I went to a band concert last night. Daughter No. 2 was part of an honor band that is assembled every year and made up of top musical students from various towns in three adjoining counties. They rehearse twice with a guest conductor and then perform a brief concert, usually four or five pieces. Sometimes these concerts are band and choir combined, but last night's event was exclusively band, one for middle school and one for high school.
Some people might wince at the prospect of having to sit through a middle school band concert. Squeaky clarinets are akin to shrill violins. And 50 or 60 kids all playing at the same time but not all playing in time can be like wading through Jello salad with your shoes on. Yep, some people might not enjoy listening to kids that age play, but I love it. I love that they all tap their feet but not necessarily on the beat. I love that they play in the rests. And I love when a song has a stinger at the end, and one kid plays it a beat late. I especially love when that kid is a tuba player, as was the case last night. These kids are learning their instruments, and in a few years, they just might be brilliant young musicians. They had to start somewhere, didn't they? And where would civilization be if we all quit early because we weren't magnificent on our first attempt at learning a new skill? One of my favorite elements of the middle school portion of the concert was the conductor, a band director from another part of Ohio. While conducting these kids, the woman was as expressive as if she were conducting the Cleveland Orchestra, and never once did she scold them for making mistakes.
The students in the high school band had a few more years of experience and practice, and it showed. While they weren't perfect, and they trudged through one particularly difficult piece, they really played well. At these concerts, the conductor always takes a minute to thank the parents for supporting their kids in their pursuit of music. They usually say something about how important it is for the kids to know their families are behind them, but this conductor, a band director from another town, took it a step further. Actually, he went on a full-blown rant, and a good part of the audience applauded. The bad part? Well, I'll get to them in a minute.
The conductor started out talking about the importance of supporting kids in music programs and mentioned how school systems often consider the arts accessory subjects when budgets get tight. He talked about a debate he has with his own school administration that believes smart kids join band. This conductor believes not that smart kids join band but that band kids have the opportunity to become smart because they are taught creativity as well as book facts, and all of their brain signals are stimulated. This teacher, like lots of teachers, sees kids becoming expressionless machines because they are taught not to learn but to take tests, a result of the current educational climate in this country. They are taught to prove they have learned facts instead of being taught to think and explore and express. This teacher is my new educational hero, and more like him need to be heard in the public square.
Not once was I handed a microphone last night in order for me to rant, so let me speak my piece now. A musical concert is not a party. It is not a bus ride or a coffee shop or a craft night where you can sit on your fat ass and talk and cackle and pop your gum with no respect for what is happening on stage, no regard for the hours of practice that went in to playing music for the audience. Your kid walks out on stage for one of the first times in his life and finds his seat. He sits down and nervously adjusts his stand. He makes sure his music is in order and looks out into the big scary audience with bright lights shining in his eyes, and he wonders if his parents can see him. Will they hear him. Will they like what he plays. Sorry, kid. Your mother doesn't even know you're in the room because she's sitting in the back talking and laughing in her outside voice as if she's never been in an auditorium before and has no idea it's time to close her gaping mouth.
There, I've said it. Not to the right people, but I said it, and I feel better.
Some people might wince at the prospect of having to sit through a middle school band concert. Squeaky clarinets are akin to shrill violins. And 50 or 60 kids all playing at the same time but not all playing in time can be like wading through Jello salad with your shoes on. Yep, some people might not enjoy listening to kids that age play, but I love it. I love that they all tap their feet but not necessarily on the beat. I love that they play in the rests. And I love when a song has a stinger at the end, and one kid plays it a beat late. I especially love when that kid is a tuba player, as was the case last night. These kids are learning their instruments, and in a few years, they just might be brilliant young musicians. They had to start somewhere, didn't they? And where would civilization be if we all quit early because we weren't magnificent on our first attempt at learning a new skill? One of my favorite elements of the middle school portion of the concert was the conductor, a band director from another part of Ohio. While conducting these kids, the woman was as expressive as if she were conducting the Cleveland Orchestra, and never once did she scold them for making mistakes.
The students in the high school band had a few more years of experience and practice, and it showed. While they weren't perfect, and they trudged through one particularly difficult piece, they really played well. At these concerts, the conductor always takes a minute to thank the parents for supporting their kids in their pursuit of music. They usually say something about how important it is for the kids to know their families are behind them, but this conductor, a band director from another town, took it a step further. Actually, he went on a full-blown rant, and a good part of the audience applauded. The bad part? Well, I'll get to them in a minute.
The conductor started out talking about the importance of supporting kids in music programs and mentioned how school systems often consider the arts accessory subjects when budgets get tight. He talked about a debate he has with his own school administration that believes smart kids join band. This conductor believes not that smart kids join band but that band kids have the opportunity to become smart because they are taught creativity as well as book facts, and all of their brain signals are stimulated. This teacher, like lots of teachers, sees kids becoming expressionless machines because they are taught not to learn but to take tests, a result of the current educational climate in this country. They are taught to prove they have learned facts instead of being taught to think and explore and express. This teacher is my new educational hero, and more like him need to be heard in the public square.
Not once was I handed a microphone last night in order for me to rant, so let me speak my piece now. A musical concert is not a party. It is not a bus ride or a coffee shop or a craft night where you can sit on your fat ass and talk and cackle and pop your gum with no respect for what is happening on stage, no regard for the hours of practice that went in to playing music for the audience. Your kid walks out on stage for one of the first times in his life and finds his seat. He sits down and nervously adjusts his stand. He makes sure his music is in order and looks out into the big scary audience with bright lights shining in his eyes, and he wonders if his parents can see him. Will they hear him. Will they like what he plays. Sorry, kid. Your mother doesn't even know you're in the room because she's sitting in the back talking and laughing in her outside voice as if she's never been in an auditorium before and has no idea it's time to close her gaping mouth.
There, I've said it. Not to the right people, but I said it, and I feel better.
Comments
I totally agree with you and your conductor (and I just LOVE listening to young orchestras; that cringe-inducing mix of screeches, mistimed beats and poopy-blarting brass is wonderful and inspiring).
As for your noisy audience members, perhaps your conductors should have stopped the concert, turned around and told the loud ladies that the kids will carry on playing when they've finished their conversation.
Shame on them!
Next concert I go to I'm bringing the cigar smoking "guy from Boston" with me to take care of anyone who gets out of line. :))
Yessss! I know just who those types are. Last Saturday evening, while we were thoroughly enjoying a spetacular concert by "Celtic Woman" at Radio City Music Hall, several MEN in the audience near us were HUMMING to their favorite Irish tunes that the girls were singing. It was unbelievable and rude, and...well...you know. grrr.
PF
Robyn the school musical concert is marvellous, particularly when one's No. 1, 2 or 3 is performing. Great. I'm usually the only one standing with a camera, then clapping with my hands in the air. No whooping, i'm actually quite shy and retiring.
But usually people like her are totally oblivious to everyone around them.
So that babysitter sounds really awful huh. It's a great book Robyn, he claims his life history has taught him how to write. I'm not a huge fan of his or anything, it's just quite good.