Posted by Sigh..... on January 31, 2002 at 09:53:54:
In Reply to: Re: Re: orchestra players in marching band posted by Fred on January 30, 2002 at 22:34:43:
Well, Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore....
Your fundamental premise that anyone who questions whatever whim some band director asserts is fit only to work at Wendy's (which is at least honest work) is as flawed as your view of education generally. It's a pity you view knowledge solely in terms of whether it relates to your intended trade. Most people, even musicians, regard a firm grounding in the traditional liberal arts, including literature (yes, including dead white guys like Shakespeare and Chaucer), history and music, as essential elements of an education. Education that makes one a better person, enobles the spirit and opens one to the entire range of the high culture of Western civilization. It has been the prized possession of the upper and professional classes since the birth of the university in the middle ages at least, and has become available anyone with talent and drive in America over the past hundred and fifty years or so. But education is not training in accountancy, marketing, management, communications or any of the dozens of currently fashionable trade oriented majors at many colleges. That's trade school under another rubric, using schools to teach what was once passed on through apprenticeship in the same way as other trades. Even schools of law, medicine and dentistry are essentially trade schools, if high class ones.
Directly to your point, the Greenwich compromise meets the needs of everyone involved, including a number of student musicians who will be going on to the better conservatories next year. It's not a matter of avoiding work or effort, the effort goes into musicianship, athletics (which would be precluded if they had typical marching band practices) and academics instead of marching drill. The director is hardly lazy, he focuses his energy on the musical level of the two bands, regular sectional rehearsals, small ensembles (a couple of jazz bands, flute choir, percussion ensemble, etc.). Nor is it a matter of degrading others who prefer to march. It's a choice of where to spend the district's money and the kids' and professionals' time and energy. Students in other bands envy the Greenwich kids' freedom to participate in athletics (almost 1/2 the band does a fall sport, probably 1/4 are 2-3 sport varsity lettermen/women) and Saturday musical activities such as youth symphonies, Julliard and Manhattan School of Music Prep divisions. Ten years ago, when the band did conventional marching and marching competitions, there were 45 kids in one band, today there are more than 175 in two (soon to be 3) bands.