Klarinet Archive - Posting 001308.txt from 2000/10
From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] A curricular issue
Date: Fri, 27 Oct 2000 17:18:40 -0400
At 09:41 AM 10/27/2000 -0700, you wrote:
> For example, what promises does Wesleyan School of Music make? If
>you're asking "What promises do you think Wesleyan School of Music
>*should* make?", my reply is that Wesleyan should promise priority to
>the declared student and should give an honest fact-based description to
>potential students of the chance that they won't be able to explore
>everything.
You use the term or word, "explore" in an interesting way. Is that what
the music major is doing when he is required to elect an ensemble? I
suppose if he is not a declared music major..........but then, would he be
a walk-on?
Here is a liberal arts university director of bands' philosophy (no, it
isn't me - and it is anonymous). What do you think of it?
Anonymous DoB Philosophy:
"I believe every university student should have the opportunity to play in a
band organization. This means that each student can audition and be placed
in an ensemble regardless of their major. This does not mean that the
student can "pick and choose" what ensemble that they prefer to play in."
"I would hope that the students we select for our School of Music should be
of the caliber that would allow them to participate in one of the concert
ensembles. This does not mean, however, that the student is given carte
blanche to perform in an ensemble. The student must earn that right through
the band audition process and continued musical growth on their instrument.
If a student fails to meet the criteria for placement in an ensemble; that
should be a strong warning that the student is not recommended to further
his or her career as a music major. (I would be in favor of giving the
student a one semester grace period. The student would be allowed to
audition the next semester for placement in an ensemble. If that student
failed once again, then the student should be counseled to seek another
major.)"
> My reply to the second question is similar, but once a student's
>declaration had been accepted, I think that the emphasis has shifted in
>a major way *away from* awarding classes on the basis of skill. As
>someone else posted, if the student isn't meeting minimum standards, the
>school must be straightforward and say so and ask the student to change
>course. But if the student is meeting the minimum standard (receiving a
>'passing grade', maintaining a sufficient 'score', or however the
>minimum is described), then the walk-on should be denied.
If I am reading you correctly, you are saying that even though the walk-on
is better and more correctly suited for the ensemble by virtue of his work,
he should always come in second to the declared music major who marginally
passes the audition for the ensemble?
> Without a
>declared policy to the contrary, accepting a student for a particular
>instrument is a promise to offer a complete education -- even if the
>student has little hope of becoming a virtuoso or even of becoming an
>outstanding musician.
Assume the student is a music education student and will eventually have to
be certified by the university to teach, and, in doing so, the univesity is
vesting it's reputation in that student. Does that change the
interpretation of "a promise to offer a complete education" if the student
ends up being deficient?
Keep in mind, I'm just asking questions - not stating opinions!!!! I am
working my way through the thorny possibilities with everyone else!
Sincerely,
Roger Garrett
Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Director, Symphonic Winds
Advisor, IWU Recording Services
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
(309) 556-3268
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