Klarinet Archive - Posting 000091.txt from 1998/03

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: marching bands
Date: Mon, 2 Mar 1998 19:21:38 -0500

On Mon, 2 Mar 1998, The Lightles wrote:
> I've always enjoyed this list because of the knowledge I glean from
> everyone, professional to hs student. You can learn from everone and
> everyone is, of course, entitled to their opinion. It seems as though
> everyone gets just a little touchy when it comes to opinions about
> marching bands, be the comments pro or con. If marching band is
> exciting during the fall perhaps this same excitement will rub off
> during the rest of the year when playing a more classic repetoire.
> my $ .02
> Patti Lightle

The wonderful thing about being a part of a listserv is that one is free
to speak to many different issues surrounding the main topic....in this
case, clarinet and other musical issues. That people are touchy matters
not - just that they communicate and that, hopefully, some learn from the
communication. I have learned a great deal from being on this
listserv.....many would be surprised by that! However, the marching issue
is an important one - the issues have been obscured a bit. In a nutshell:

1. Some believe that marching band is the end all to a musical
experience in high school. This is a position I cannot support, and it is
one that I argue vehmently against.

2. Marching bands have value and a place in the music curriculum -
that they provide many things for students that are important in a musical
environment. I agree with this.

3. Marching bands often are used by the teachers of that area as a
political means - as a device to prove worthiness to non-music
administrators.........I believe this is very a prevelant and dangerous
practice that negatively impacts on music education in the public schools.
i also believe it negatively affects the music literacy of high school
aged students.

4. Done correctly, marching band can be exciting and fulfilling. It
serves both a musical and social outlet, and it can be compared with the
same values associated with athletic teams. This is a true statment. But
caution........once you walk this path, be prepared to show why they
shouldn't cut the band instead of the football team when budgets fail and
referendums on the tax base become an issue!

5. Drum and Bugle Corp (DCI) is a great art form........yes it is.
Not to be associated with the high school band "copy" of DCI that tries to
stake a claim as part of that art form.

6. Marching bands are an equal musically to their counterpart on the
concert stage........
Sorry.......this is an indefensible position. Sadly, there are
people who truly believe it. They may never know or understand the beauty
of the music form that the marching band evolved away from.

These are the main issues we have been discussing. How do they affect
clarinet playing? Well, the whole thing started when I responded to the
issue of marching alto clarinets on the field. What I find intersting is
that the DCI bands have no woodwinds! Just an observation.

Roger Garrett
IWU

   
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