Klarinet Archive - Posting 000712.txt from 1999/07

From: "Patricia Smith" <david-patty@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] School Music Programs
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 16:36:29 -0400

Dear all on Klarinet list

Paulette, my statement on marching band was not to be taken literally. If
you will further read what Ed has to say, you will see that this particular
BD and program he is referring to is a VERY negative thing; I stand by the
point I made. Also, as much as I hated marching band, I never did quit it.
Ed, I really wish schools could have drum corps separate from band programs
(and as extracurricular activities outside of school hours, like football,
not mixed in with the music program) so that the individuals you referred to
can have their fun and stop masquerading it as music. And I think I'm being
nice about it, don't you? Especially since I cannot stand drum corps
either. Live and let live (or die - whatever).
If my children choose to participate in marching band, I will support them
in every way I can, and help the organization however I can. But if I come
upon some person such as the one Ed is dealing with, and my children are
having a miserable experience, then, of course, I will most certainly pull
the plug on marching band for them, rather than subject them to such
foolishness. Character building is one thing; playing along with another
person's insanity is quite another.
Ben, perhaps there is another way to go at all of this. I would not at all
discourage you from getting the finest teacher you can study with; however,
make sure you go to a teacher for what the person can teach you and help you
improve about your clarinet playing, and not because of their big name.
Secondly, investigate perhaps playing a different instrument for marching
band, maybe, perhaps flute or piccolo. If this doesn't suit you, another
alternative would be to bear with it and, as my mother once told me when I
had to spend a lot of time training some new people in my Navy musician gig,
"Instead of complaining how bad they are, help 'em get better..." One of
those young men was quite a fine alto player, and had never played clarinet,
so I just let him know that it was good he tried. The other one, I gave
lessons to, and even got him to get lessons with a second teacher. I ended
up being quite proud of how far he had come when I left the Navy. Lastly,
if you truly cannot stand marching band, ask yourself if you would be able
to stand any gig where you had to do a lot of stuff you hate just to get to
(once in a while) do what you want to do. Truthfully, even in the big
symphonies, a lot of gigs are plain not fun. Read and reread Roger
Garrett's post also - I felt he said a lot that any young person would do
well to remember.

Cheers to all, especially Mark

Patty Smith

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org