Klarinet Archive - Posting 000439.txt from 1996/06

From: "Scott D. Morrow" <SDM@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Instrumentation concerns
Date: Thu, 27 Jun 1996 10:30:34 -0400

In response to my (intended) "humourous" suggestions for band aptitude
tests, Mike wrote:

>Scott,
>
>If you put my entire post in perspective the true intent should be there.
>Mike Moors
>

Mike,
My post WAS meant to be humourous! Seriously, though, your
positions (and others on this list) HAD refined my point of view on the
subjects of school instrumental training. As a former fourth grader who
did NOT get to learn his first choice instrument (and never regretted it!),
I do NOT fault your methods. And as a former college student at a
non-music school (where we had to hire string players for concerts!), I
also understand how frustrating it is to play with a group with inadequate
instrumentation - thus my suggestions that students should be able to put
together smaller ensembles to play the types of music they like with the
instrumentation they have, rather than trying to force understaffed (no pun
intended) ensembles to tackle arrangements that will have so many missing
parts that nobody plays for half the piece! (I was responsible for getting
our college "orchestra" to become a string quartet one year, where they'd
only be missing one player, instead of twenty!).
My views on instructor-induced instrument switches have modified,
also: from totally against to understanding that some people really DON'T
have the aptitude for some instruments. I DO still believe that the
instrument the student switches to should be one the student wants to play
(possibly from a "list" of suggestions from a qualified intructor.).
I have nothing but respect for the DEDICATED school instrumental
music directors (of which, I assume, you are one!).

-Scott

Scott D. Morrow
Department of Biochemistry
School of Hygiene and Public Health
Johns Hopkins University
(410)-955-3631

SDM@-----.edu