More Bad Band Director Actions

[tofu]

Reading the "Teacher Approved" thread reminded me of a practice in my HS in the 70's. This was a school of 5200 kids in a suburb of Chicago & the music program probably had 400 or so kids between band & orchestra. The band director required all kids in band to have a private lesson teacher. He also "highly recommended" certain private lesson teachers who got to give lessons during and after school in the 6 practice rooms adjacent to the band room.

This was a highly ranked band and 8 of my bandmates went on to play in major orchestras (several were the children of CSO and Lyric Opera parents). While many kids did take private lessons from non-approved local pros (CSO, Lyric, Northwestern University etc.) many felt compelled to take from the director approved folks because they (or their parents) thought it would give them a competitive advantage in a very competitive environment and/or it was convenient to take lessons during school.

All the tuba/euph players (about 14) except myself took from the approved person (who happened to be the orchestra director who had been a tuba major in college). He was stuck with me in orchestra however, as the first chair band player by default I was the orchestra tubist. He knew everybody's first name, but mine. For three years he always referred to me as "Mr. Tuba Player" in a tone you would have to hear to appreciate the disdain in his voice - just because I didn't take lessons from him.

Does this kickback practice happen elsewhere?

Another band director enrichment was the band went on a major trip (to CA or FL) every 2 years for spring break. Besides getting free trips he also got a kickback from the travel agency (which was always the same one).

Is this a common practice elsewhere?

The one thing I will always remember about this director was when the summer before my freshman year (in the mandatory summer band program) he stopped a rehearsal and marched back to stand next to a baritone player. He then yelled like a mad man at the kid that he could "EXPELL GAS FASTER, LOUDER, BETTER SOUNDING AND MORE IN TUNE" than this kid could play the baritone. He then proceeded to demonstrate said fact! Kid never came back. He forced many kids to quit and girls cracking and crying during rehearsals was common.

He was an ex-marine and ran the band and entire music program like it was a military operation. While it was great that the band played superbly and way beyond even most college groups - I don't remember it as being much fun - I do remember it being constantly intense.

MJI

[Gorilla Tuba]

Re: Band Director Kick-backs.

Nearly all band directors choose travel companies that comp the directors travel package when setting up trips. There is nothing unethical about this. Traveling with a band is a lot of work. They are up before the kids and go to sleep long after the kids. Anything happens in the night, they are up with that incident, too. Further, by taking the trip in the first place, the director is taking a huge professional risk. Anything bad happens and the director is ultimately responsible. Who in their right mind would pay out of their pocket the same amount as the students when the "vacation" will be no vacation at all.

Band trips can be very fun and rewarding for the band as well as the director. Please don't think that just because the director isn't paying out of pocket for your trip that he or she is somehow living the good life on your nickel. In most cases, if the directors have to start paying for their travel expenses on trips, the trips will become a thing of the past.

[Leland]

As a former Marine, I hald to almost laugh at that story, sorry
but the mentality of most Marines is kinda odd to start with.

No kidding.

I'm only finishing my first term, and I'm already annoyed by the lack of discipline & dedication that I have to encounter in "the real world", even when I go shopping. I understand that, for example, the fact that there are rarely enough cashiers at Target is the fault of the management and not the cashiers, but it takes a lot of effort to not let them see my frustration.

Coming home for my ten days' leave after boot camp was the biggest shock, that's for sure. All that speed and intensity had to be put aside just so I didn't finish dinner in five minutes. You should have seen my reaction when I went to the mall, though...

[Leland]

PS - I am in the market for a K-90. Know of one? Regards!

Mine is absolutely not for sale!

But Troopers, on the other hand:

http://www.troopersdrumcorps.org/corps/special2.htm

Refurbished and everything. If only I could convince our unit to get them (except we have 7 players now)...

[Will]

I remember my 6th grade band director telling a trombone student that he could get a group of different sized dogs to bark the trombone part better than the kid was playing it.