[Dixielandjazz] Wonder what is wrong with music in Schools to day ?

[Larry Walton Entertainment]

As some of you know I teach band part time along with two other band 
directors in a private school run by a major denomination here in  St. 
Louis.  For the size of the school we have a large band program.  65 
kids in A band and 30 in B band.  Not bad for a school of not quite 600 
kids.

This is how one kid can ruin a session for everyone.  During my 
rehearsal the kids were generally talking a bit but could be quited down 
but several times when I would be talking to  the group there was one 
kid in the back on Bari sax who continued playing.  I asked him to stop 
and went on.  Unfortunately so did he.  I asked him to please practice 
at home and not on our time.  He then argued that the bari was too big 
to carry home.  (I played bari in Jr. High and took it on the bus but 
that was the good old days).   He started playing again.  I told him if 
one more note came out of that horn He was going to the Principals 
office.  He said he wouldn't go.  I told him that I would start getting 
pretty crude because he didn't seem to understand me.  Again he said 
no.  I told him in no un certain words to shut up again he said No.  I 
told him to go to the office.  Again he said no so I brought the office 
to him and he was escorted out of the class.  Personally, I think I gave 
him too many warnings but this was out of the blue with no reason.  The 
truth is that he will be back in band faster than I will.

Contrast this with an honor band that I am working with.  The rehearsals 
go without a peep coming out of the kids.  A lot of adult bands can't do 
that.  The difference is that in the first case the kids sign up for 
band for a credit and a place to talk with their friends there is no 
place to send them if they aren't in band that hour and the second is 
that the kids will be asked to leave instantly if they don't behave. 

Guess which band plays better?

Money talks,  the school wants that kids $7000 tuition so they don't 
want to make the parents unhappy so he will get to continue being in 
band and I'm sure that I haven't heard the last out of him.  He will 
come back to class with a swagger showing me and the others that he got 
away with it.   This is at a college prep school no less.

I can't wait to see what happens next week.
Larry Walton
St. Louis

tcashwigg at aol.com wrote:
> I just lifted this post off another list for musicians:
>
> I spared you guys my reply :))
>
> Some of you that are retired need to give it up and go back and teach 
> them that is teaching your grandkids.
>
> Sadly
>
> Tom I Dunno Squat cause I'm a drummer and not a real musician,
>
> Thank Goodness  I could have turned out to be a music teacher like 
> this one :))   And to think they give these folks Degrees and 
> credentials to teach others.
>
>
> The Post I swear:
>
>
> What's The Difference between Blues and Jazz?
>
>
> I'm a teacher who is going through a chapter on music. We're moving 
> into music styles, like jazz and blues. what's the difference between 
> these 2 genres? They sound so similar to me. I would appreciate any 
> responses asap. Thanks.
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