Klarinet Archive - Posting 000074.txt from 1998/03

From: SDM@-----. Morrow)
Subj: Re: Marching Band
Date: Mon, 2 Mar 1998 18:13:08 -0500

>Where I live, in central Maryland, marching band is the "only" influence
>in a student's musical development in most public schools. Feeder
>schools are blasted with promo programs from the local high school
>marching band and students are told they cannot play in the Concert Band
>unless they are members of the marching band.
>
>Being a member of the marching band virtually guarantees that a student
>cannot elect to participate in any other extra-cirricular activity
>because the band's practice schedule is so prohibitive. Even family
>life must be arranged around the schedule of the high school marching
>band.
>
>How sad that music education must depend on the booster organizations of
>the marching band in order to travel and purchase instruments. There
>are no provisions in the county school budget for large or small
>instrument purchases, minimal monies for instrument repair and/or
>purchase of new music. For those of you who wonder what becomes of the
>string players, the marching band always needs poms, color guard, flags
>and gofers. What a way to reinforce musical skill building!
>
>While I got a lot of my jollies in marching band, it did nothing to
>prepare me for the world of the performing musician, amateur or
>professional. It's a crying shame to see the path that music education
>has taken in the public schools in my area.
>
>Nancy

Nancy,
It sounds to me like you are talking about Severna Park High
School! I also spent my "formative" years in Anne Arundel County schools,
but I went to Annapolis High. Even then, the horror stories of the Severna
Park HS marching band's gruelling "you will win medals or die trying"
rehearsal and competition schedules were legendary! My experience was much
more laid-back (especially compared with SPHS). I guess it all depends
what the director wants!

-Scott

Scott D. Morrow
Department of Biochemistry
School of Hygiene and Public Health
Johns Hopkins University
(410) 955-3631

SDM@-----.edu