Klarinet Archive - Posting 000990.txt from 2000/08

From: MaisondeHadley@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Which one? (Uh-oh...newby alert!)
Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2000 17:58:22 -0400

In a message dated 8/29/00 2:17:33 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
el2@-----.edu writes:

<< > First of all, children choose for themselves what they want
> to play instead of the band director dictating what he wants based on what

> section he needs musicians to fill out.

I wouldn't assume in every case that the director is being that
self-concerned or arrogant about making recommendations as to what
instrument a student might play. In many cases, students settle on an
instrument which may be very difficult or nearly impossible to play. Many
have chosen, for example, the flute because their friends play the flute,
even though they may find producing a tone on the flute to be an almost
insurmountable task.
>>

In sixth grade I had that opportunity, as did the rest of the Class of 2002
that chose to participate in band. We took a test listening to an immense
number of sounds, and it told us which instruments we liked the sound of the
most. In theorey according to the band directors, a student plays an
instrument better if they like the sound it produces. We had complete
control over what instrument we wanted to play. Through middle school,
instrumentation was never a problem. At the middle school, there are three
bands: beginning (6th graders), workshop (7th grader mostly with some 6th
graders who "get it" quicker), and concert band (mostly 8th graders but some
7th graders). There was also an audition "Stage Band" which did jazz. There
was never a problem present because they took anyone who was interested, and
generally were just there to learn music, and be in a band. Then we went to
the High School. To oncoming freshmen at Dallas, you have two choices. The
concert band, or the Wind Ensemble. The concert band is non-audition and
accepts anybody who wants to play on any instrument, and therefore, their
instrumentation and balance are often screwed up. The Wind Ensemble is
purely by audition only, and to get in a player must turn in a taped
recording of the WIBC audition on their instrument. This is the only time I
have ever heard my directors telling students what they should play. The
fact of the matter is, we cannot have 25 clarinetists and 25 flute players,
with a minimal/almost non-existant bass section. There are only so many
spots to be filled depending how much of a bass line we have. I think in
this case it is well within a director's peroggative to suggest to a student
they take up another instrument to fill that section if they want in. Even
at that, it is never aimed at a particular student, instead being announced
generally what is needed, and if a section is particularly large with players
to spare, they suggest some of the players in that section play another
instrument on a song or two to help maintain balance and quality of sound.
How is that any different than what a professional group would do?

~Joseph

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