Klarinet Archive - Posting 000032.txt from 1999/06

From: Ken Wolman <kwolman@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] What the Boomers will bring
Date: Mon, 31 May 1999 17:01:47 -0400

>Exactly the need filled by the growing number of community bands around the
>country. They come in all ranges of skill and size. I have personally
>played in or conducted several groups over the last 15 years or so ranging
>from 6 or 7 players doing junior high music through 65-member bands playing
>standard band repertoire. No money in free bands, except sometimes for the
>conductors, but a collection of potential students for those interested in
>teaching. And a way to keep us old baby-boomer fogies off the streets one
>night a week!

I'm getting to the point where I'd like to play for living beings who are
not my cats. But the problem for me, at least, is FINDING a community
band. Some areas of Jersey have them, but up around here in Lyndhurst,
where the musical culture is confined to kids blasting rap out of their
open street racers, there IS no action, nor is there any perceived interest
among local church music ministers to rewrite arrangements for the pipe
organ to fit a bass clarinet or alto sax:-). The most I've seen is
occasionally a guy fills in for the organist on a 12-string guitar.
Kumbaya, my Lord....

How does one go about STARTING a community ensemble? I gather that in many
of them, your skill level going in is far less important than your
enthusiasm: the better players will often take the less-skilled under their
wings and teach them specific techniques for particular situations. So
everyone benefits. But again, where I am--and I wonder how many others
here are in a similar situation--the issue is of creating something from
nothing.

Ken

Kenneth Wolman kwolman@-----.net
"From the Meadowlands": http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/1649

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org