Klarinet Archive - Posting 001004.txt from 2000/08

From: "Buckman, Nancy" <nebuckman@-----.us>
Subj: RE: [kl] Which one? (Uh-oh...newby alert!)
Date: Wed, 30 Aug 2000 09:50:05 -0400

First of all, in my statement I was discussing new students at the
elementary level. By the time you get to high school the band director has
every right to decide what he wants in his ensembles.

Nancy

Nancy E. Buckman, Technical Assistant
School of Health Professions, Wellness and Physical Education
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, Maryland 21012 USA
nebuckman@-----.us

> -----Original Message-----
> From: MaisondeHadley@-----.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2000 5:58 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: Re: [kl] Which one? (Uh-oh...newby alert!)
>
> 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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