[TPIN] first lesson

[Paul Ayick]

Mike, whomever else is following.................

        The concept of  " not letting " kids into a band until they can 
perform up to some pre-set standard is not at all unusual, in fact it is a 
proceedure practiced in the public schools all the time. All of the sports 
teams, academic acheivment groups, and hell school itself is about meeting 
some prescribed standard of achievment. So why is it wrong to apply that 
same standard in instrumental music? I see more harm the good being done in 
these beginning and some intermediate bands. A level of control of the 
instrument should be a pre-requisite to ensemble playing. Of course it has 
to be a realistic expectation. Many of the band directors I've worked for 
give the kids music that is totally over their heads and the kids do more 
damage to themselves than they do anything else. If for instance a kid 
cannot articulate an Eb major scale and arpeggio slurred and tongued with a 
clear sound and a clear articulation how is he ready to play "concert 
material" that asks them to play up to high Bb?I think in my state at least 
it's too much about competition and not enough about developing some real 
skills. For what it's worth........................Ayick
                                                                             
                                                                             
                                                                           Go 
Giants!


I have to agree with Andy here.  I have never heard of not letting
kids into a band until they can perform up to some pre-set standard.
Most of the people that I know STARTED in a band or at least a group
setting, before ever taking any real private lessons.  The elementary
music teacher may have had a little one on one time with them, but
most of the teaching is done in a class setting.  AND - that class is
expected by the principal, the parents and the school board to be
performing at least something for them, even in the first year.
So aren't we "performance based" pretty much right from the beginning?
Now on the other side of the coin, I am NOT a fan of the "by rote"
over and over again on the same music for months and months kind of
teaching.  Sight reading and at least some music theory are also
important almost right from the beginning.
My two cents.
Mike Vax