Klarinet Archive - Posting 000906.txt from 1997/04

From: AnneVacca@-----.com
Subj: Re: marching bands
Date: Tue, 29 Apr 1997 17:29:26 -0400

Well I have worked with the Baldwinsville, NY marching band for the past two
seasons. After reading many trashings of marching bands, I have decided to
write out in defense of the program.
In Baldwinsville, Marching band is an extra currculiar activity- it is
treated like a sport. The rehearsals are all after school. The marching
band is open to any instrumentalists in grades 8-12. In fact, this year
during band camp, we had a walk on! This person had come to some rehearsals
to watch his friends and decided that he wanted to join. He performed with
the pit. (he had never played an instrument before)
During the school day, the kids are in regular concert band. They do not do
marching band music during the day. In fact, not everyone in the HS band is
even in the marching band. The marching band was not very large about 70
kids total, but the kids were really willing to perform well and play
musically for the various judges. The kids were willing to work hard in
rehearsals. We spent time on intonation, dynamics, phrasing & musicality.
How many people do you know that would be willing to practice drill & music
in all weather conditions?? (At least we didn't have any snow this fall!!!)
: )
All of the clarinet players used school clarinets. They were plastic. That
way the kids did not have to bring their good clarinets outside in the rain
and hot heat of August's band camp. As for biting down and using too much
pressure, much of that can be allievated of the kids are marching correctly.
If they are rolling their feet properly, the clarinet won't be bouncing
around in their mouth and they won't have to bite down to hold it in place.
It's all in the fundamentals. In fact, the new kids don't even march with
their instruments until the second or third practice.
I think that marching bands vary depending on where you are located in the
United States. In some schools, the marching band may be the only thing that
happens for 3 or 4 months of the school year. But that is not true
everywhere. In Baldwinsville, the importance is with the concert band.
Marching band is just an extra, that does provide some positive publicity
for the school's music program.

Anne Vacca