Klarinet Archive - Posting 000661.txt from 1999/07

From: "Paulette W. Gulakowski" <pollyg@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] School Music Programs
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 12:11:27 -0400

The scope of a good music program goes way beyond different kinds of
bands (and I'm a marching band geek).
At the school I grew up in, marching band practice was 2 weeks in the
summer and every morning during band class in the football season.
Concert band was the rest of the year and "dance band" was an extra
period. Nothing was extracurricular. If you were in the chorus, you
couldn't be in band - they met at the same time. Seventh and eighth
graders took band or chorus instead of general music. This encouraged
students to participate - general music was not a well-loved class.
In the district my kids attended, marching band was and is COMPLETELY
extracurricular, but concert band, orchestra, wind ensemble and jazz band
are classes held during the day. The musical is extracurricular but
spills over into classes, a little. The band director brings in
professional performers and groups for "side by side" playing as often as
he can get them. Our bands take trips to whatever we can afford. We did
wind ensemble, percussion ensemble and jazz band
performances/competitions in conjunction with the Peach Bowl (did the
half time show and parade, too!) six years ago, did the Orlando Music
festival (and went to Disney World where our choir performed, too - many
band members are also in the A capella choir ), plus trips to Arizona
where we visited the Grand Canyon - for the Fiesta Bowl, the Macy's
Thanksgiving Parade and local performances in the Pittsburgh area.. In
years where there is no major trip, there is always a Senior trip, to
Toronto or New York usually, to take in Broadway shows etc. In addition,
there are Master Classes, there is a pipeline to the local Universities
(Duquesne, Pitt, CMU etc) for lectures, ensembles, concerts, lessons etc
etc etc. Much of this is also available at the Junior High level
(they've started doing their own musicals, too) and ninth graders can
march - marching band is in the category of sports.
I believe in this exposure to music at all levels, formats and disguises.
You never know who responds best to what. My main beef with the program
is the lack of private lessons at the elementary and junior high levels.
There are group lessons, though. Unfortunately, few families can afford
private lessons for their kids in this economically depressed area and
the tax base isn't affluent enough to support additional music teachers
in the schools.
So, support whatever programs you have, fight their demise and fight
block scheduling. Music has to last all year.

If you think it can't be done and academic, too remember that my son was
not the only student to be in Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band,
Marching Band, Musical AND five Advanced Placement Classes - in Physics,
Chemistry, Comp Sci, English and History. Although he passed three of
the tests, he didn't do as well as most. 70% of the students who
graduated with a 4.0 had extended involvement with the music dept. as did
60+% of those with a 3.5 or better. I've NEVER heard anyone say they
were sorry they took piano lessons - or any instrument - although some
were sorry they chose a particular group, most were sorry they HADN'T.

Way too long.
Bye,
PAulette
On Mon, 19 Jul 1999 22:21:34 EDT JCLizmod2@-----.com writes:
>In a message dated 7/18/99 9:47:13 AM EST, jsimpson@-----.net writes:
>
><<
> I too am concerned about the state of school music programs. I'm
>not
> a music educator and my children are too small for this yet (but
>some
> day I hope they're interested).
>
> 1. It seems that (at least in this area) less kids are starting (or
>staying
> with) music? (Maybe a foundless opinion.)
>
> 2. In our area the fall "band" program is marching band. Didn't
>this used
> to be an after school extra curricular thing? The kids miss half a
>school
> year of "concert band". That doesn't leave much time for chamber
>music
> or other types of instrumental learning.
>
> 3. It would be nice if they went to Disney World and such places to
>play
> concert, chamber, and jazz music. (maybe they do this, I don't
>know.)
>
> 4. Think of how many fine and exotic instruments uniform money could
> purchase.
>
> In many ways I feel sorry for music educator's whose hands are tied
> by administrators who want entertainment provided at football,
> basketball, (soccer, swimming, track, lacrosse) events. >>
>
>
> Our school music program is actually pretty good and well-
>run!
>True, every year the number of music students decreases but those who
>stick
>with it are excellent players with promising musical futures.
>
> Starting in fifth grade and ending in ninth grade all band
>classes
>are concert band. In tenth grade students have the option of staying
>with
>concert band or entering marching band, or both. In the 6th through
>8th
>grades, brass, percussion and bass players can audition to join one of
>the
>jazz bands, who play at concerts, alternating, and we have a district
>jazz
>festival at the end of the school year.
>
> We also have a summer band program for students grades 5, 6
>and 7-8.
>5&6 Summer Bands are concert bands and the program runs for 2 weeks.
>7-8
>Summer Band is a jazz band program which runs for 2 weeks also.
>During the
>course of summer bands the kids learn a set of pieces for a final
>concert at
>the end of summer band and they also attend classes such as Music
>Improv,
>Band in a Box and Music Theory.
>
> I know that we are lucky and very fortunate to have such a
>fine music
>program here. I have heard about school music programs suffering for
>money
>and such, to the point of having band classes only once a week. I
>think it's
>tragic that kids don't get as much music exposure as they could
>because of a
>simple thing like money! Music is a big part of my life, and as many
>of you
>could testify, I don't know what I'd be doing if I didn't have my
>clarinet!!!
>Any other thoughts on this?
>
>Kaylen Walters
>CMS Music Department
>Wayzata, MN
>
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