Klarinet Archive - Posting 000145.txt from 1998/10

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Marching band
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 18:07:13 -0400

> > Well, the people who are in the business of teaching, defending their
> > teaching positions, requesting funds for their teaching positions, and
> > answering to school administrators, parents, and the general public have
> > (in my opinion of course!) every right to say if marching band is
> > worthwhile or not. I am assuming you are an "end user" - rather than a
> > teacher. It's not about what the public enjoys - it's about what we teach
> > students in a curricular setting paid for by tax dollars. That's about
> > it.
> > Roger Garrett
> > IWU
> well the same way you are in the business of teaching, I am in the
> business of learning, :). To me it is very hard to agree with you that
> marching bands do not add some value to our musical skills. I mean , I do
> not know if you realize that now in most public high schools, music
> classes are being cut, the reason no money. SO, most high school marching
> bands support themselves, and it is sometimes the only way that some
> students get exposure to music. I know that marching band music is not as
> complex, or does not have as a 'clean' of a sound as some orchestras do,
> but it is a start to expose students to music.

I never said they don't add value to our musical skills......in fact, I
posted the ones I think they DO add to.

Sure I realize they are being cut......and WHY do you think that is so?
They often offer nothing more than any other classes or athletic teams -
because of an over-emphasis of marching band. Keep the MB, but
de-emphasize it - use it to your advantage - but don't use it as the model
for teaching music - it simply can't be a model for musical learning.
However, it can be used to reinforce concepts of musical learning.

Roger Garrett
IWU

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