Klarinet Archive - Posting 000668.txt from 2003/05

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] FW: [kl] something a little different for marching band...
Date: Tue, 27 May 2003 10:17:50 -0400

I do think it important that students have some ability to choose the
instrument they play. In middle school, my band director asked me to =
play
Eb alto clarinet in the band. He was the husband of my piano teacher =
and I
realize now they wanted me to develop some playing independence but at =
the
time I didn't like it at all and would have much preferred to play my Bb
clarinet.=20
Thank God that the high school band director, after hearing me play =
my
audition on my Bb clarinet asked me "what the hell I'd been playing Eb =
alto
for" and had me switch back. I was the quiet, shy mousy type in high =
school
and probably would have dutifully played that alto clarinet in band if =
he
had asked me to but I would not have been happy and probably would have
dropped out of band altogether. I definitely needed more challenge and
would have been completely bored with that alto clarinet. The band =
director
recognized that and I played first chair for 3 out of my 4 years in high
school.
It's just my opinion but part of the job of a band director is =
helping
their students develop their interests and playing abilities. How God
awfully important can it be that Rebecca play Bb clarinet rather than =
trying
something new if she would like to do that? Band directors need to =
think
about much more than their "authority" and "being in charge". Now =
perhaps
this band director is thinking, "what happens if more of my clarinet
students go out and buy an Eb clarinet and expect to be allowed to play =
it
in band?" Unless he's in a very well-to-do school district I don't =
think
this is likely to happen. I have trouble getting parents to buy reeds =
and
mouthpieces for their kids, much less consider purchasing another
instrument. =20

Christy Erickson

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