Sunday Evening out on the balcony

So its Sunday evening, and I am out on the balcony with my computer fighting Windows Vista once again. I made the decision last week to go ahead and upgrade my computer again after Service Pack 1 was released. The one "mistake" that I made was forgetting to do a clean install, instead of upgrading. BIG mistake when installing Vista. My hard drive is frying like mad because of it, and it is kind of annoying me, but I will get over it.

I will probably do the clean install here pretty soon, but will wait until after our spring concert on Tuesday. Windows installations take great amounts of patience on my part. Once my laptop goes obsolete this time next year, its mac all the way. If I really did know what I was doing at an extreme level, I would have gone all the way with linux by now. I need stability in my operating systems, not a nagging nanny UAV system asking me if I am sure every time I click something. Boooo on that one microsoft.

Busy week this week personally. Tomorrow we have the honors night at 7 PM at PA, then we have our annual spring concert the next night at 7 PM at PA as well. The concerts should come off very well. We are doing this British Invasion type of concert. Lots of Beatles music. LOTS of Beatles music. The students are having quite a bit of fun with it all, and I am enjoying it after a very busy concert contest season. After that it is just a coast on into the summer. Just a couple of band camps on tap for this summer and a move into a new apartment.

I think I am going to pack up my tent and do a little traveling around this summer, while roughing it. I have always wanted to do that, and without any ties, it is actually quite easy to do that as a teacher!

Here are some links that you need to check out:

www.twitter.com.....all those updates you are seeing me do now are because of this service. Very addictive, and very useful if you know who to friend on it. Check it out, and then friend me over at www.twitter.com/bwharrison.

www.iwantsandy.com...simply the best e-mail notifying system available. It keeps me up to task! Give it a try....very free.

also, you might want to try www.jott.com, I have heard good things about it, but haven't got a chance to try it. It is like e-mail by phone I guess. Again, very free.

Ok, rant time.

About a year or so ago, I got very deep into this philosophy of why the traditional system of bands and music making simply does not work. It is a system of ultra-conservatism brought over through the years from the World War 2 era. Think of the current band system comparative to the current Social Security system, for example.

I think the future of music education needs to move away from the large ensembles into more chamber music. I think to overall conception of this would be shot down immediately by most band directors because of the idea of competition and the idea of the larger band settings and the music that is created from this medium. If once could work a system of rotating schedules throughout the day so that a schedule could be worked for the use of all musicians in a school, then it would succeed. From this system of chamber ensembles, one would see a large scale growth in the musicians themselves. Gone would be the days of 8th grade bands, 9th grade bands, and on up, and in replacement we would see quintets spread out throughout the day and chamber woodwind ensembles that would be able to work on music that is within their specialization, and not just the stuff that Bruce Pearson writes in his standard books or training music that is not worth the paper it is written on. Beginning Bands, split into homogeneous groupings, of course, would still be in place to work on the fundamentals, but once you pass that year, growth would be exceptional and noticeable.

Start big and work smaller.

1st year - homogeneous full classes (trumpet classes, percussion classes, etc.)
2nd year - respective smaller choirs (brass choirs, woodwind choirs, Percussion Ensembles)
3rd year on - Breakdown into smaller ensembles (quintets, quartets, etc.)

Of course, this system would require a large shift of paradigm in the system of band directors throughout the country. Mainly in the idea of marching band. While marching band does have its place in the music world (DCI), and does offer for great personal character growth in most situations, the fact of the matter is that almost 95% of marching bands have no real philosophy and are just a waste of time for most band students. Much of that has to do with band director's and their thoughts and uses of the marching band. Once again, like I stated.....a major thought shift would have to occur.

Another problem of the system is the large scale scheduling problems that would occur. BUT, on the flip side of this, it would be easier for smaller schools to find openings for certain students. For example, when student A can't take his band ensemble class during 4th period because of an AP course that is offered, then maybe you could fit him into another quintet at period 5 during an open hour for him. This kind of thought process does make it possible, if you have a a counselor that is willing to take it on a one-on-one basis.

It is my belief that if a system like this was set up, and if the students psychologically accepted it, then it could work. I guarantee a system set up in this nature would offer the students exceptional growth in the side of music education, and offer the director a chance to work with students more on an individual basis, if done in a correct model.

Just some re-hashed thoughts for the evening!