Klarinet Archive - Posting 000116.txt from 1998/10

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] marching band
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 15:44:57 -0400

On Thu, 1 Oct 1998, clmccurdy wrote:

> What is our vision of music
> education in this country? Does marching help the musical development of
> players? Can we do without marching band and give kids a quality music
> education? Is marching band the best and most effective way to give
> students a comprehensive music education? If it is not, then why do we
> invest so much time, money and devotion?

Good questions - no agreed upon answers by the masses. Most band teachers
do not agree on a common vision of music education in the
US......certainly they differ from their orchestra and choral
counterpoints (at least in most instances - there are wonderful programs
in which people agree).

Marching helps musical development in many ways: use of air, rhythmic
development, percussion chops, sustaining a sound when you are physically
uncomfortable........

Yes, we could do without marching band and give kids a quality music
education IF (and that is a big if) the public and the administrators who
control our funding and our curriculum continue to recognize the reason we
teach music. Unfortunately, they usually do not - and the marching band
is what allows us to continue to teach music in the schools.

Your last two questions are answered by my last opinion.

Roger Garrett
IWU

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