 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-06-18 11:07
We're an typical neighbourhood wind band with some 40 (adult) members. Finding new players is getting increasingly difficult; no one seems to want to commit themselves for weekly rehearsals plus concerts and serenades every so often. The band runs a music school for adults (there are enough offerings for kids already), but they aren't swamped with inquiries either.
I've talked to one of the youth bands' manager, and they're having the same problem, and it's not limited to music; the only thing that does seem to be working is sports, everything else seems to be too arduous.
How do other average bands find new players?
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-06-18 14:36
We're having the same problem with string players in our Sandpoint, ID community orchestra. No fiddlers, no string basses, a handful of cellists.
The violin shortage has driven us to playing in smaller ensembles and caused us to play without conductors in chamber formats. Not entirely a bad thing.
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2007-06-18 19:12
If it's a matter of there not being enough musicians in the area, I don't have much advice.
I have, though, been in groups in the past that have had trouble getting members in an area with an enormous wealth of good musicians. I ended up leaving the group very quickly, for probably the same reason they can't attract people: lack of standards.
I've seen groups that have trouble attracting members because the group is young and, frankly, isn't very good. "Why don't you have any ____ players?" I ask. "There just aren't any ____ players in the area!" I'm told, "do you know any?"
In fact, I know of about a half dozen local ____ players personally, most of which are looking for ensembles, in the area, and I'm sure each of them knows quite a few more. I imagine there are no less than 40 competent ____ players in a 15-mile radius, and probably a hundred in reasonable driving distance. I managed to get two for the first concert, and the people running the ensemble were delighted.
I also heard from the director that local orchestras often having trouble finding clarinetists. In total shock, I replied, "Have you told anyone you're looking???" I know for a fact that you can't spit without hitting a competent clarinetist in the area, and so am bewildered.
Very quickly, it hit me. And I quit the ensemble in question. The ensemble had no standards. It was quite happy to plonk its way through whatever piece of music it was playing, hoping for half note accuracy and treating intonation as some magical wonderful thing that, some day, it might pay attention to. There were myriad problems all over the place. Which is to be expected from a young ensemble. I can deal with that. If things get fixed.
What I found completely unacceptable, though, was that nobody seemed to think it was a problem. None of the horrific glaring issues were even addressed (they said "we have problems" but never once "we have problems, let's fix them"), nor was any ADVICE ever given for how performers might rectify the problem. Apparently, doing it over and over was supposed to make it magically work. I have no problem being in a struggling ensemble, as long as it shows a constant drive to improve. In an ensemble, even the best player should feel there is always something for them to do to improve. And I, a far cry from the best clarinetist in the area, felt like I had to pull the whole group along.
As a half-decent player, I consistently felt like a ringer, like I was doing the group a favor, and like the group really didn't have anything to offer, nor did they have any plan to improve. Heck, members were dropping like flies and the people in charge didn't even flinch. The attitude was "we'll get ringers and the concert will work," and that just doesn't fly for me. The concerts were edge-of-our-seat "I hope we don't crash" affairs, which does a disservice to the music.
In essence, the performers are out there, and they want ensembles to play in. If you provide high standards, they will come out of the woodwork and rise to those standards. If you provide low standards (even as a result of having less experienced players), people will avoid your ensemble like the plague. Even if your ensemble doesn't have the best players, if you are constantly challenging them and raising the standard, more will come.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-06-18 20:24
Alex,
ya got me thinkin', thanks.
Just a bit of demographic background: Our city has ~360000 inhabitants, of which 30% foreigners (who, for whatever reason, rarely join a "traditional/folkloristic" wind band). Roughly 2/3 of the rest are in "playable" age and condition, and there are 24 officially registered fully sectioned wind bands, some others are freelancing (say 6). So all in all there is one such band per ~5000 inhabitants.
According to this report (in German), 1.2% in our urban area can/do play in a wind orchestra, so statistically we have an average of 60 players available. 40 are already here, so we have to find the other 20 in a pool of 5000 people. That's one in 250.
(Yes, maybe there are 100 in that pool, the problem is how to find them...)
