Klarinet Archive - Posting 001171.txt from 1999/01
From: "Paulette W. Gulakowski" <pollyg@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] HELP!
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1999 13:12:03 -0500
YEP!
Fortunately we have a director who CAN get it together. He will find a
place for everyone - it may be as an alternate (if their playing is
shaky) or they may have to learn an instrument - or it may be as
announcer. As an example, our announcer was not an instrumentalist but
she wanted to attend a band competition post football season trip her
senior year. She had played the clarinet in 4th & 5th grade then quit.
The director gave her a clarinet, some simplified music, a spot on the
field and told her when the judges passed by she'd better be playing.
The other clarinetists and I "woodshedded" her through November and
December on the horn and she attended all the rehearsals the rest of the
band had, quickly learning the spot with the help of the rest of the
section. She performed acceptably at the Peach Bowl on New Year's (or
the day after - whatever) Her marching style was beautiful. But belive
me, she WORKED. Had she not done well, she may just have come onto the
field to play during a "standstill", or just marched the percussion solo.
There are experience opportunities for those who work. Kids learn about
the music, where it comes from, story lines etc, how to be part of a
team, how to get "stage presence" and alleviate performance anxiety that
carries over into public speaking, etc. The benefits can be mostly
social in some cases - or just the opportunity to experience the once in
a lifetime trip - I would never have seen the Grand Canyon, a Broadway
show, or a Bowl game without band membership. Many families can't afford
these trips for themselves.
I believe you get out more than what you put in - the sum is greater than
the whole. And THAT goes for EVERY musical experience - serious or
frivolous, concert or marching, competitive or not.
If there's any comfort to you, deadbeats generally drop out - except for
one or two of course whose parents won't let them.
All of the above are my opinions and personal observations. The story of
the marching announcer is true. The young lady (now in her early 20's)
is now a stage actress and has won some awards in that field. I'd like
to think her marching band experience gave her something that adds to
what she brings to her craft.
Thanks for reading.
Paulette
On Fri, 22 Jan 1999 23:35:31 -0600 (CST) "Edwin V. Lacy"
<el2@-----.edu> writes:
>On Fri, 22 Jan 1999, Paulette W. Gulakowski wrote:
>
>> Our district is under court mandate to accept all students ("No Cut"
>> policy) - whether they play an instrument or not.
>
>Wait a minute, let me be sure I understand this. If a student, who
>has no
>experience in music whatsoever, says they want to be in the band, the
>band
>director is required by court order to accept them? If I have this
>right,
>this is pure lunacy, a good example of a judge trying to conduct
>social
>engineering in an area in which he or she has absolutely no knowledge
>and
>no understanding whatsoever.
>
>A second question would be why such a student would decide to be in an
>organization for which he has no qualifications and can derive
>essentially
>none of the benefits of membership?
>
>Ed Lacy
>el2@-----.edu
>
>
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