Klarinet Archive - Posting 000002.txt from 1996/06

From: Gene Keyes <gene@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Jazz Clarinetisits?
Date: Sat, 1 Jun 1996 09:41:03 -0400

I think there is an another important here, beside the obvious ignorance of
your band director.

As a music educator, he should be encouraging you to explore different
avenues of musical expression that are of interest to you, even if they are
not "traditional". While it may be true that the music written for today's
jazz ensemble (educational setting) for the most part has a stock
insrumentation(5 saxes, 4trbns, etc,)there is no reason not to encourage
your interest and enthusiasm by allowing you to 1)double a part 2)write an
appropriate clarinet part (within the sax framework) 3)encourage you to
experiment with saxophone 4)provide another outlet for your interest(small
ensemble, etc).

It's fine to strive for perfection in a school setting but let's not forget that
own personal ideals and goals of musical perfection do not necessarily apply
to all of our students. Young musicians should be given the opportunity to
experiment and "stretch". As an educator, it's important to provide an
atmosphere that encourages musical growth even if the results are not
alway's perfect..........not restrict it because of a narrow set of
preconceived ideas. A good band director will learn from his students....

BTW.... I am a HS band director with over 25 yrs of teaching experience in
addition to being free-lance player in the NY area with over 30 years of
experience in musical organizations ranging from the Metropolitan Opera
Orch. to Klezmer Bands in Williamsburg (Brooklyn not
Va.)................hope your band director finds my $.02 useful/gk
Gene Keyes
gene@-----.net

Gene Keyes
gene@-----.net