Klarinet Archive - Posting 000910.txt from 1999/07

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] school music programs(kinda defending corps too)
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 20:17:12 -0400

At 06:27 PM 7/24/1999 -0500, Roger Garrett wrote:
>I'm not sure why anyone would have to be forced to stand in line, in a
>particular position - stiff and eyes straight forward just to be convinced
>that is the only way they can listen and learn. My point was that any
>approach like that is unecessary. A good teacher will have students
>listening attentively without having to resort to rules and regulations
>such as standing at attention. The better the teacher, the less the need
>for discipline. It is a tried and true educational principle.
>
>They don't stand at attention in math, social studies, english or any
>other class do they? *confused look* Why should the study of music
>require this??
>
Judging from some of the classrooms I've seen lately, too many teachers
think they are a good deal better than they are!

Being able to stand at attention in, of course, NOT critical to the study
of music, although learning to SIT quietly, and silently, at attention
certainly moves the concert band rehearsals along more quickly.
Trigonometry is not too critical to the study of music, either, but band
members study that, too. Just as most of the higher math kids study in
school is mostly about learning how to learn and think logically, so the
"discipline" of marching band is about learning overall self-control and
self-discipline.

>But - if you do have a marching band, I firmly believe that they must
>adhere to a military type regiment just to accomplish anything on the
>field. It's a different animal than the classroom. I just wish that a
>student didn't have to be forced into military service in order to learn
>about music, or that their musical development required them to march
>around on the field playing Orff. LOL
>
Even though I was in ROTC at the time, I never thought of the regimentation
of marching band as "military." I thought of it as SHOWMANSHIP (which, now
that I think about it, IS applicable to the study of music!).

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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