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CEC
Date: 2007-06-18 20:35
It's very frustrating around my neck of the woods, also. I considered joining a local community band, until I heard that members only start showing up in meaningful numbers a few weeks before concerts. I wonder how many softball teams would put up with that kind of nonsense?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2007-06-18 20:37
EEBaum wrote:
>
I have no problem being in a struggling
> ensemble, as long as it shows a constant drive to improve.
Even if your ensemble doesn't have the best players,
> if you are constantly challenging them and raising the
> standard, more will come.
>
This is EXACTLY why I am still in the community orchestra I joined 12 years ago. When I joined the situation was fairly calamitous, and I would not have lasted the first year had I not felt that drive to improve within the group. As a matter of fact, that drive has always been greater than it was in another ensemble I was in. This group included some band directors whose chit-chat during rehearsal amazed me, because they never would have put up with that from their students. I know others in my current ensemble feel the same way. We have lots of 10-year plus members, and our string section has at least doubled in size since I joined.
Barb
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2007-06-18 21:39
tictactux:
To find them, form yourself an ensemble with high expectations. Then post signs, put out newspaper ads, talk it up, send word to local colleges, and plug it online.
It's surprising how an ensemble can complain about no players, and when you ask what they've done to get more players, they say, "well, I don't know anyone who plays bassoon, and neither do the second violins" or "we didn't ask at the university because they're all probably too busy."
Lots of your players also probably know people who play other instruments. I knew a few dozen people the ensemble I was in could have used. Quite frankly, though, I would be embarrassed to bring just a few due to the low standards (I bribed the two ____s I brought), and I would be accused of trying to take over the ensemble by bringing enough to make a difference.
CEC:
If you put up with people not showing, and if your rehearsals are so unproductive or unengaging that they see little difference between showing up or not, then yeah, they'll skip out. Like you did preemptively. :P
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Eileen
Date: 2007-06-18 22:06
I copied this from something I posted some time ago. Our group is now up to 45 players and the quality keeps improving! We have also managed to attract a large number of players who are only a few years out of college. Contrary to stereotype, young people are very happy to join a group as often they are new to a city and are looking to meet new people. The only other thing I would add is the benefit of having a Board with elected members. This is a good forum to address problems and make suggestions to the conductor to help avoid situations which could lead to tensions or dissatisfaction.
For the last year or so, I have been responsible for the recruiting efforts of a community orchestra. In that time, we have gone from 15 players to 25 to 30 players.
If your group does not already do so, put one person in charge of recruiting. Many directors lack the organizational/personal skills to be effective.
Use the Internet. Make sure your group has a webpage so random strangers can stumble across it. Make sure you have an email account. Make sure someone is responsible for checking the email at least several times a week. Post an ad on Craigslist. List the specific instruments in the ad so someone running a search engine for "viola" or "trombone" will hit the ad. Set up a MySpace page with photos and information about the orchestra. Post videos from your concerts to appeal to the youtube generation.
Several string players have told me that they were turned off in school by the overly serious/stuffy atmosphere of the orchestra. Wind players tend to have more positive fun memories, possibly due to having been in band. Make your group social. Invite new members out for a beer/coffee/whatever. Have a wine and cheese reception after your concert. Organize a group outing to a musical performance. Think up a fun theme concert (e.g. Halloween with costumes).
Consider dispensing with auditions for applicants who have prior concert band, orchestra or similar ensemble playing experience. Perfectly acceptable players may freak out at the prospect of an audition, particularly if they are a little rusty and just getting back into playing.
Hope the suggestions help! Good luck.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetwife
Date: 2007-06-18 23:52
Eileen,
How have most of your new members been brought into the group? I think we get a lot of personal referrals from current members. Do you find this to be the case? As Alex pointed out, personal referrals are a little more difficult when the momentum towards quality is not there and members aren't completely enthusiastic about suggesting to others that they join the group. When I was asked to join the orchestra I am in, the person who recruited me was very honest with me about what was going on. He was a board member who wanted to help find some personnel to make it work. I have also had a couple of conversations with people who found out about us from the web site. There is also the issue of concert attendance and group visibility. I think recruiting is easier when there is a positive buzz from the people in the community who go to the concerts and may know someone who plays an instrument. I consider it a sign of the progress we have made that the teacher of one of our Young Artist Contest winners, who plays viola as a second instrument, may join us in the fall.
