 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2018-11-28 21:01
No one seems to want to say it, but a field exit in which kids are flapping instruments around in the air seems at best poorly thought out. And my first concern wouldn't have been about an injury like this, which is tragic. I don't think I would have designed that kind of mass movement out of worry about damage to instruments colliding with each other, although a collision of an instrument with another player would be the next logical thing to think about.
I know hindsight is always 20/20, and "It was a pure freak accident," is true as far as it goes, but it seems like the conditions that increased its likelihood were designed into the exit. Maybe they could have flapped only one (free) arm while holding their instruments under control with the other.
Karl
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Author: Brickbinder
Date: 2018-11-29 05:59
I’ll chime in here as a former marching band and competitive Drum corps member and a father of a person in the Nixa HS Band.
1. People often do not realize how dangerous marching can be. In my corps days, I saw several collisions both in practice and performance. The speeds marched as well as the drill difficulties mean that there are inherent risks involved in the activity. A famous accident involved the Garfield Cadets in 1984 when one member slipped, fell and took ten other members out with him. Bones were broken.
2. The move in question was neither poorly designed or randomly thought out. It was used at various points in the show. My son specifically told me that the members were told to use caution during this part of the show and that was emphasized many times. The move was practiced and performed literally dozens of times, and this was the only accident.
3. I can tell you that the entire band and staff is very upset and saddened by this accident. I cannot stress enough the word “accident”. Sometimes things happen, very bad things. This was one of them. I can also tell you that in watching Nixa at several competitions this year, there were other slips, falls and minor collisions during other bands’ performances. But I will also say that I went to Nixa’s first football game of the season, and a football player broke his leg on the very first play. There are inherent risks in any activity.
4. The family of the person injured has set up a go fund me account to help pay the medical bills involved. I’ve already donated. If it’s not in the article, let me know and I’ll post it if that’s allowed so we can help this young person.
Post Edited (2018-11-29 17:35)
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