Klarinet Archive - Posting 000805.txt from 1999/07

From: "Will Shattuck" <willpsha@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] school music programs(kinda defending corps too)
Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 12:19:31 -0400

> Now, besides being dinner music for a crowd stuffing down
> hot-dogs and gulping
> Coke, what exactly are the intrinsic and unique values of the
> marching band that
> make it esthetically, culturally, or intellectually so important
> to the public
> school curricula?

Unfortunately, once being a public school music teacher (middle school),
marching band is almost all Public Relations for grades 6/7/8. In High
School it's PR and other things. The discipline, knowing what to do when,
the concentration to play well and march well especially with complex shows.
I will agree there were times when it wasn't worth it. I HAD to do marching
band because the superintendent and the community expected it. And they
expect it to do well. I was an idealistic young music educator that burned
out. I thought I could change the way * I * taught music to actually TEACH
music. I burned out going against a system that doesn't want *real* music
education. However disillusioned I am / was I still believe in MB. I saw 5
of my students from 8th grade go on to do really good things in MB. One
lost a lot of weight and now feels better about himself for one example. He
and the others all learned other instruments as well.

I guess you could say I'm bittersweet about MB ..... but I do love the shows
:) <BIG GRIN>

Thanks for letting me rant,
Will
 
-----------------------------
Will Shattuck, KF6VCE
Willster / WillsterV
mailto:willpsha@-----.com
FAX: (801) 991-8212

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