4 replies to this topic

[Caesar7770]

Here's my situation:

I have a small band of about 40 kids. We are one band - everyone does marching and concert, everything is graded. I have to infuse marching band into the during-the-school day rehearsals. Besides that, there are 2 band classes and I see half the band at a time - the only time I see the full group is when I do an after school rehearsal. That becomes seasonal, marching in the fall, concert band just before a concert. I am also in a larger urban high school, rough school, my kids are a little rough, and still establishing myself as the band director. Also, I don't have the most supportive administration. I partially exist at the behest of the athletic deparment. I have pushed the boundaries, going to competitions this year but forced to work around the football schedule.

I've come to the conclusion that marching band should not be mandatory - however I can not change that rule because my supervisor wants it mandatory and also I probably don't have enough kids to let it be optional. Of course I don't have total control to dock their grades. If they miss rehearsal because of a school activity I can not penalize them, but other reasons I can. (My situation as described above as well as other problems is making me think about changing schools, despite it being my second year there).

Not to complain but I would like to know what people feel about marching band being optional or mandatory? I feel by letting it be optional and separating concert and marching band it allows for more control over each group.

So basically what do you think?

[WHSFoster]

Caesar,

Congratulations on your 2nd year there, and so quickly doing the competition thing. I can understand your frustration. When I first started at the job I'm at now, there were 74 students in the band program. At that time, you had to be in marching band and concert band or you were not allowed in the program. In time, I was able to change that and the band has grown to over 130 members in 5 years. Yes, the marching band does not have all of those students, we march approx. 110. With this change in policy, students feel more comfortable being a part of the band program, and not letting it dominate their lives.

In regards to your question of grades...the marching band meets during the 1st 9 weeks of school, and the concert band only kids sit and watch rehearsals. To justify their grades, once a week we have concert band rehearsal during school time, they must also have shown through parental verified practice charts, and the students must complete a writing project that is band related. (instrument research, composer bio, etc).

It's important to remember that only 1/3 of the school year is the marching band, and 2/3 of the year is concert band. If someone can't do the marching band because of job issues, or fall sports, we don't want them to leave the program completely!

Good luck in the future!

Foster
Warren Local Bands
www.warrenlocalbands.org

[Caesar7770]

Foster,

Thank you for sharing. I am working on changing that rule - the problem lies in that my supervisor disagrees with me, and because of neccessity. We only have about 45 kids and I'm not sure how many would not do marching if given the choice.

Honestly I wonder if it would work the other way around. I wonder who would not do Concert Band if given the choice. Unfortunatly, the problem with that becomes that Marching Band is only 1/3 of the school year. Of course scheduling is a major problem - the split Band class sucks! It is very problematic to get everyone into one Band period.

I have been brainstorming some suggestions as to how would be the best way to get most out of what I have to work with. One plan of action would be this:

- Everyone must take Band for credit. To get the credit you must participate in the following:
- Marching Band and one of the following options
- Concert Band during the school day as a class
- Your choice of two ensembles for which you are qualified: Jazz Band, Pit Band (for the musical), and/or the County Wide Band

- Then to fill in the Concert Band, allow qualified students who do not participate in during-the-day Concert Band to attend only a few rehearsals prior to the Concert.

I know Band scheduling is problematic no matter where you are but I am trying my best to find a workable solution. Right now the kids who can not get into a scheduled Band rehearsal during-the-school-day have to take this thing called Independent Study. This also means I make them come up at lunch to rehearse with us then.

Thank you for any and all adivice you can give me!

Caesar

[Jumberg]

Well...interesting enough I feel the opposite way. When i started this job three years ago I was told that I would have a marching band of about 12-15 students. It ended up being around 27 thanks to a bigger than expected freshman class. I was also told that the previous director said marching band and concert band were one and the same---and that this did not work. Well, deep down, that is what I wanted but I went with the flow for the first year. I had 28 in marching band and 32 in concert band, only about 20 of the kids though did both. So, over the past two years, the policy has changed. I kinda go part way (right now, working it in to go both ways). My policy is that all high school marching band members (we have 8th graders from feeder programs) must be registered in concert band class (8th graders must participate at their elementary school). Concert band only members must play marching band music in class when we work on it and that is how it goes to their grade. As I said, the year before I came there were 15 in the marching band. In my first year I had 28 in marching band, 32 in concert band. In my second year I had 46 in marching band and 38 in concert band (first year under the new rule, administration had a hard time making it work in the master schedule). This, my third, year I had 49 in marching band and 42 in concert band (color guard members not in concert band). As I plan for my fourth year here, I am looking at marching band numbers of 55-60 and concert band numbers are in at 55 right now. By looking at this, you would think that the school population has grown a lot...it has grown, but only from about 500 in my first year here to about 550 next year, my fourth.

The kids desired competition (the band diddn't compete previously) and though some kids can't do band because it takes up too much time to go with other activities (i share kids with all sports though), I have a MUCH more solid core group of students. The program has grown, yes in numbers, but more so in character and maturity.

I HIGHLY suggest you keep them connected in some way---but first get the situation settled so you have all your band kids in class at the same time!

[innopiess]

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