Klarinet Archive - Posting 000275.txt from 2001/06

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: question [and School Board]
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 08:45:08 -0400

At 11:25 PM 06/05/2001 -0700, you wrote:
> The instrumentation tonight was not balanced (bari sax + harp, but
> not one clarinet), but they played and sang arrangements of:
>
>Vivaldi, Four Seasons
>Scarborough Fair
>Bach, Brandenberg #4 and a hymn
>Mozart, Divertimiento #13 (?)
>two jazz blues, I don't remember the titles
>Alelujiah
>Andrew Lloyd Weber themes
>Disney "Mermaid"
>Birdland
>Peter Gunn

Bill,

Undoubtedly, they played well and with enthusiasm - and that's a great
thing. The teacher is obviously doing the right things to make the program
work so well.

Think how much better it would be if he/she got some better repertoire for
young band going! I'm amazed that none of the really cool stuff out there
for grade 1, 2 or 3 (I don't know what level you are talking here) is on
the list, and I'm surprised (but not offended or alarmed) at the amount of
transcription/arrangements used. It isn't the best for all
instruments. For example, The Disney and Andrew Lloyd Webber tunes may
have given the percussionists a little more to do (or maybe not, depending
on the arrangments), but the rest would have been incredibly ignorant
towards that section.

Don't get me wrong - I would rather have great teaching and motivating from
a teacher with just average repertoire issues going on than the other way
around! If your daughter is happy and practicing.......then the wagon
ain't broke...........

What grade level, size, and general instrumentation is this teacher working
with?

Best wishes,
Roger Garrett

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

"A man never discloses his own character so clearly as when he describes
another's."
Jean Paul Richter (1763-1825)

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