Klarinet Archive - Posting 000848.txt from 1997/04

From: WWQUINTET@-----.com
Subj: Re: marching bands
Date: Mon, 28 Apr 1997 13:50:38 -0400

In a message dated 97-04-27 22:39:40 EDT, goeke@-----.edu
(Eliabeth R. Goeke) writes:

>
>> My question is, why on earth would any band need 20 pics?!!!
>because flute players love to make lots of noise and know that they are
>100 times more audible on pics!
> elizabeth

Yes, and that's precisely why the more sensitive musicians from my school
days used to refer to the marching band as the "arson squad" -- it was a
potentially lethal combination of regimented cacaphony. Now barring the usual
academic requirements for suffering through such an experience, why would any
self-respecting clarinetist want to perform in a marching band? I'm
constantly getting students who have just finished their season of "pomp and
circumcision", who arrive with numerous playing detriments that need to be
corrected before they can successfully venture forth into the regular concert
season. Besides extreme pitch desensitization, the most annoying difficulty
seems to be a penchant for clamping down with their top teeth on the
mouthpiece. This not only inhibits the vibrational capacity of the reed, but
places unneeded tension in the throat. At any rate, you've probably gathered
that I'm not a strong advocate of the "marching band." In school music
programs, especially grades 7-12, I believe that the marching band tends to
belittle our efforts to make music an accepted area of of serious study, and
further perpetuates the notion that the music program is nothing more than a
vehicle for "pure entertainment" or extracurricular activity.

Dave

   
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