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help

Posted by ibbach on 1/31/2025, 11:49 am

Do you let your beginner percussion sit down? Mixed class of all instruments. At times standing for a long time while Im working with other groups.

Re: help

Posted by Here's the Best Answer on 2/3/2025, 9:08 am, in reply to "help"

Do whatever works best for you and your students in your classroom.
If standing 100% of the time is not working, let them sit some of the time.
If sitting 100% of the time is not working, let them stand some of the time.

Only you will know what works best for your situation. It's great to get opinions from others, but it's your program to teach. Even if you get a great clinician to come in to your classroom to help you, they will only see a snapshot of what is happening on a daily basis, so their advice may not necessarily be the best course of action.

Re: help

Posted by observer on 2/2/2025, 7:55 pm, in reply to "help"

Professional tympanist sits for entire performance of Shostakovich 5th Symphonie (German spelling) on youtube. I guess you can say, hey, when you can play like a pro you can sit. Until then, my rules!

Re: help

Posted by 1-up on 2/3/2025, 2:25 am, in reply to "Re: help"

Here's many percussionists seated, albeit not performing with a full orchestra.

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Re: help

Posted by DesertJazz on 2/1/2025, 9:25 am, in reply to "help"

No, not even when I was in my first job teaching everyone in one room for beginning band. I tell them the rule is if I'm standing, they have to stand. My only exception now is on the very rare occasion I pick a piece for my high school band that has very little percussion. (once in ten years for me?)

That being said, every director is different, if you need to adjust the idea to work better for you and your kids, do so.

Re: help

Posted by Query on 2/1/2025, 7:02 pm, in reply to "Re: help"

What purpose does forcing them to stand have?

Is it the same purpose that forcing cashiers has?

Re: help

Posted by DesertJazz on 2/2/2025, 8:50 am, in reply to "Re: help"

No, that's a completely different thing. One fifty minute class period does not equate an eight plus hour day...? Not to mention how is it unfair if I'm standing as well?

For me it's them being ready to play and more on task. In my experience if they're sitting down they're less engaged and less likely to be ready to play. Part of it is minimizing the downtime they face if at all possible too.

Re: help

Posted by Query on 2/2/2025, 7:27 pm, in reply to "Re: help"

So are your wind players that are sitting down less engaged and less likely to be ready to play?

It's a false dichotomy. If it's good for one section, it's good for all. If it's not good for all, it's not necessary for the one.

Re: help

Posted by Respectfully on 2/3/2025, 8:39 am, in reply to "Re: help"

Just because things are "the way we've always done them" doesn't mean there's a good reason for that.

I'm willing to bet that the origin of "percussion always stands" was from old school directors who spent the entire rehearsal on their fortress podium and never once moved around the room.

Virtually no one does that anymore - we're much more aware of the value of proximity. We move around the ensemble pretty consistently - and if you aren't, as a director, you're doing your students a disservice. You'll hear things next to the horns that you wouldn't hear from the podium.

Orchestras - as several video examples show in this thread - don't follow this. Professional and collegiate bands don't follow this.

If one is always having discipline problems with the percussion section, the problem isn't with the kids - it's with the teacher.

Re: help

Posted by Um... on 2/3/2025, 8:33 am, in reply to "Re: help"

Percussion is the only section that has to TRANSITION between seated/standing given the opportunity. IMO, transitions take time and should be avoided in the framework of a 45 minute class unless very necessary. YMMV.

Re: help

Posted by Um on 2/3/2025, 10:36 am, in reply to "Re: help"

It takes less than a second to stand up. Why is this an issue?

Re: help

Posted by Um... on 2/4/2025, 9:33 am, in reply to "Re: help"

Sounds like it isn't for you. Congratulations.

It isn't an issue for me either, but may be for some. Best practice is to do what works best for you and your students. Like I said, YMMV. But by all means, let's keep grinding on this if you prefer.

Re: help

Posted by Jake on 2/1/2025, 8:06 am, in reply to "help"

If you are working with a specific group of instruments which does not include the percussion section, I see nothing wrong with allowing the percussionist to sit at that time.

Re: help

Posted by Yes but on 1/31/2025, 7:27 pm, in reply to "help"

They only get a chair after they can play the 40 rudiments, the twelve major scales, and the 2005 Cadets quad book. In fact, we require burpees when not actively being spoken to. Spare the rod, spoil the drumline.

Re: help

Posted by Me on 1/31/2025, 2:08 pm, in reply to "help"

Sit while working with other instruments. Stand while playing.

Re: help

Posted by percone on 1/31/2025, 1:42 pm, in reply to "help"

Percussion should stand to play, when you are working with other groups for extended periods, perc sit down. If they become a discipline problem, make them stand. If they resolve the issue, they can sit.

Re: help

Posted by really retired on 1/31/2025, 1:34 pm, in reply to "help"

Once required them to sit in assigned seats in a row behind drums/etc. where I could watch them as we worked on non-perc music. I found seating them helped to corral -

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