Klarinet Archive - Posting 001184.txt from 1998/09

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Marching band
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1998 18:24:43 -0400

Len John is a wise person!

Marching band, in the traditional sense, is part of American culture - we
started it all folks (no......I'm not talking about bands of war/British,
etc.) - on a football field and in parade. The only problem with our
current situation in the public schools is that it has gone too far - too
much emphasis, too little music learning, too many trophies, too little
representation of real music, and a tendancy for public school band
teachers to use marching band as the representative model of what is right
with the program......nothing could be further than the truth in those
instances.

Marching band? Absolutely! Contests and one show with slight changes a
each week? Cop out.

Roger Garrett
IWU

On Wed, 30 Sep 1998 LJohn73727@-----.com wrote:

> Marching band has gotten more kids into band music than you can realize. It
> if done well is musically satisfying and enjoyable. After 42 years of
> teaching band I was told my many ex students how much they enjoyed band and
> marching band. Little kids followed us down the streets when we practice
> street marching. How many of them got in band because of that? I don't know
> but would wager many. It is part of our heritage. Len John
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