In watching the 2A State Marching Contest, our students made fun of the size of the bands, the drill, the sounds, etc. It was an 8th grade class in a little larger classification. We have tried to teach appreciation, respect, empathy but have apparently failed miserably. Am I the only one who just feels at a loss for the smart aleck entitled students with no imagination or any of those positive attributes of a human being I described in the middle of this paragraph? Rant over.
Re: Student attitudes
Posted by Education on 12/15/2020, 8:52 am, in reply to "Student attitudes"
Kids don't understand what they don't know. Use it as a teaching moment. Take some of your music that they have prepared and then cut it down to 15 kids to try and play with the parts out of balance. Let them experience what a smaller school sometimes has to deal with. Educate them on the differences and especially on those differences not being a "better" versus "worse" but different and equal.
Re: Student attitudes
Posted by BDSO on 12/14/2020, 4:36 pm, in reply to "Student attitudes"
It is a matter of exposure and reference. I've seen HS kids laugh at the smaller bands because their shows are simpler with easier music. But at the same time, I've taught small school bands that were great and were in awe of the large school bands as if they were college groups or drum corps groups. The focus needs to be on why each is different and why they are the same. The large schools have more resources (instructors, money, students to pull from, etc) than the small schools. At the same time they all have one thing in common: they are all 14-18 year old kids with a talent the very few others posses and the will to display it and grow at it. That is the bottom line. I went to the 2A contest today, and while I didn't necessarily agree with all of the rankings it was interesting to see the variety in the shows. Some were were thought out and could easily be adapted to a large class band; some looked like they were stuck in the past. But they all had great playing and kids who loved band. That should be the focus when you show bands outside of your classification.
Oh, and remember most kids make fun of other kids talents because they are afraid to admit they cannot do it themselves. Some of these bands today had 8th graders. 8th graders who made it to the STATE MARCHING CHAMPIONSHIP! When was the last time any of those kids put in the kind of effort to reach that level? I have no problems telling my band students that and you shouldn't either. Sometimes the best lesson come from being knocked down a peg or two.
Re: Student attitudes
Posted by Me on 12/14/2020, 3:53 pm, in reply to "Student attitudes"
I’ve done this in years past at a title 1 3C MS.
We would explain how it was a huge deal to have these towns come down like kids who have never left town or how the super, mayor, or most of the town would come down or shut down.
They handled it well. We showed BoA last year but not state for any class.
Sorry to hear that, but that’s been my experience and approach to that
Re: Student attitudes
Posted by MS Director on 12/14/2020, 3:11 pm, in reply to "Student attitudes"
You are definitely not alone. I also try to teach my students all the values you mentioned. I teach in a very urban low-income area. It's hard to teach these things to kids who don't have their basic needs met.
NOT IMPOSSIBLE, very definitely makes it harder. My top group gets it but the other 2 bands.........well they simply don't
Re: Student attitudes
Posted by MS on 12/14/2020, 2:09 pm, in reply to "Student attitudes"
Just like any subject, reteach.
Also, doesn't help if respectful behavior isn't reinforced at home. You can't solve all of the world's problems.
Re: Student attitudes
Posted by Renee on 12/14/2020, 1:56 pm, in reply to "Student attitudes"
I totally feel what your saying. We have the same elitist attitude here in the valley. I cant wait to be a small school director. There are alot of opportunities to help make a program successful. I used to have a bad attitude when I was younger, but now I really want to be a small school guy! Lots of hard work and rewarding I am sure!
Re: Student attitudes
Posted by 18 knowi it all bro on 12/14/2020, 10:11 pm, in reply to "Re: Student attitudes"
Yeah, last week made a side comment about the piece being in C min. during rehearsal Only to hear later from assistant that my trumpet kid that can play a C above staff... sometimes... whoopdy freakin do... said Hugh? what’s he talkin about, it’s Concert Eb. Wish I was there again , maybe I would not be so upset about how bad this year has been
