Imagine going into your geometry class and telling the teacher that you only wanted to study circles but not squares. Or you told your biology teacher that you wanted to study plants but not animals. Or you told the driver's ed teacher that (since you are a staunch conservative) you only make right hand turns! How many of you would expect that teacher to give consideration to your request? Unfortunately, many of you in band feel that we should design the band curriculum around your individual wants and desires. In the words of Mr. Humbert, everyone wants to go to Heaven, but no one wants to die!
Band, believe it or not, is considered an academic subject. Because of this, there are certain guidelines or standards (9 in all) that the band staff must follow. Standards such as these are used to judge the value of each class offered at Jay County High School. If the band staff does not cover these standards, they are directed to do so or the program will be cut. (here are standards for the guard dance class also) Believe it or not, these standards mention nothing about pep band or marching band - they are based solely on music education goals - goals which ultimately should make us better players, musicians, (there is a difference) and, in the long run, better students!
A small reminder for those of you who were around last year. Do you remember Mr. Smeltzer, Ms. Guise and myself standing in front of you on the first day of concert band and stating "this is the first day of getting ready for State Fair" (or words to that affect) Do you remember who won the music caption both morning and evening at last year's State Fair? In was not a coincidence!
So, like it or not, concert band is a mandated program which ultimately will lead to success in marching contests (if that is your goal) or if nothing else, will make you a better musician, student, and a more well-rounded person!
Incidentally, those 9 standards include:
So what do you think? Talk to me, I'm......
Daddy V
Band, believe it or not, is considered an academic subject. Because of this, there are certain guidelines or standards (9 in all) that the band staff must follow. Standards such as these are used to judge the value of each class offered at Jay County High School. If the band staff does not cover these standards, they are directed to do so or the program will be cut. (here are standards for the guard dance class also) Believe it or not, these standards mention nothing about pep band or marching band - they are based solely on music education goals - goals which ultimately should make us better players, musicians, (there is a difference) and, in the long run, better students!
A small reminder for those of you who were around last year. Do you remember Mr. Smeltzer, Ms. Guise and myself standing in front of you on the first day of concert band and stating "this is the first day of getting ready for State Fair" (or words to that affect) Do you remember who won the music caption both morning and evening at last year's State Fair? In was not a coincidence!
So, like it or not, concert band is a mandated program which ultimately will lead to success in marching contests (if that is your goal) or if nothing else, will make you a better musician, student, and a more well-rounded person!
Incidentally, those 9 standards include:
- Singing alone and with others - Yup! Even in band!
- Playing an instrument alone and with others - We got this one down!
- Reading, notating, and interpreting music. Somewhat covered.
- Improvising melodies and accompaniments.
- Composing and arranging music within specific guidelines
- Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
- Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
- Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
- Evaluating music and music performances.
So what do you think? Talk to me, I'm......
Daddy V
I completely agree!!! You don't have a marching band without a concert band. I have mixed feelings to be honest about the true value of marching band. I love it and loved doing it, but it saddens me that kids (even me) live, eat, and breath for marching band. I see value in it for the discipline that it teaches and community that is built between members. If kids would put that much value on concert band WOW! just imagine what kind of program you could build. Concert band is where you learn about the music, you focus on your own musicianship, how music works pretty much everything! Marching band is where you apply all of these concepts.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Marching band is amazing. It is easily the greatest thing ever, but without concert band we wouldn't do near as well. Concert band teaches us how to play the music to the best of our abilities. It gradually makes us better at playing, which helps makes us better for state. The music we play for concert band teaches us how to use correct dynamics and tempo, which is a major part of marching band in the summer. I'll admit I would choose marching band over concert band any day, but, in theory, without concert band we would never place as high at state. So, suck it up, do well in concert band, and look forward to kicking butt at state in 2007!!
Delete