Klarinet Archive - Posting 000239.txt from 2002/10

From: Gary Van Cott <gary@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Marching band --- not what I expected
Date: Sun, 6 Oct 2002 15:20:40 -0400

Bill,

There isn't anything in Neil's post I disagree with. DCI is entirely
voluntary. So, in fact, are the color guards and other auxiliaries of a
marching band. However, the band itself is usually not voluntary if you
want to be part of the overall band program.

I participated in one of the most successful high school marching band
programs in Southern California in the 1960s. In those days physical
education was required every year in school in California and marching band
was conducted as a PE class. We had a minimum number of additional
practices (usually not more than 3 hours per week during marching
season). That still doesn't prevent me from regretting those wasted hours
marching up and down the football field or the street. How much better it
would have been to have spent some time playing in a jazz band or woodwind
quintet.

I believe that the situation is much worse now in many places and the kids
are being asked to put in many more hours than we did.

Gary

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