Klarinet Archive - Posting 000094.txt from 1998/03

From: "Jason Hsien" <jasonavhs@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Marching Band
Date: Mon, 2 Mar 1998 20:01:33 -0500

-----Original Message-----
From: Buckman, Nancy <nebuckman@-----.us>
:How sad that music education must depend on the booster organizations of
:the marching band in order to travel and purchase instruments. There
When taxpayers get tired of new bond measures everytime schools need more
money, the only recourse is to go into booster money.

: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
Why do they need new music? My high school always has an old music
collection to tap into every few years, or we simply go to that collection
of the school district or other area schools. On instruments... buy more
durable, cheaper instruments, or buy used would be my suggestion.

:string players, the marching band always needs poms, color guard, flags
:and gofers. What a way to reinforce musical skill building!
Regarding this subject, string players always have a place in marching band.
I know of more tahn a few which feature a viola solo in their show. Many
have basses, cellos, and electric guitars. If this doesn't suit the fancies
of string players, there are always the marimbas and bass drums. Not all
string players automatically get stuffed into unitards or jumpsuits to dance
around the field.

:
: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.
I have noticed that marching band has helped me improve as a musician a lot.
I learned to adjust during different weather and temperatures. I learned how
to play as well as march, doing two things as once. I learned how to
memorize music much much faster, quicker, and painlessly (especially good
for concert pieces where you are on a moving line and you have to turn the
page or for those who solo in jazz)

Of course, my areas' music education is considered pretty good, so I really
can't say much, but I am sorry about the poor music education in your area.