Klarinet Archive - Posting 001020.txt from 1998/02

From: Rich & Tani Miller <musicians@-----.net>
Subj: Re: alto mpcs
Date: Sat, 28 Feb 1998 11:12:55 -0500

Roger Garrett wrote:

> There are many alternates to putting a useless instrument on the field.
> Perhaps the most important question to ask is, why are we marching to
> begin with? Does the poor school district march to go to contest? Why?
> Or, does the school with no money teach music, with the idea that,
> eventually, the students may develop the skills to understand the
> difference between marching band and musical spontanity.

Music needs to be funded by the school district like every other curricular
subject. We wouldn't have fundraisers for science lab equipment would we?
Other then the band trip, my school district fully funds the music program.
No there is never enough money, but we find creative ways of making things
work.

>
>
> A lot of people will jump on the soapbox and describe marching band as a
> serious music event. I describe marching contests, quite accurately (and
> as one who has performed in them, attended them, judged them, etc.) as a
> money making venture (for the organizers) and as a public display for the
> band director who is capable of getting students to move together
> athletically......perhaps even while playing a memorized arrangement of a
> piece of music. Futher, there are many music educators whose concert
> programs sound quite poor......very poor musical skills on the part of the
> students....yet the teacher attends 8-10 marching contests per
> season.....often with only small changes to the show and even smaller
> changes to the repertoire the students learn during that season.

Sure this is the negative side of marching band and I'm sorry that you
haven't seen enough of the positive side of marching band. There are a lot
of positives though. Students can (emphasis on the word "can") learn
leadership skills, musicianship, and a lot of life lessons. Marching bands
can play with incredible musicianship!!! It all depends upon the director
(there are people who will be offended by this one I'm sure). There are
many, many programs who have very strong competive programs who also have
incredible concert bands. In addition, marching bands provide an awful lot
of public relations for school music programs. Sure people ought to come to
concerts, but the fact is that many people don't (I live in a community where
football rules, the new practice field that cost a lot of money is testament
to that!). We should never stop trying to infuse our communities with
culture. However, more taxpayers go to football games then to concert band
performances (yes it is a sad comment upon our society). If they see an
entertaining marching band program with a whole lot of students involved,
they are probably more likely to support financial decisions that benefit the
music programs, more likely to buy their own children instruments, and maybe,
just maybe they might be more likely to show up at a concert. Once again I'd
like to emphasize that it really comes down to the band director. Creative
inspiring directors can have both marching and concert bands that would
impress anyone. They create an environment which causes students to have a
musical experience whether it be in a band room or on a football field.
Creative directors find ways to use marching band as a way to hook kids on
music and then they extend that into concert band. Please note that I AM NOT
advocating that marching band take the place of concert band. We need both
and we need both to provide quality musical experiences for our children.

> I have already stated that a plastic bass clarinet is not a problem on the
> field, although I wouldn't personally put one out there. An alto
> clarinet, on the other hand, is a waste of time on the field. The
> clarinetist will get a better musical education practicing cymbals or
> learning the keyboard by playing bells while marching. There is always
> bass drum and quad or tri-toms. If one marches auxillary, there is that
> option too.
>

Oh yes, I forgot to add that many directors are now programming grade 4-5
concert band music in their marching band shows. Students are not just
necessarily repeating unchallenging music over and over throughout the
marching band season. Quite often, music is custom arranged in order to
allow for exposure of all sections s(yes woodwinds too!!) I've heard some
incredible clarinet exposure. With the addition of dance and colorguard,
marching band also allows for some integration with other areas of the arts
as well as allowing for more student involvement. Whether we like it or not,
the numbers of students involved can seriously affect the politics of public
schools. No, marching band should never take precedence over concert band
but if you're going to to do it, program and design well so that students
have an educational experience that enriches their lives.

Do you really believe that an clarinetist would get a better experience by
playing a percussion instrument? Imagine the effect that all those hours of
practice on marching music will have upon that student's musical
development? Most marching bands that I've worked with include technical
development, intonation, and tone quality exercises in ALL rehearsals. Isn't
that better than taking time away from their clarinet to play something that
may or may not be less of a musical challenge? Accoustically, you're right
about the alto clarinet.

Okay, I'm rambling and did get on the soapbox without meaning to (I didn't
think that I was on the soapbox until I went back and read it). I've been
lucky enough to have seen very healthy, competitive, musical marching bands.
Through this, I've seen students become hooked on music enough to make it
their lifetime profession or become lifetime musicians on the side. While
I'd prefer that it started with Mozart and not on the football field, the end
results are the same. Is it more important that students play Pineapple
Poll, Lincoln Portrait, Chester, Be Glad Then America, the Verdi Requiem,
West Side Story Suite. . . on a concert stage or on a marching field? OR is
it more important that they just get to perform and experience the music?
It's all a matter of perspective (and keeping it in perspective!).

>

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