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After a year of small town teaching with the small town politics, following a legendary teacher, being forced to resign, and not getting a second look from other districts in the region for next year's openings I am slightly bitter. So, after having the idealism crushed out of me by the cold grip of reality (not a bad thing mind you) I recently got pissed-off by the film again and I was wondering what others around here think of it.

Sou

I think it is cliche and asinine.


At no point in time did the movie do anything except romanticize some hollywood vision about the reality of music education.

Greg wrote:Whoah, Wes, what happened to your list of 1 through 4?

I removed it.


Figured it might have been a little too rough around the edges for some.



The jest of it for anyone wondering is that Music Ed is a tough business except for a few states and a few schools. Underpaid, under appreciated, under funded, and athletic departments don't cooperate well with you. Plus, you can polish a turd, but it definitely doesn't turn to gold. Improvement is macro in Music Ed.

I could take cliché or so-so musical score, but this one has both. "Brassed Off" on the other hand is fairly trite but has some great playing on the soundtrack.

It could be worse.


The movie could be Drumline.

djwesp wrote:It could be worse.


The movie could be Drumline.

You'll have to ask my wife about that one. Yes, I married a drummer (who is also an amazing vocalist and a great clarinetist) you may now point and laugh.

Bob1062 wrote:I always thought Holland was an ***.

Agreed.

Sou

djwesp wrote:The jest of it for anyone wondering is that Music Ed is a tough business

No joke. get it? huh? huh

Scooby Tuba wrote: You learned a bunch. Chalk it up to experience and try not to follow a "legend" this time. Look for a "f-up" to follow... Seriously...

Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt (actually wearing it right now.)

The only problem with following an f-up is that the kids will neither know anything nor have any expectations, and neither will the administration. In my case, it was kinda sad when kids who had been "playing" for 5 years couldn't read music or play on a 7th grade level, and when the expectation of music class was watching movies and having weekly parties. And when your football season marching band / pep band consists of 4 people - and two of them are you and the lunch lady!!

At least you lasted a year; you have something to put on a resume. Captain S, don't start a pity party either - Remember our thread from over a year ago, Scoob!

djwesp wrote:It could be worse.


The movie could be Drumline.

Hey! I lived it. I loved it. The only thing not shown in the movie was the relationship between tubas and drummers. Was it "Citizen Kane"?...No, but it was mildly entertaining (better than most popcorn movies these days), and the girls were hot.

I have known too many male high school band directors who got into trouble with 16 year old female members of their band (and one who got into trouble with male members of his band in the same way). One of those guys was sentenced to 25 years.

One problem I had with it is that everyone who didn't know better thought that all instrumental music teachers were like Mr. Holland. At the time it came out, I was a middle school band director and when my students' parents found out that I was a tuba player they felt sorry for me (even the parents of tuba players in my band).

MartyNeilan wrote:Captain S, don't start a pity party either

Agreed. It is nothing but a waste of time and energy to wallow in one's misery. I Learned a lot and hold no bitterness toward the town, the school, or the students. The only people I can't say that for are the 3 people who succeeded in getting me out. Bitterness is worthless when the official reason that you were asked to leave is that you didn't have passion in your job even though you gave every spare minute to it and the real reason was that you gave the solos to the wrong people, the ones who could do them...not to the ones who had gotten them for the last 2 years.

As for what I walked into, none of my percussionists could read music. They had played nothing but grade 2 or lower music for the last 5 years (I only got a hold of the previous programs after bugging people for 3 months..too late to fix anything) and the juniors and seniors were not happy that they no longer got to leave band to play golf during school time. There was also a belief in the school, and community, that if you took your instrument home to practice that you weren't good enough to be in the band.

The things I can be proud of are that I left the band and choir bigger than they were when I got there. Their ranks are now full of kids I spent the year recruiting. I started their first marching band in several years. More of their equipment works now since I spent several hours doing minor repairs. Most of all, most of the students are better at playing, watching, and reading music now. Some of them are even practicing.

I know I'll be a scapegoat there next year. That doesn't bother me, that's how it works. I knew what I was walking into this year but I had no choice. Again, that doesn't bother me, that's how it works. It's just the movie that pisses me off.

Sou

Just repeat to yourself "It's just a show, I should really just relax..."

I was in a school system that dropped its instrumental music programs on Christmas Eve. This made me so angry, I didn't even go back to the band hall to get my things! What this did teach me was to be certified in more than one area. It's why I can teach English now in Vietnam. I've also taught history, geography, and elementary classes. I also took classes at Apple Computer in Cupertino. When they dropped band, they had no place to put me, so I was laid off.

lgb&dtuba wrote:Just repeat to yourself "It's just a show, I should really just relax..."

Agreed... We all know that movies always portray life as it really is! But... How boring would a movie be of a normal everyday life???

Tim

Rowena is a babe!

fpoon wrote:Rowena is a babe!

You are quite right, however it would still not be worth it.

Like the band director at my old high school (who took the job after I graduated) and got 25 years for it. Wait until they graduate, then do what you'll do.

fpoon wrote:Rowena is a babe!

I know... I married her! (Oh, you mean the one in the movie, right?)
http://rowenafinn.com/index.html
My wife really hates this movie though, just because that foul temptress has the same name. Me, my favorite part is how he gets the bass drummer to play in time. I am sorely tempted to try this myself, and now that I'm in a private school I might be able to get away with it!
MF

bloke wrote:with Mrs. Spidey

Nope, not her.

That actress did, however, have her first movie role in probably the greatest movie of the 20th Century.

Thats funny, UNCLE BUCK!!!