Klarinet Archive - Posting 000042.txt from 1998/04

From: Gary_VanCott@-----.com
Subj: Re: An educational observation (was Re: Brass VS. Woodwinds)
Date: Wed, 1 Apr 1998 19:17:46 -0500

Roger Garrett wrote:
>An educational observation.......the best school band programs that I have
observed seem to be those in which the band director is either active in
his professional performance, or he still plays frequently for the
students - even in a non-professional manner. Those programs for which
band directors never play, I have seen a high percentage of them, the
bands are usually very mediocre......with low self-esteems. Is it
coincidence?<
Last night our community college band (mostly community, not much college)
played a joint concert with a middle school band. The director of the
middle school band plays trumpet in our band. The format was:

middle school concert band
community college band
middle school jazz band
(one of the) community college jazz band(s) (mostly guys you would have
seen playing on the Las Vegas Strip 15 years ago)

I think the kids in the middle school bands got a tremendous amount out of
the concert. They had a chance to play in a nice auditorium. They (and the
parents that were there) had the opportunity to hear more mature players.
They saw their band director playing and having a good time (one of the
students at the middle school also plays in our band). I think they were
especially thrilled to hear a professional level jazz band play (most
middle school students don't have this opportunity). The college jazz band
played "Four Brothers" which the kids were familiar with and they gave the
band a standing ovation.

A good time was had by all and that is one of the reasons I am happy to be
involved in music again after many years away.

Gary Van Cott
Las Vegas, NV