Klarinet Archive - Posting 000154.txt from 2007/02

From: "Bob and Deborah Shaw" <theshaws10@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Band Directors-Help needed
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2007 22:23:09 -0500

I currently see my beginners every day in l homogenous classes for the first
year of playing. My program is very healthy and my students are doing great!

Our district wants us to do away with 6th grade band, teach exploratory and
not start beginners until 7th grade. At that time they want me to put 150+
beginners in the same room, mixed instruments, to begin their musical
career. Nothing could be worse than this change. Our band directors,
choir directors, orchestra directors, teachers and parents are against this.
Our opinion does not count. Money and numbers are the issue.

The way I see it, I will be stretched to the limit and my students will not
be getting the quality education that I have worked so hard to provide for
them. It really stinks! We are going backwards for the sake of this
blasted middle school concept and the dollars that will be saved.

I would do anything to keep things the way that they are. I am just an
employee and the kids are just a number!

Deborah

-----Original Message-----
From: Forest Aten [mailto:forestaten@-----.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 20, 2007 11:05 AM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: RE: [kl] Band Directors-Help needed

> I am so sorry to hear that this is happening in Rogers!! I do not know
> of any plans but good luck with this and I hope it makes its way back to
> normal soon!
>
> Dr. Cheryl Cifelli
> Director of Woodwind Studies
> Assistant Director of Bands
>
> >>> "Bob and Deborah Shaw" <theshaws10@-----.net> 02/19/07 4:33 PM >>>
> Our school district is currently going through some major changes (not
> good
> I am afraid!) and replacing 6th grade band, choir and orchestra with
> exploratory band, choir and orchestra. We will have 30 days of
> instruction
> to introduce all of the instruments in the subject that we teach, along
> with
> music theory, etc. Each teacher (band, choir, orchestra) will have the
> same
> class in a rotational exploratory wheel.
>
> Who out there has something similiar that we can use as a model? We
> need
> some good information as to what has been done, and what works? Has it
> worked, what was the outcome, etc.
>
> We have fought long and hard to keep our programs, but, it seems that
> our
> expertise is not being honored. The middle school concept is more
> important
> to our district than what is best for our music programs and what we
> think
> is best for our students.
>
> If you have participated in a program like this, please respond and
> tell me
> what your experience has been and what the outcome has been.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Deborah Shaw
> Band Director
> 901 N.13th St.
> Lingle Middle School
> Rogers, Arkansas 72756
>
>

Deborah,

This might not be such a bad thing. I've seen a lot of wasted time go into
6th grade band programs...(starting year in most North American public
school systems). 6th grade seems to be open season for recruitment for all
extra-curricular activities at schools. I do think that if you are set up in
a middle school system, that you should have the kids in your music program
each day. Most 6th grade programs in Jr. High setups only have the directors
seeing the kids a few times a week.

Sometimes and for some instruments...waiting a year is a good thing. A dose
of theory, kids having a better opportunity to make the right choice and
educators having more time to make better decisions about the direction to
point kids in....seems to be very reasonable. Many if not most of the kids
involved in string instruments or piano/theory will already have years of
study under their belt.

As long as the other activities in competition for warm bodies have to live
by similar programs.....???....what's the real problem?

PS I've lived and taught in both middle school and Jr. High programs...and
prefer the middle school approach for many reasons. I know the Jr. High
educators hate to lose their "horses" as they reach 9th grade and move to
the high school...but moving them to the high school is better for the
kids....(I'm a lot more concerned about the kids than "winning the blue
ribbon".)

Forest Aten

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