I'm trying not to discourage the kids but how can a director stand in front of his band and allow them to play with no musicianship , tone or balance. Who runs/ directs these bands ? The students or educated music professionals. Just tired of seeing/hearing this quality of music coming out of the N.O.
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Wat ive learned frm my experiences is that not everyone is as concerned with musicianship as others. Lets b honest, if one was so intently concerned with musicality, wud one b n front of a show style band or on sum stage with a performing stage band of sum sort?
Show style band n most urbanized American areas is just a great American past time which some find fun to do while others r entertained by the pagentry and competitive nature of the culture. Some people get so caught up with being competitive and keepn their crowd entertained that the musical side suffers a bit. Im on my fone n havent watched the video just yet but im sure it will tell a story similar to the foremention.
To b musical, competitive, n entertaining requires a great deal of work, maturity, n education. Some areas face a greater challenge then others wen u take into the effects of poverty where band directors roles change frm leading and shaping music to saving kids lives with it, and in this instance, though quite noble, musicality suffers while lives are being saved and transformed.
So are you saying that a "Show Style Band" isn't supposed to perform with musicality as you said. I totally understand that these youths are using thier time and efforts constructively by participating in music programs but again I don't blame them. I beleive that the band director can still save lives while teaching fundamentals and discipline as it relates to both music and life. In my opinion I don't believe it's an monumental and laborious task to assemble a group of students and instill a sense of pride and tonality. I mean, if I can hear the total lack of instruction and musicianship, shouldn't (he/she) the band director hear it and fix it as a professional and educator. I kinda agree with you Bro but I can't accept the excuse of demographics. Underage Thinker said:
Wat ive learned frm my experiences is that not everyone is as concerned with musicianship as others. Lets b honest, if one was so intently concerned with , wud one b n front of a show style band or on sum stage with a performing stage band of sum sort?
Show style band n most urbanized American areas is just a great American past time which some find fun to do while others r entertained by the pagentry and competitive nature of the culture. Some people get so caught up with being competitive and keepn their crowd entertained that the musical side suffers a bit. Im on my fone n havent watched the video just yet but im sure it will tell a story similar to the foremention.
To b musical, competitive, n entertaining requires a great deal of work, maturity, n education. Some areas face a greater challenge then others wen u take into the effects of poverty where band directors roles change frm leading and shaping music to saving kids lives with it, and in this instance, though quite noble, musicality suffers while lives are being saved and transformed.
No, what I wrote was that "To b musical, competitive, n entertaining requires a great deal of work, maturity, n education". Now, to not take into account demographics including depleting budgets, quality and educated teachers that r willing to take on a bigger work load for less money, a school system that in most cases can't support the arts, amongst other things is silly. You asked why are these seemingly unmusical things happening in some of those same areas and I gave you my rational opinion. Do I think music programs, particularly show style bands, should settle for anything less then musical perfection, my answer is no. But when you're in a system that works against u and little is giving to support musical ideas, then you do what you can. And let's just be honest, musicality takes EDUCATION, work, and nurturing. Not something that just happens overnight because one decides they're ready to b musical. The challenge becomes an even greater one when you have an audience thats used to this seemingly "unmusical" kind of sound especially when you have program centered right in the heart of SWAC country. And personal, I enjoy the "SWAC sound" and applaud these kids for reaching for what it is they want to be....the next SU/JSU/TXSU/ASU rookie. And if you have a problem with that, well my friend....thats a whole notha issue. At the end of the day musicality is subjective....in this case, to each his own.
And im not coming at u and ur points bra....just defending my own.
J Cizzle said:
So are you saying that a "Show Style Band" isn't supposed to perform with musicality as you said. I totally understand that these youths are using thier time and efforts constructively by participating in music programs but again I don't blame them. I beleive that the band director can still save lives while teaching fundamentals and discipline as it relates to both music and life. In my opinion I don't believe it's an monumental and laborious task to assemble a group of students and instill a sense of pride and tonality. I mean, if I can hear the total lack of instruction and musicianship, shouldn't (he/she) the band director hear it and fix it as a professional and educator. I kinda agree with you Bro but I can't accept the excuse of demographics. Underage Thinker said:
Wat ive learned frm my experiences is that not everyone is as concerned with musicianship as others. Lets b honest, if one was so intently concerned with , wud one b n front of a show style band or on sum stage with a performing stage band of sum sort?
Show style band n most urbanized American areas is just a great American past time which some find fun to do while others r entertained by the pagentry and competitive nature of the culture. Some people get so caught up with being competitive and keepn their crowd entertained that the musical side suffers a bit. Im on my fone n havent watched the video just yet but im sure it will tell a story similar to the foremention.
To b musical, competitive, n entertaining requires a great deal of work, maturity, n education. Some areas face a greater challenge then others wen u take into the effects of poverty where band directors roles change frm leading and shaping music to saving kids lives with it, and in this instance, though quite noble, musicality suffers while lives are being saved and transformed.
Bad Meaning Bad not Bad Meaning Good
I'm trying not to discourage the kids but how can a director stand in front of his band and allow them to play with no musicianship , tone or balance…
I think my point was lost in my attempt to be articulate and diplomatic, so I'll just say it. Recalling my youth and quoting one of my music directors " They sound like deep sh!t in shallow water ". What's even worse is that there are at least 3 directors standing directly in front of the band and not one of them attempts to correct the band.( As if this shouldn't have been done at band practice.) This is a prime example of the old saying " You play like you practice". Whether the neighborhood is crime ridden or the school district is suffering financially has nothing to do with fundamental music theory. If the majority of the students don't want to get on board with the premise of basic musicianship then put a smaller group of student out there that do. Better to be small and nice than big and nasty. I believe the ATL schools have adopted the musicianship rhetoric and for the most part it's working there. That's all I 'm saying.
