Music Education at Cabool

Comment by Thera L. Woolman Burtt on April 6, 2010 at 11:19am

I graduatedin 1968 and attended SMSU to receive a BS in Ed Music Major. I was in the High School Band and chorus. Combining the 7th-8th grade band with the high school band is a huge mistake. You have to teach at a level that the younger/less experienced students can accomplish. This would result in the High School students having no challenge and missing out on learning music at their level. When I was in the High School BAnd, we had a special class for Juniors & Seniors allowing us to learn theory and we were able to take a piano composition, arrange it for band, write out all the parts and direct the band playing the composition. You can not offer that level of music education if you are working with such a broad range of skills and ages.
Thera

Comment by Matt Howell on May 3, 2010 at 4:19am

I was in the in Cabool School bands from 5th grade through graduation (at least, I think I was...) If I remember correctly, the scheduling was a little complicated. It took place during the lunch period. It seems like the period was split into two lunch sessions--one for 7/8 grade and one for 5/6 grade. For instance, the 7-8 graders had the first lunch session (during the first half of the period) then went to study hall for the second half of the session. Band would also be scheduled during the second half of the session, allowing band members to rehearse instead of have study hall.

I can't remember for sure how 5/6 grade bands were handled at the time, as I don't remember there being a corresponding study hall period for those grades...but I do remember learning to play "Love Will Keep Us Together" on the saxophone in 5th grade...

It may be shorter than a full class period, but you're also dealing with students with a shorter attention span who are just learning their instruments and learning to play together.

I agree with the previous post, too. It's not a good idea at all to put the middle schoolers in with the high schoolers. The point of the MS band is to build proficiency on the instruments, so they can then play together in HS....while marching!
That's really too bad about the choir. Arts have always been a struggle back there.

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