Post Edited (2007-06-19 00:06)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2007-06-19 01:19
Here in the Washington DC area, we have sort of the opposite problem -- too MANY good, committed wind bands and orchestras rehearsing every week, playing concerts....our problem is attracting any sort of audience! Frequently the band or orchestra members outnumber the people sitting in the plush seats -- WAY too often.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Cosmicjello
Date: 2007-06-19 08:15
I've been lucky enough to serve on the board of directors for a new community band in my area. And in less than a year, our numbers have swelled from 30 the first concert to almost 80 in our most recent concert and more continue to come each rehearsal.
I think our growth has been prompted by several factors. In no particular order.
Babysitting
I can't begin to count the times I've spoken with someone, have them get interested and clinch them with the line "We provide babysitting". We have Moms that bring the kids to give the Dad a night off and vice versa as well as couples that don't have to play tag team with rehearsal attendance.
We have several dedicated young women that spend the time watching the kids with the comfort of a TV with a DVD player as well as snacks.
We also recognize our child care providers in our programs. They love that!
Rehearsal Schedule
We rehearse twice a month instead of weekly. We certainly could use the extra rehearsals for more fine tuning etc... BUT people are happy not feeling burdened with a weekly rehearsal to manage into their schedule.
Local Arts Council Support
We operate as part of a local city Arts Council. They provide a large portion of our operating budget as well as all mailings (envelopes & postage), use of office supplies and a Tax exempt ID for purchases.
Music Director
Our Director is a respected and revered educator and musician. This was his brain child and he organized a core group of experienced musicians to act as the base to build upon. Not overbearing or a pushover.
We have some challenges as the group is open to all adults with any playing experience. So, we have local pros, band directors, homemakers, retirees, and everything in between. Some who are picking up their instrument for the first time in ages.
There were times in the past year that I've wanted to pull my hair our because of sharp flutes, fracking trumpets, 3rd clarinets with two volumes, off and loud but I was tempered in the thought that the most members of the band aren't professionals and are the first to say that but are just excited and happy to be in an ensemble, doing something they love and might otherwise not have the opportunity to do.
Check out our website http://www.wasatchwinds.org. There is an mp3 player with the first 3 tracks are from our second concert, bear with it, it was outdoors but on the Music Download page, you can hear the last 2 concerts (you don't have to download them if you don't want to, just click the links to listen). We've come a long way and still have a long road ahead.
Hope this helps!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2007-06-19 12:11
Cosmic Jello,
It looks like a very interesting and wonderful first year it appears.
One thing that struck me though, being in the Wasatch Valley, the strong music and family ethic of the Church of LDS has got to play a key part in the success of the band. While I am not a Mormon, I have worked closely with several when I was in Omaha for many years and they always were able to make good things happen with any type pf organized effort. The notion of providing child care is typical of the wonderful ideas that really strengthen and support any organization and that seemed to be typical of what I marveled at when in Nebraska. A can-do attitude seemed to alway be present.
Having a capable and respected director is the other key piece. As a long-time HS and college director myself, setting the tone for attendance, rehearsals, and performance must come from the podium and can make or break a band. It appears that John Miller has set the bar at a high level and is leading the band to excellence. I expect to hear great things about the Wasatch Winds in coming years.
Thanks for sharing this success story.
HRL
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevensfo
Date: 2007-06-19 13:13
I can really identify with a lot of these problems. We have a little wind band here in Italy that's been around for at least 100 years. I've been with them a year now and it drives me crazy!
They complain about no new players. I ask "Do you advertise?"...No.
"Website?" -No. Our music school where we practise is okay from outside, but very functional inside and rather minimalist. Hardly any bright pictures and posters, just a few very old photos. Everywhere has an old, tired and shabby look to it. Something that could easily put right.
In fact, not many people know about them at all. Concerts are never advertised. It's all by word/mouth, so always the same small audience.
Attendance at the weekly rehearsals varies between 7 (worst !) and almost 40 - just before the most important concerts.
We have some amazing players, but the best ones are teaching and so only show up a week before the concert.
So, I've decided to make them a website, whether they want one or not!
Steve
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
