Klarinet Archive - Posting 000790.txt from 2001/01
From: Sterkel Terrance-W15462 <T.Sterkel@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] band directors (was: playing along with students (was: mouthpiec
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2001 07:12:56 -0500
Band Directors, please take this as a cautionary note. Not everyone
is a "music major", most of us are fighting to keep performance music
in our lives despite pressures to drop out.
After some thought and tossing my first few responses, I have decided to
touch on this one. You probably have picked up that I have returned to
the clarinet after 30 year hiatus. During that time, I have had "you
played the clarinet? why not join us" a few times, but I demurred.
To be blunt, it has taken me 30 years to get over a high school band
director who saw his students as fodder for praise through fancy
marching band maneuvers, big band competitions, and ensemble playing
at the drunken Elks' Christmas parties. As an honors academic track student
(heading for Engineering) with two jobs on the average, I was in band
for the joy of it. After missing too many after-hours "mandatory" sessions,
I found an "F" for the quarter. Needing scholarships to make ends meet
in College, which required a very high GPA, I put my clarinet away....
{*}
Terry Sterkel
-----Original Message-----
From: Audrey Travis [mailto:vsofan@-----.com]
Subject: Re: [kl] RE: playing along with students (was: mouthpieces)
Thanks for your thoughtful reply, Richard. I'm guilty of 'foot in mouth'
disease
sometimes, too.
Best wishes,
Audrey
Richard Bush wrote:
> So sorry Audrey. You are correct. My statement was sweeping and insulting.
Never
> should have said that. I really don't believe it and I apologize profusely
to all
> good band directors out there. I know many fine band directors and some
poor ones
> too. Hope none of my friends who are band directors read what I wrote or
I'll get
> punched in the nose the next time they see me.
>
> Again, so sorry, and thank you for bringing it to my attention.
>
> Audrey Travis wrote:
>
> > Richard Bush wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > When to play and not to play with a student is walking a thin line.
The teacher
> > > who says or demonstrates to the student, "It goes like this....da dump
de dump
> > > de dump," is taking the worst possible shortcut, the most expedient
way and is
> > > doing a great disservice to the student. They can get that crap in
school with
> > > their band director.
> > >
> >
> > Richard - I agree that the student needs to learn 'how it goes' by
him/herself,
> > though it may take some time for the student to reach this level.
However, your
> > statement about band directors is quite sweeping as well as insulting.
In the
> > case of the band directors I know and work with (including myself) here
in
> > Vancouver, your statement is simply incorrect. We work very hard to
help students
> > gain independence and reliable reading skills for themselves. I'm
guessing you've
> > had bad experiences with one or more band directors. I'm sorry you've
had this
> > experience.
> >
> > Someone on this list (can't remember who) has a great tag lie which is
something
> > like this: ,,,a man's character is never so clearly shown as when he
speaks of
> > another's....
> >
> > Audrey
> >
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