an entire concert band forces schools to accept far more
>wind instrument majors than is good for either the schools or the students.
>As we all know, there just isn't enough work out there for everyone to make a
>living. So why have 30+ clarinet majors? An early dose of reality could save
>a lot of people from much suffering later. Large schools needing multiple
>teachers also dilutes the pool of available good teachers, causing much bad
>wind teaching to take place.
>
[more snipping]

>David Hattner

David makes many valid and interesting points, but I think perhaps this one
is backwards. It seems more likely to me that the predominance of bands (or
lack of orchestras and string programs) at the high school level (and
earlier) results in a disproportionate number of wind players seeking
admission. The colleges and universities are loth to turn away applicants
because they need the bodies, fees, grants, etc. Once they've got all these
wind players they have to provide opportunities for them to play, and the
wind symphony/ concert band fills the bill.

The only solution I can see, and it seems unlikely in the extreme for the
foreseeable future, is to steer enough young music students into string
programs in high school or earlier to balance the numbers so that
universities get students in orchestral proportions. Based on my own
experience and anecdotal evidence, it seems that all over North America the
level of wind playing in youth orchestras and universities is much higher
than the level of string playing, simply because there are far more wind
players competing for fewer positions.

   
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