Klarinet Archive - Posting 000904.txt from 1999/07

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] school music programs(kinda defending corps too)
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 17:40:17 -0400

At 11:32 AM 7/24/99 -0400, you wrote:
>But why do we have to put down what many kids love to do? Some people
>would think that playing any kind of music on a clarinet for hours a day
>is a waste of time. Different strokes, you know. . .

I wonder if it is not that people are putting MB down as an activity but
one that is often used to represent music teaching/learning/development?
Kids love to play Nintendo64, but it doesn't make it a great activity to
do. I have very few students who have come to me for private lessons who
have good skills who rave about marching band. Sadly, I find it is rare
for a really fine player/musician to love marching around on a football
field. That is not to say it can't be made fun or that it is not valuable
in some way, but, as has been discussed on this list many, many times (last
summer was a real winner wasn't it???), MB is not a great tool for
developing people musically.

There would seem to be a couple of common, related threads going here at
once. The first is that some people don't view MB as a serious way to
teach/learn music. I happen to fall into that category.

There are others who don't care if it is or isn't, they enjoy it and don't
want people to put it down.

Then there are some who recognize its value for what it is, but also
recognize it is not a great way to learn music. They tend to believe that,
if properly done and balanced with a strong music learning curriculum, MB
is a good, healthy event. I also fall into this category.

There are some who hate MB and feel it has nothing to offer - they abhor
the idea of it being in the curriculum.

There are some who just know it was a warm fuzzy for them when they came
through school and that it does address some issues of human development
(not necessarily musical).

So..........let's all be sure which thread we are part of and that the
person we are "arguing" with is the correct person to vent upon!

>Our marching band is mandatory in that it is the only band course offered
>in the fall.

Is it listed in the time schedule as marching band or as band? If the
latter, than it is not mandatory by the curriculum - just by the director.
If it is the former and it is in lieu of the concert program - this is a
deficient program curricularly.

>Where I live, in Georgia, marching band competitions are fierce, and
>bands have to put in a lot of time in order to compete well. It does
>take a committment, but no more so than a student interested in drama,
>gymnastics, dance, or many other extra-curricular activities.

Competition with a marching band is unecessary. It is a tool or a crux
used by music teachers who strive to earn a tropy rather than teach their
students the fundamentals of music. Very few programs do both well
(although there are a few - Marion Catholic, Sam Barlow, etc.) - and most
great marching programs who win trophies have very few good musicians in
the ensemble. I deal with those when they get to my school, and I have
good friends throughout the nation who say the same thing. Sorry - these
are facts.

> In the more affluent areas, most kids take private lessons and are
>supported well by the parents. They send dozens to All-State in the
>spring, so I don't see where marching hurt anyone, embrouchure-wise or in
>any other way. Students in a marching band learn socialization skills
>and benefit from the exercise. They learn to take care of themselves as
>they travel. They learn the hard lessons of winning and losing.

Most of these programs don't march all fall. Some do. Apples and Oranges.
Please be specific.

>I marched in junior high, high school, and college. I liked it most of
>the time; it helped pay my way through college; and it didn't keep me
>from practicing the "real music." I traveled to places I never would have
>gone otherwise, and I cherish all those experiences. I also met my
>husband there, and we now have two marching daughters--one goes off to
>high school band camp tomorrow; the other goes to college band camp next
>month on band, music department, and academic scholarships.

You were a lucky person. Great you had the experience! However, that
isn't what I perceive the list to be discussing.

>All musical endeavors are valuable and worthy of our respect, whether
>it's our "cup of tea" or not.

I'm sorry, I simply can't agree with this.

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director, Concert Band/Symphonic Winds/Titan Band
Advisor, Recording Studio
Illinois Wesleyan University
Office: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3411

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