Klarinet Archive - Posting 000007.txt from 1998/10

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Marching band and (Concert Band also)
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 12:24:31 -0400

At 03:24 PM 9/30/98 -0400, Craig Countryman wrote:
>This issue reminds me of something that has been eating at me for a long
>time. Is it standard practice to play only three concert band numbers for
>the majority of concert season. That is all our band has done, and many in
>our area, and I think it hurts kids as musicians. Sure, any ensemble can
>work up a number after 3 months of practice (if it is within the
>capabilities of its members)! Obviously, a great deal of attention should
>be devoted to contest numbers, but high school students would also benefit
>from being exposed to a wide variety of music.
>
>Is this something others have noticed as well? Do you think it is standard
>practice or unique to my area?
>
This does seem to be common practice, driven by the fact that the rating
you get at district/state competitions is the only recognized measure of
success in a band program. I think more variety and more opportunities to
play concerts would be better training, but that would buck a pretty well
established tradition.

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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