Klarinet Archive - Posting 000693.txt from 1997/10

From: Edmund William White <ewhite@-----.us>
Subj: Another "Band director from HELL" story!
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 08:24:54 -0400

It all started last Wednesday............I auditioned for the
Illinois District 7 concert band on bass clarinet. I was selected to play
in the All-district concert band AND the orchestra (bass clarinets are rarely
accepted into the orchestra, but there was a 30 point difference between
my audition and the second-highest bass clarinetist's). The president of the
Illinois Music Educators Association telephoned my band director to ask him
if I would rehearse the orchestra music (a Copland piece) on my own, as I will
not be able attend the rehearsal for both groups at the same time. My band
director promptly tells me that he will "allow" me to play in the
All-District orchestra ONLY if I meet with him twice weekly in order to prepare
the Copland, as considers the opportunity to play in both groups a
privilege. I agreed to his offer.
Yesterday, I was late to band rehearsal (for the first time this
year). We were practicing our marching drill, and I left my mouthpieces
in the theater orchestral pit (from a late-evening show rehearsal). I
arrived to class 5 minutes late. When confronted by the band director at the
entrance of the music wing, he immediately told me to go to the Tardy center
(school rule: any student who is 1 or more minutes late to class is sent to
the tardy center and receives an unexcused absence for the class). My only
opposition was that we have to march at a football game this Saturday, and
that it was the last rehearsal we were going to have before the game.
In addition, I am a section leader. He still insisted that I go to the tardy
center. Sure. As I was leaving the band wing, the director yelled, "I
guess we've solved our All-district orchestra dilema!" I replied,
"What's up?" He continued, "You're not doing it." After asking why I wasn't
participating, my director said very bluntly, "You can't make it to class on
time."
What's up with that?? My being tardy and All-district ranking
are completely unrelated. My director probably does not have the
authority to keep me from playing in the orchestra, but the fact that he
used it as leverage against me is completely unprofessional. Either way,
I'm clueless as to what I can do about this? Any suggestions? In a
similar situation last year, I asked to have work performed on my school
bass clarinet. It's a nice horn; '71 Selmer Paris in decent condition.
Due to my second-chair All-District placing, my director insisted that I
had not proven myself a "good" player, thus I did not deserve to have an
instrument in "good" playing condition. I'd truthfully appreciate any
suggestions as to how to deal with this guy.

Edmund White
ewhite@-----.us

BTW - Is the Copland bass clarinet part difficult. My band director
won't let me see the part. Just wondering.......