Klarinet Archive - Posting 000072.txt from 1998/10

From: "Bell, Karen E" <bell1ke@-----.edu>
Subj: [kl] Re: Marching Bands
Date: Thu, 1 Oct 1998 22:18:24 -0400

Hello everyone,

I am a senior music education major at James Madison
University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. I don't understand
how anyone can say that clarinets aren't related to
marching bands. Whether you like it or not, marching bands
are a big part of high school and most college band
programs. I will say however, that some programs take the
marching band too seriously. Marching band, in my opinion,
should be an extension of the concert ensembles. The same
basics of tone production, technique, pitch, musicality
et cetera. are applicable to a marching band. At least they
should be. The public sees marching bands as a form of
entertainment during halftime, and the school
administration sees the marching band (and the sports event
that it's there for) as a source of money. That's true, but
the band is much more valuable to its members. Marching
band teaches leadership, teamwork, cooperation and
compromise, as well as individuality. I think that we have
lost sight of the positive aspects of marching band. Maybe
I analyze band too much. I apologize. I know that when I
have my own band someday, it is those traits that I will
implant into my students.

Marching bands are supposed to provide school spirit for
football games. That's all that the school administration
cares about. If you raise school spirit, more people come
to the football games. The more people that attend, the
more $ the school raises. That's what everything is about
these days. I know that is a reality, but I don't have to
like it..

Why do some people think that marching bands are
"worthless as a musical endeavor"? What is that based on?
Obviously, some people haven't heard a good marching band.
There are many great high school marching bands, especially
in the Northern Virginia area (as well as others, but I am
familiar with Virginia mainly). There is a wealth of good
"literature" for marching bands. I haven't seen a band
march "Symphonie Fantastique", but there are good
arrangements of orchestral works such as Dvorak's "New
World" symphony. Honestly, if you want to hear a symphony,
go see a professional orchestra. That's what they are there
for.

Marching bands provide musical entertainment. Maybe if
people that don't think that marching bands provide a good
musical experience were to see a really good band, they
would change their minds. The marching band at here at JMU
sounds great. There are 450 students in the band. That
produces some problems in and of itself, but that is
irrevelant right now. We play some challenging music, and we
play it well. Dr. Rooney, our director, is always reminding
us about playing with the best sounds possible. We try to
play like a concert band, only we are outside. We listen to
each other to tune, and we play musically. The sound can be
overwhelming at times. I can't really explain it. You have
to experience it for yourself.

I won't go on because I feel that most of you don't
care. I thought that I should defend something that has
brought me years (9 to be exact) of fun, friendship and
incredible music-making. Isn't music the point here? Music
for the sake of the music. Whether it be a symphony
orchestra, a middle school band or a marching band, the
purpose is the music that is being made.

--
Bell, Karen E
bell1ke@-----.edu
James Madison University

-------------------------------------------------------------------------