Okay, so Mr. Paddock asked us or well, told us about a change with Grad that he was proposing/thought about. He suggested that we let the Gr 10s and 11s go as a band together and play at our grad as opposed to what usually happens (or what has been happening for a while at grad ceremonies)---The Symphonic Band plays for the grads for a piece or two and the Gr 11s play together for another.
OKay. Wierd.
What annoyed me the most after Mr. Paddock asked if it was okay, lots of people were in favour of it. It was saddening and angering. I mean, what's the point of being in band if you don't want to even play at your grad? I've been psyched to play at our grad since we did it with the last Gr 12s last year. I mean, saying that you don't want to is like the equivalent to saying you don't want to go to grad! And I know alot of those who said "No!" happily want to go to grad.
I pretty much wanted to ask the general band "Why are you guys in band if you don't want to play at your own grad?"/"How come those who happily said 'No' don't want play?" and if someone said "It's because (the most of us) suck" then I'd have to counter with either "Hey, we don't practice now do we?" or "Well, the few Gr 12s who do practice and enjoy band and the Gr 11s will cover for those who aren't so good"....which would've been mean but frankly true. It happens everywhere.
I mean, if we were a soccer or hockey club and part of the graduate class and we got the invitation to play an exhibition match for...I dunno our soccer academy at the "grad", I'm sure alot of people would be more than happy to do so.
Okay, semi-not-good example.
I don't know. It's just angering and saddening at the same time to hear that most Gr 12s don't want to play at their own grad. I think even a few weeks before Grad last year some Gr 12s told me good luck (and were pitying that I wasn't in their grad class) and speculated that we would have some catching up to do. How true. =/
Laura's suggestion that voulenteers play was nice too. (I mean, that would just include me, Devon, Katie A and I guess B, Amy, Bryan, Steve, Naz, Laura, Jenna and some others) I mean, with 90% of the class unwilling, it's completely plausible.
What I would like to suggest, is not to exclude us altogether but perhaps include the 10-11 combo but first have the Symphonic Band play, then have the Gr 12s leave and the 10-11s play together.
Anyway, the next Symphonic band will be about the same level as it was last year but only better and the one after that will have a sturdy bunch of Gr 12s who actually like Band. Alot of the Gr 10s are fantastic players as are many of the Gr 11s.
And if 90% of our Gr 12s don't want to play at their own grad, then what in God's name are we going to do when Mr. Paddock tells us we'll be doing Small Ensembles (Like a Final Project but worth alot more) which includes us playing in small 2-10 Ensembles (or solo) in front of a decent sized group for an entire evening?
Then again, the question that should be asked is Mr Paddock even going to actually have a Small Ensembles again this year?
It's just a right shame that this Gr 12 Symphonic band couldn't have had some backbone or got their acts together. (or whatever the heck that expression is) Honestly.
(I realize not everyone in Gr12 is a bad musician, but this rant was more examinate of the Gr12 students in Band rather than individual Gr 12s)
I'm craving nachos with cheese and red peppers right now....
*is filling out her tax return*
I think I need the actual paper copy because this is just so darn...
1 commentaire:
The thing I'm ticked off about is that these people are ruining it for the rest of us. It's not as though it's really that big a deal - we'll still be sitting there for most of it, and we probably wouldn't even have to practice anything new or particularly difficult. I readily admit that I'm one of those people who don't practice (for various reasons), but I know that this wouldn't take that much effort and it would be really meaningful. Grr.
Publier un commentaire