Its crazy that certain schools in New Orleans can do no wrong to some people, yet others get scrutinized for everything. Some people believe they are the messiah when it comes to band, SMH, build a band, then critize. New Orleans Politics... SMH
Atl also has a stable economy. N jus so u kno, the bands it sounds lik u speak of n Atl r actually n St. Mountain spread out thru Dekalb county. N if u eva ben there...not exactly the hood. Go to sum of the harder stricken areas n Atl n the band game is a different story. Dekalb county is successful bcuz they have the support to do so.( I.e. dept head frm FAMU n frm a Dekalb county skool, most of the directors with similar nbred backgrounds, n middle school programs exposing students to the culture at an early age.) Please dont think Dekalb is successsful bcuz they hav sum different musical dna. Dekalb County is successful bcuz it has ben setup that way for it to happen....not jus the directors pushing fpor musical perfection but a whole system n county that shares that idea. That my friend is this difference.
J Cizzle said:
I think my point was lost in my attempt to be articulate and diplomatic, so I'll just say it. Recalling my youth and quoting one of my music directors " They sound like deep sh!t in shallow water ". What's even worse is that there are at least 3 directors standing directly in front of the band and not one of them attempts to correct the band.( As if this shouldn't have been done at band practice.) This is a prime example of the old saying " You play like you practice". Whether the neighborhood is crime ridden or the school district is suffering financially has nothing to do with fundamental music theory. If the majority of the students don't want to get on board with the premise of basic musicianship then put a smaller group of student out there that do. Better to be small and nice than big and nasty. I believe the ATL schools have adopted the musicianship rhetoric and for the most part it's working there. That's all I 'm saying.
Bad Meaning Bad not Bad Meaning Good
I'm trying not to discourage the kids but how can a director stand in front of his band and allow them to play with no musicianship , tone or balance…
It all starts at the home... Teachers cant discipline and teach in the time alloted. Cant have succesful practices when you have to knock bad ass kids out every 5 minutes, break up fights and have a "stop the violence" speech every day. Nothing gets accomplished and you see the results.
Is this gud...musically...doesnt take much knowledge to answer that. But wen u understand why these bands sound like they do then we can began to fixed sum REAL underlying problems which is more then band directors can offer by themselves.
McMain_B-tone Sect. Bryson said:
So is this good?
Or this?
Its crazy that certain schools in New Orleans can do no wrong to some people, yet others get scrutinized for everything. Some people believe they are the messiah when it comes to band, SMH, build a band, then critize. New Orleans Politics... SMH
Bad Meaning Bad not Bad Meaning Good
I'm trying not to discourage the kids but how can a director stand in front of his band and allow them to play with no musicianship , tone or balance…
Its crazy that certain schools in New Orleans can do no wrong to some people, yet others get scrutinized for everything. Some people believe they are the messiah when it comes to band, SMH, build a band, then critize. New Orleans Politics... SMH
Replies
Show style band n most urbanized American areas is just a great American past time which some find fun to do while others r entertained by the pagentry and competitive nature of the culture. Some people get so caught up with being competitive and keepn their crowd entertained that the musical side suffers a bit. Im on my fone n havent watched the video just yet but im sure it will tell a story similar to the foremention.
To b musical, competitive, n entertaining requires a great deal of work, maturity, n education. Some areas face a greater challenge then others wen u take into the effects of poverty where band directors roles change frm leading and shaping music to saving kids lives with it, and in this instance, though quite noble, musicality suffers while lives are being saved and transformed.
No, what I wrote was that "To b musical, competitive, n entertaining requires a great deal of work, maturity, n education". Now, to not take into account demographics including depleting budgets, quality and educated teachers that r willing to take on a bigger work load for less money, a school system that in most cases can't support the arts, amongst other things is silly. You asked why are these seemingly unmusical things happening in some of those same areas and I gave you my rational opinion. Do I think music programs, particularly show style bands, should settle for anything less then musical perfection, my answer is no. But when you're in a system that works against u and little is giving to support musical ideas, then you do what you can. And let's just be honest, musicality takes EDUCATION, work, and nurturing. Not something that just happens overnight because one decides they're ready to b musical. The challenge becomes an even greater one when you have an audience thats used to this seemingly "unmusical" kind of sound especially when you have program centered right in the heart of SWAC country. And personal, I enjoy the "SWAC sound" and applaud these kids for reaching for what it is they want to be....the next SU/JSU/TXSU/ASU rookie. And if you have a problem with that, well my friend....thats a whole notha issue. At the end of the day musicality is subjective....in this case, to each his own.
And im not coming at u and ur points bra....just defending my own.
J Cizzle said:
There are several high schools that have proven that you can look up to the power bands of the SWAC while still having a good ensemble sound.
So is this good?
Or this?
Its crazy that certain schools in New Orleans can do no wrong to some people, yet others get scrutinized for everything. Some people believe they are the messiah when it comes to band, SMH, build a band, then critize. New Orleans Politics... SMH
J Cizzle said:
McMain_B-tone Sect. Bryson said:
McMain_B-tone Sect. Bryson said:
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