Something I've never seen before

[Michael Bush]

I'm curious. Is this a band director you know, who has a history of good, intelligent teaching?

(I'm guessing not, of course, but looking for a sympathetic way to read it, on the off chance...)

[Euphtub]

I can't think of many band directors in our area that fit that description. Remember, in Texas they tune the band to an F. Then complain because the band is flat.

[Michael Bush]

Experienced band director who just spent the first year at this school. Seems to be very competent and skilled. This is the first thing from him that gave me pause. We get along great, and I'm tempted to try to ask him about this in a non confrontational way. Just a "what are you expexting" query.

That sounds like a great idea.

[Euphtub]

Experienced band director who just spent the first year at this school. Seems to be very competent and skilled. This is the first thing from him that gave me pause. We get along great, and I'm tempted to try to ask him about this in a non confrontational way. Just a "what are you expexting" query.

Is he a woodwind player?

[bort]

Sounds like my college physics tests, which were designed to be graded on a curve. Then the very best of the best students will stand out, and the average (and below average) students can be assessed on how much they can actually do. If a student can play a 2 octave chromatic scale that way, I'd say that student is still doing pretty good.

I'm not saying this is the right approach (or even a good one), but there's more to a test than just being able to do it perfectly for a perfect score. If you get stuff wrong, what did you get wrong, and what does that mean?

Chromatic scales are garbage scales anyway.

[swillafew]

I would enjoy seeing a demonstration, by anyone who can do this on a brass instrument.

[Euphtub]

I would enjoy seeing a demonstration, by anyone who can do this on a brass instrument.

If you surveyed the candidates I would imagine very few are high school tuba students. Lol

I work on the "full range" chromatic scale as displayed in the beloved "Blue Book" with my students as well. I have had very few that can actually pop out that pedal C or even Db. I am also of the mind that it is always a good idea to stretch the range to make sure the secure playing range is above average.

I agree with Bloke as well.

But…

It needs to be at least attainable for the top players in the top ensemble. My current top 5A high school players can't lock in any pitch below a pedal D.

Maybe he has aspirations of playing John Mackey's, "Asphalt Cocktail" where they have to honk out a pedal C at FFF. Probably sounded awesome on the computer.

[Euphtub]

I had to laugh because I call it the "blue book" too. Someday I need to learn its real name

Stuffy butler-type voice:

"Foundations for Superior Performance"

I must confess—I had to google it.

[Mojo workin']

Expect little / Get little.

Expect a lot / Get a lot.

Why does entity x expect a lot?

Why does entity y expect little?

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Bloke has this right. If you give students a challenge, they often rise up to meet it.

Telling this teacher that his tuba students "can't" do this would be just plain stupid.

[Jay Bertolet]

Apparently you two didn't read this thread very carefully. I never said I was going to say that. It is a skill I think most kids would need more than a couple of weeks to develop, and I feel bad for the ones that are not in lessons at all

[windshieldbug]

Apparently, you think that when the Dallas Cowboys huddle on the field, they're talking about you.

Not only about you, but about your mother, too

Welcome to the internet. Al Gore's been waiting for you.

+10

You can always...

If you're a free-lancer, that'd be pretty much every tuba player you'd see...

[Todd S. Malicoate]

Apparently you two didn't read this thread very carefully. I never said I was going to say that. It is a skill I think most kids would need more than a couple of weeks to develop, and I feel bad for the ones that are not in lessons at all

While I didn't intend to imply that you specifically would be saying such a thing to the band director, you're correct. You didn't say that.

What you did say was this.

I'm tempted to try to ask him about this in a non confrontational way. Just a "what are you expexting" query.

I'd simply suggest you not even tempt fate here. Your friend the band director might very easily take your question as a jab at his teaching method whether that's what you intend or not. Personally, I'd find the question pretty insulting.

I am very curious why you would "feel bad" for students that are presented with a big challenge with "only" a few weeks to prepare for it. I'm glad they have a teacher who actually makes the effort to challenge them to do things some would say they "can't" do.

ETA: Oh, and thanks for pointing out your ill-informed opinion that I must not have "read the thread carefully." No, you don't come off condescending at all.

[Steve Marcus]

I would enjoy seeing a demonstration, by anyone who can do this on a brass instrument.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkjKrOP515s

[bort]

That video is like volleyball... fun to play, not fun to watch.

But seriously, that's impressive how even his sound is while doing that. If I spent 15 minutes per day doing that, I'd be a lot better for the wear.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

once again, please go back and read what I actually wrote. I said I feel bad for the students who are not in lessons. this is a difficult assignment for even advanced students

The students who aren't in lessons aren't receiving a big challenge with a few weeks to prepare? Why does that make you "feel bad" for them? I "feel glad" that they're actually getting challenged as opposed to what many students like them receive in other programs.

Go back and read what I actually wrote, and stop taking every comment as some kind of "misunderstanding." It's incredibly condescending.

I have no problem with the requirement, it actually encourages kids to study and work. It's a challenge its just something that took me by surprise

And if you had said that initially, I doubt you would have received any criticism at all. Instead, the whole thread sounds like you complaining about a "bad" director and a "ridiculous" test.

[Mojo workin']

Expect little / Get little.

Expect a lot / Get a lot.

Why does entity x expect a lot?

Why does entity y expect little?

If Forrest Gump was in a forest before Nathan Bedford Forrest, would he have existed if a woman never saw him there ?

Wait for the tea. The fish are not running!

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I'm exceptionally disappointed in some folks participating in this thread.

If I had had a high school band director that told me I'd have a test of a 3-octave chromatic scale on tuba, I'd have busted my butt working on my low range response. I'd be a better player today for it. Hell, if I had had a high school band director that tested or even pushed me AT ALL I'd be a better player today.

The very last thing I'd do, then OR now, is criticize that band director, make him appear foolish for even considering such a thing, and suggest that he must be a "woodwind player." Sheesh.

[Todd S. Malicoate]

I doubt you would have received any criticism at all. Instead, the whole thread sounds like you complaining about a "bad" director and a "ridiculous" test.

I challenge you to search this thread and point out where I said that. You sure do play fast and loose with quotation marks.

Well, Mr. Reading Comprehension...

what part of "sounds like" do you not understand? Or, are you claiming that your original post and the subsequent reaction to it didn't serve to make the director look foolish for daring to challenge his students with something above their level?

You can nitpick about what you said or didn't say all you want. I'm still extremely disappointed with this thread.

[Tubaryan12]

Sadly, that would have been a test I would have failed up until a couple of years ago. Try as I might, when I was younger, I just could not pedal on tuba.