To some of you, that title may remind you of beer tents and grandstands. Bands from the '70s and '80s playing at fairs and festivals throughout the summer. But for me, it means performances at my son's high school and solo/ensemble competitions.
I'll admit right off the bat that I'm biased on this subject. I played clarinet for 20 years, starting in 5th grade. Once in awhile I'll be inspired to put it together and see if I can still make music. It all comes back to me well enough, but I don't have the chops to play more than maybe 20 minutes. My son has played violin for seven years. He's pretty good at it, if I do say so myself.
Watching and listening to these young musicians fills me with awe and pride. There is so much talent! Yet I know how much work goes into every performance, whether it's one person preparing for a solo or the entire orchestra.
First, I applaud music teachers. They select the music that will best showcase the group's skills. They position each musician where they are best suited. They teach not only how to play the piece as it's written on the page, but how to feel they way it should sound. I'm not going to get into a discussion about how much work teachers do or how much they are paid. But I will say that I believe music teachers are a special breed. The good ones earn the respect of their students while still educating them and having fun simultaneously. I remember having days when I didn't want to go to a particular class, but I'm pretty sure I always wanted to go to Band.
Individually, the students must all practice their parts. They take responsibility for making sure they are playing to the best of their ability. It's easy to see--or hear, actually--how one person fits into the grand scheme of things. Melody, harmony, rhythm line...all important to the finished product. Practice makes perfect! Each rehearsal builds toward a concert at the end of the semester. It's like a giant class project! Every person needs to practice their part on their instrument so when they all come together it the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Math nerds, grammar geeks, jocks, and loners all come together with a common goal: to make beautiful music. In many cases, students are playing with the same core group for four years. Let me tell you, that builds some incredible camaraderie! When graduation time came, I knew I would miss my bandmates more than most of my other classmates. And I could feel it at a recent school concert when the ensembles bid farewell to the seniors.
On top of the two (at least) concerts during the school year, there are often other performance opportunities. Smaller ensembles may play at community events. Solo/ensemble competitions give students a chance to concentrate on one particular piece, perhaps a solo or a chamber group, or any size in between. This is about doing your best work for you. A judge listens to you and gives feedback to you and gives a rating score to you. The musicians can push themselves to grow and really see what they can accomplish.
Discipline. Teamwork. Creativity. Pride. Aren't these skills and qualities we want to encourage in our children? Aren't they valuable in any field of study or eventual career path? Why would anyone think it makes sense to eliminate music education, in any season?
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