Klarinet Archive - Posting 000218.txt from 1998/06

From: "Carl Schexnayder" <carlsche@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Clarinet in space
Date: Fri, 5 Jun 1998 19:39:03 -0400

Hi Paulette,

I just thought the ending might give the impression that it's ok to cut
music programs, but I also know that those who are interested in cutting
music programs either didn't see the movie or couldn't be influenced anyway.

In regard to your comment about Sousa marches, I know that too. In our
system, I know that we exist only because they want a band to march at
halftime so that we can exhibit our "great love for the football team" and
show what overwhelming support they have. I once had a school board member
ask me after the last football game of the season: "Well, now that the "band
season" is over, what are you going to do for the rest of the year?"

I once had a shcool board member call me at home on Mother's Day. He said:
Well, I suppose you heard that the baseball team won the state
championship?" I said: "I didn't know we had a baseball team!"
He was calling because he wanted me to call all of the band members and get
them to come to the gymn to play the Fight Song and the Alma Mater for the
team when they drove in. Needless to say, the mothers didn't want their
kids to go out and do that on Mother's Day, so I wound up with 1 trumpet
player and 1 snare drum and we played the music they wanted. Of course, I
thought it was preposterous as did my wife, but the school board member
complained to the principal that I wasn't too enthusiastic about doing "my
job."

Oh well, believe it or not, I made the story short and I could write about
many instances like that but I'm getting off the point.
Carl Schexnayder

Carl wrote:
>>I don't remember the movie that well but, what bothered me more than
>>anything was his conducting and the actual piece that he supposedly
>>composed. Is that what was longing to come out all those years!?
>>Goodness!!! It was obvious he wasn't a musician, (my opinion), all
>>through
>>the movie.
>>
>>I also didn't like the ending at all! If all of those important
>>influential
>>people thought he had done such a great job and the music program had
>>done
>>so much good, it's impossible for me to believe that they couldn't
>>have
>>demanded that the program be continued!!!
>>
>>Carl Schexnayder
>
>P: Okay Carl - you'd think that's how it would work in real life but
>that's naive. School districts and their music programs are supported by
>their tax base, not by the politicians and big shots. "If you're not
>playing Sousa marches in the parade, what's the use of a music program?"
>I actually overheard that (or similar) comment from a bystander as I was
>accompanying my band kids along a local parade route. Go figure.
>
>Paulette

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