Posted by Tom on January 29, 2002 at 14:53:54:
A couple of weeks ago a high school girl played her oboe in my church and did a very nice job. Excellent phrasing, in tune, etc. I asked her father if she was in concert band or orchestra and he said neither. It seems that in her school all orchestra and concert band musicians have to be in marching band. She would have had to carry a flag or a rifle or something else. Her answer to the situation was to drop out of the music program.
I'm wondering if it's common to force orchestral players into marching and what you all think of it. It seems like a crock to me. Why should your first violinist spend time being a bad alto sax player? Where's the value in toting a fake carbine? Do you really want to lose promising musicians?