Klarinet Archive - Posting 000650.txt from 1997/11

From: Michael Norsworthy <mnorsworthy@-----.net>
Subj: RE: Weber One
Date: Wed, 19 Nov 1997 10:19:05 -0500

> May I ask that the members of this list stop looking down their collective
> noses at concert bands? I spend all week traveling around northern lower
> Michigan from school to school. Only two school systems I visit have
> orchestra programs at all. Many of the rest are LUCKY to be able to field
> an under-sized concert band. Orchestra playing may be a fine goal to
> aspire to, but concert band is the best performance opportunity many kids
> have until college, or even beyond (my college did not have an orchestra).
> I am afraid we will have to live with situation and make the best of it
> until the population significantly increases in rural areas.
>
> Thank you for allowing me to vent.

Now allow me to vent.....

No you may not ask someone to withhold an opinion. You don't have to like it,
agree with it or what have you, but you must accept that it IS an opinion. If
it differs from yours, which most certainly it does, then so be it.

For your information, I'm well aware of the situations concerning playing
opportunities and other such related things. I encourage all of my students to
play anywhere they can (orchestra, band, chamber ensemble and by themselves).
I'm not discounting the medium and calling it invalid. I'm simply saying that
I don't like it.

I've played two concerti (written for clarinet and wind ensemble) with wind
ensemble and yes I've enjoyed them but I desperately miss strings. I'm most
partial to smaller ensembles of about 14-30 players that include a wide mix of
instruments both strings and winds alike.

I'm not condemning the medium at all because certainly there are some terrific
compositions out there for it. I would certainly never taint the opinion of a
younger person because this would risk taking away many terrific formative
opportunities which I believe are important for the developing clarinet player.

Michael Norsworthy
mnorsworthy@-----.net