 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2020-02-17 20:47
Our New Horizons band here in Boise has run into a wonderful predicament, so to speak. We now have 83 members and are now too large to play many of the venues we've played over the past 10 years. I'm wondering if any of you have experienced this and what your band decided to do about it. We don't want to limit the size of our band (although we keep outgrowing rehearsal locations), but we do need to find a way to limit the size of the groups that go out and perform. We do NOT want a "good" and a "not so good" division of the band. We want to be able to include everybody in the concerts, but not all at the same time. ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT HAS WORKED FOR YOUR BAND? Thank you!
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2020-02-17 21:21
The true issue would be with a rehearsal location for the full group (and storage for large percussion instruments). I would suggest finding a friendly high school, college or local church (fellowship hall) where a weekly rehearsal (and storage) can take place. Those would be the same places you could perform in addition to park concerts.
Don't worry about growth! Besides, standard sized concert bands are more flexible because they have "deep benches" (folks who may own and can play odd instruments like contralto clarinet or contra bass clarinet, etc).
I've seen large groups have to scramble to find new places to rehearse, but in the end they did. And I've seen small groups just vanish because the one person who was tight with the venue lost favor with the "powers that be." There is strength in numbers.........and not just in terms of volume!
...................Paul Aviles
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2020-02-17 22:13
Luckily, we have a rehearsal space right now that will allow for a bit of growth. That's not the problem right now. The problem is, the venues where we've been playing do NOT want an 83 piece band deafening the audience. How can we fairly divide the band to take turns playing at the various smaller venues?
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Author: JJB
Date: 2020-02-17 22:25
Do you have the instrumentation to support dividing the band (in some fashion), or do you have something like 47 trumpets and only 5 clarinets?
It seems to me that it would be very complicated to keep the band intact but try to limit your numbers for performances. Who's going to keep track of who gets to play when, to keep things fair? I would think you would also want that limited number to be the only ones present at the rehearsals, at least leading up to the event(s).
Post Edited (2020-02-17 22:26)
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Author: davyd
Date: 2020-02-17 22:49
The concert band I play in had a similar problem when we expanded from about 25 to about 50. Our solution: we no longer play the smaller venues. This means fewer performance opportunities, but it also means we don't have to exclude anyone. We have also made more of an effort to find larger venues.
One thing you could do: establish what could be called 'standard subsets' of the band: clarinet choir, flute choir, wind quintet, jazz band, German band, Dixieland combo, etc. Over the years, I've played in several smaller venues with such ensembles.
These groups would have to acquire their own repertoire and rehearse on their own, but those are logistical problems which can be solved.
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2020-02-20 21:53
Thank you to all of you for your great suggestions. I've forwarded your suggestions to other members of the Board of Directors for the band. THANK YOU!
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Author: BethGraham
Date: 2020-02-21 04:03
Toronto has an enormous New Horizons organization; you might suggest that your board contact it for ideas.
Growth is a lovely problem to have.
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Author: tucker ★2017
Date: 2020-02-21 17:39
Check out Colorado Springs' New Horizons band model: https://www.nhbcos.org/
I play with the Pensacola Bay Concert Band, a New Horizons affiliate. It started 5 years ago with 8 members. We're now at about 95. We've had the same challenge, but have managed.
I also play with the Pensacola Civic Band, an affiliate of ACB. We're at about 105 members there. We're fortunate to have the resources to be able to play at the historic Saenger Theater (where our symphony, opera, etc perform).
I think it's remarkable that a city this size supports the number of ensembles including our symphony, opera, ballet, two community bands, the ensembles associated with the state college and university here.
I guess it's a good "problem" to have.
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