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Re: Running a section

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2016-08-12 17:13

When do you and the rest of the section do all of this? Is it during scheduled rehearsal time or on your own?

At the risk of throwing a wet blanket over the whole discussion, you are skating on the edge of your biggest problem in the topic heading you've chosen. As a member of the section and a peer of the other members, you can't "run" the group in any hierarchical sense. You cite lack of a bass clarinetist as a "reason we can't really play some of the music *I want*" (emphasis is mine). But you need to be careful that you aren't imposing your ideas on a section that has other needs and isn't motivated to do what you think would be useful, helpful or fun.

What does your band director (who is, after all the paid staff member charged with instructing all the students in his program) expect you to do? What has he specifically tasked you with doing? It isn't enough to say he isn't a clarinetist and can't teach the details of clarinet technique. He's being paid to structure the learning experience to be effective for every student. Please be careful that you don't inadvertently end up trying to be the teacher in his place. If your approach tends in the authoritarian kind of direction your topic title and the words "I want" (used twice in your post) imply, you'll be inviting resentment among the other section members and your next topic will be "Why won't they listen to me?"

With respect but counseling caution,

Karl

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