Klarinet Archive - Posting 000905.txt from 1997/04

From: Gary_VanCott@-----.com
Subj: Re: marching bands
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 16:57:25 -0400

Gary VanCott = NHIN
04/29/97 01:57 PM
>> We had rehearsal every day of the week from 6:30 am (yes, before
school) to 7:50am. This meant we had to be at school by 6:15am to be ready
in time. We would have a 3 hour rehearsal on Monday nights, and on game
days, we would be at school for almost 15
hours straight with rehearsals and the game.
*****************
I think this is way too much time invested in this kind of activity. While
I enjoyed my marching band experience in high school, I will always regret
the other things we didn't do. We had a fine concert band and orchestra,
but very rarely did anything like stage band, woodwind quintet, etc.

My son will have a chance to go to a performing arts high school where they
have eight periods a day. This gives the kids a chance to play in
ensembles, something non-music majors would probably miss.

Gary Van Cott
(whose lingering ensemble deficit syndrome led him to organize a clarinet
quartet)

Las Vegas, NV
Gary_VanCott@-----.com