Klarinet Archive - Posting 000769.txt from 1999/07

From: "Mark Charette" <charette@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] school music programs(kinda defending corps too)
Date: Thu, 22 Jul 1999 21:17:28 -0400

From: Karena <south_park7@-----.com>
[snip]
Karena,
Your thoughts on marching band/drum corps are just fine. What many people
(including myself, having a kid directly involved) are _mandatory_ marching
bands. In some areas of the country, marching band is not extracurricular or
an option in addition to symphonic band, but a mandatory part of being in
band. For those that enjoy marching band in my school district, I wish they
made it like jazz band in the district - a half credit course that takes
place right after "normal" school hours. Then, those that enjoy the marching
spectacle could be coached with others that love that genre, and the
marching band I think would be much more enjoyable than it is in the
district today - at least half of the marching band doesn't want to be
there. That's not fair to _either_ group of people - the ones that love it
and the ones that don't.

If my son(s) wanted to be in marching band, I'd be supportive. As it is, my
middle son (trumpet) has marching band drills all day starting later this
summer, along with jazz band practices in the evening because they're
playing in the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Detroit on Labor Day. He'd rather
concentrate on his jazz performance than march in the sun - that's his
preference, but we have no real choice. If he doesn't march, he doesn't play
in the symphonic band after marching season, and unless you're a bass,
guitar, or piano player, you don't get into jazz band without being in
symphonic band.

It comes down to choices, and some of us have none (or a really a binary
choice - band/no band). No one (or very few, anyway) are arguing that
marching band isn't a fun, supportive, and generally wonderful thing for
those that want to be there. There are arguments on whether or not a
marching band can march and play "good" music ... but that's different than
bashing marching band.

Cheers,
Mark Charette@-----.org
Webmaster, http://www.sneezy.org

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

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org