Klarinet Archive - Posting 001122.txt from 1998/04

From: Rich & Tani Miller <musicians@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Smart people and Music (was Music and Science)
Date: Mon, 20 Apr 1998 17:12:46 -0400

Darn you! I said I wouldn't get in this conversation and you got me in. How can you
call playing marches and patriotic music a musical problem? No it isn't Mozart but
marches are certainly an important part of band history.

Besides, the trip was EXTRA not required. No school district money was spent on it
other than to provide a substitute. It was a trip! The marching band doesn't
compete, doesn't take up a massive amount of the music department budget, the high
school has a wind ensemble that plays grade 5 literature, will be commissioning a
piece from Michael Dougherty in the near future, brought in Martin Mailman as a guest
conductor, a symphonic band with over a 100 players (I think?), a ninth grade concert
band with 50 kids it, . . . how did you get me into this
discussion!!!=$#$%^&^!!!!!!!!!

No it isn't a musical problem at all. It can only be that if I (if I say "we" my
husband will kill me for dragging him into this conversation) try to pretend that it
was the ultimate of musical experience. It was a fun trip with a little bit of
education that gave students the opportunity to perform a march and a patriotic
medley for thousands of people!!!! We certainly strived for a quality parade
performance including playing the march in a stylistically appropriate manner using
good performance and technical skills . . . HOW DID YOU GET ME TO RESPOND TO THIS!
Science classes go to Hershey park and do physics experiments on rollar coasters.
English classes go to the Renaissance Faire. I'm not trying to pretend that it was a
trip to see the Philadelphia Orchestra although we do things like that to! I'm not
saying that it is a total musical experience--it isn't in the grand scheme of
things! It was just one event in a miriad of experiences that are part of this
program. But we had fun and entertained in the process (didn't you emphasis that
marching band provides entertainment without being a great musical
experience--someone did as I recall)

. . . . . how did you do this . . . I swore that I'd stay out of this conversation .
. .

Incidently, I heard some colleges jazz band perform at the Magic Kingdom on
Saturday. Very good group! I wish I remembered the group!

Roger Garrett wrote:

> On Wed, 15 Apr 1998, Rich & Tani Miller wrote:
>
> > Nope, we'll be in Orlando with Mickey. Rich's marching band will be performing
> > on Friday in the parade at Epcot. It's hard to argue with the fact that band
> > trips are fun! (NO! I am not requesting that I get in this discussion!!! I got
> > scared off when I was accused of elitism. I decided then to read, learn, and
> > exist around the fringes on this listserv. You people are too tough for my
> > gentle nature.)
>
> No one ever said that the trips shouldn't be fun! But, if all the band is
> doing is marching and parading it, there is a problem musically wouldn't
> you say?
>
> Roger Garrett
> IWU