I just stumled on two interesting articles from the Instrumentalist in 1990. One is an article about the Symphony Band vs. the Wind Ensemble. The writer is advocating for the old Reveli style 90 piece bands. No thanks. I find it humorous that the writer takes time for the following comment in the article:

"The marching band is for entertainment of crowds, parents, and the band; place as much emphasis as it takes to entertain your audience."

To steal an idea from that movie about the little black girl who gets murdered in Mississippi- "now imagine that that was about concert band". Would anyone in our current environment say "concerts are to entertain your crowd and your parents, that's all you need to worry abour". I guess some would. They work in places like Commerce HS and Snellville MS and Loganville MS.

I just think it's troubling that we can have this double standard for things that are both equally valuable music education tools. I also hate "we can't work on the same 3 pieces for the whole of football season." Please replace with "we can't work on the same 3 pieces from January to March..." Double standard.

Here's the other tidbit. They surveyed directors in 1990 about their marching band attitudes and then surveyed their students. Here's the gist of the results.

Directors who said they "enjoyed marching band" had 96% of their students say they enjoyed marching, or sort of enjoyed marching. Directors who said they "generally enjoy marching band" had 88% of their students enjoy or sort of enjoy. Directors who said they "make the best of marching band" only had 65% of their students in the enjoy or sort of enjoy categories.

I found that interesting. Corresponding surveys on director who "enjoy, generally enjoy, or make the best" of concert band were not available... :-)

For me- I love both.

E