Klarinet Archive - Posting 000247.txt from 2004/05
From: "Nicholas Yip" <clarinets21@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Being the poor old Band Director
Date: Wed, 12 May 2004 03:01:21 -0400
Hi,
First off are there any band directors listservs that work. I tried
artsedge, banddirector@-----.org, which conveniently
seems to all be down. I kept getting failure messages that the addresses
dont exist anymore.
If there aren't anymore I have a question for all band directors out there.
I am a student teacher at a middle school- high school band program. The
band program gets 2nd or third place in marching competitions at the high
and middle school level. Btw are middle school band marches as well, ouch!
We also get superiors in the rest of our ensembles. The parents and
administration seem to have this superflous idea that they want to see their
students receive unanimous superiors, and first place awards at festivals.
Third and second place is never good enough for them. They are also so
territorial and are more interested in beating that cross town rival. The
program is being put on the slate to be cut by the end of next year if the
standards are not improved. The parents also run the district BTW! The
director told me that I need to be more aggressive in my teaching, and we
both agreed. I became more aggressive and the students began to improve and
the scores got better. However some of the students and most of the parents
did not appreciate me being more aggressive, therefore in two months they
called for me to take anger management and called for a new director if this
continues. We had parents barking back at us at one of the booster meetings.
The parents and students seem to think that they are entitled to success,
unanimous superiors and 1st place awards. They dont seem to understand the
consequences. I tried giving points and awards to students who tried, before
raising my voice extremely (not angrily, but to push them) at the
students.That never seemed to work.
If I were the band director what would be the best way for me to lose? If I
don't push, the students will slide, and the program will be cut. BTW he
gave me control of the bands while he did the choir and orchestras. If I do
push, I risk getting fired (in this case getting my master teacher fired).
Which is the best way to lose?
Nicholas Yip
Clarinetist and Music Teacher
FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar – get it now!
http://toolbar.msn.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
