Klarinet Archive - Posting 000122.txt from 1998/10

From: David McClune <dmcclune@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Marching Band
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 15:45:03 -0400

Here in West Tennessee, the marching band seems to drive the band programs.
However they also drive out the players. All of us must keep in mind that
nationally there is a 95% dropout rate from high school to college. The
remaining 5% are the music majors, music minors, and the most
important--the NON-music majors. (From a paper given at a CBDNA convention
a few years ago)

What happened to the enjoyment of making music? Is playing clarinet about
9 minutes of rote taught music and making fluid shapes on a field? Music
is a unique art which can go deep into a persons heart, but it must be
nourished.

I do feel that Marching Bands serve a vital and very public service, but
need to be in balance to an overall program dedicated to music education,
and NOT trophy number envy...

We college teachers must reach our students, one at a time, and help them
(teach them) a balanced view of music education that they take out into the
teaching profession.

Of course all these letters to KLARINET are really preaching to the
believers any how.

Dr. David McClune
Professor of Clarinet
Director of Bands
Union University
Jackson, TN 38305
901-661-5294-office

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