[TPIN] Adults playing in student productions

[Tim Phillips]

The TPIN grammar police moved to the horn list years ago - don't worry :)

I agree 100%.  There are always other dynamics at work too.  Sometimes 
the drama department is putting on the show and the band director 
doesn't get along with the drama teacher, so there are never students 
musicians involved.  It is also the case that the band may be at contest 
or taking a trip the week before or of the show and students aren't 
available.  Students in schools can be really busy these days with all 
the extra curricular activities - and the different departments seldom 
check each other's schedules when planning events.

Having just spent 2 weeks at band contests, I can safely say that at 
least half of the schools I heard couldn't successfully play any show I 
have ever played.  If the product is bad, then the experience for 
everyone is bad and no positive educational purpose has been met.  I am 
adamantly against the "process over product" mindset.  I've heard way 
too many people be put in situations where they fall flat on their faces 
and never recover from the psychological damage that repeated failures 
produce.  Granted, learning to deal with the fact we aren't perfect and 
all aren't created with equal gifts (intellectual, artistic, atheletic, 
social, etc.) is part of life (often neglected in todays "No child left 
behind" and politically correct mentality) - but there is a point where 
it serves no useful purpose to have someone repeatedly perform badly.

If you are involved enough with the school in question to make an 
informed decision about whether the kids there should or should not be 
playing in the pit, that's one thing.  But blanket dogmatic statements 
without knowing all the factors involved are yet another.  In every case 
where I have been asked to play in a "student" production, I have been 
thanked by the students profusely to the point of having to remove lip 
prints from my backside when I get home - and even the student players.  
They considered having a pro lead player sitting beside them a positive 
educational experience :)

Just my worthless opinion....

Tim Phillips
iplatrpt at unifourbrass.org
http://www.unifourbrass.org

David Arndt wrote:
> (my apologies for the [mistyped words and missing/fragmented sentences] - I
> try to type too quickly!!!) 
>
> So... If the orchestra parts can be convered successfully by the kids alone,
> just use the kids.  If the kids would end up *failing* because the parts are
> too much for them, [ then it's better to let someone help them ]
>
> For example, maybe you've got a very talented young 1st trumpeter who just
> needs another year or two to be able to handle the parts [ALONE], but can't
> right now - bring in a good ringer to sit next to him... And turn it into a
> success on BOTH the performance *and* educational front, instead of
> "breaking" the poor kid in front of his friends and family.
>
> Common sense should guide the choices, not dogma.
>
>