Klarinet Archive - Posting 001389.txt from 2000/12

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Dirge for a Lame Duck at the Bird Refuge
Date: Sat, 30 Dec 2000 18:01:17 -0500

At 12:09 PM 12/30/2000 -0800, you wrote:
> Okay, since you told me not to ask, what is wrong (or right?) about
> a recital attendance policy?

I hope no student from my school reprints this and sends it to the school
director - LOL - actually, he already knows.

We have an attendance policy that requires students to attend concerts and
recitals. They must accumulate so many points in order to keep from
getting an incomplete in their lessons. The incomplete turns to an F if
they do not fulfill the requirement within a semester.

There were many of our music faculty who supported the recital attendance
policy. Their position was that students should be attending concerts and
learning from what they see and hear. I agree with this. However, my
position tends to be more consistent with the following old adage: You can
lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. You can lead a man to
[fill in the blank] but you can't make him think.
In other words, the students who are forced to attend - a captive audience
shall we say - are there for reasons other than what they are being forced
to do. Further, they must write several paragraphs and turn them in to
their studio teachers to account for their attendance. You should see some
of the stuff I've received!!!!!

At any rate - there are lots of problems with all of the above. I don't
know if the forcing those students to go and sit in that auditorium really
achieves what everyone hopes is being achieved.

Sincerely,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
Director, Symphonic Winds
Advisor, IWU Recording Services
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
Phone: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3121

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