[Menvi-discuss] Being a student leader in band

[Rick Coates]

Winona:

 I am not visually impaired, but I taught a group of blind students to
perform as a marching band.  It had been many years since I did any
marching band but a great deal of the visual work is rooted in basic skills
and movements.  As a visually impaired band student, your understanding of
the visual aspect of the performance will be different and possibly more
challenging to share with your peers, especially if the training time
between shows is short.  You did not state how much marching experience you
had and I would believe that would play a great role in the visual
instruction as well.

In general, I would encourage you to work towards the musical aspect of the
band.  It sounds like you would have many challenges that meet the goal you
are reaching.  The results of this experience would be very important
should you wish to continue in music.  Remember, that all instruction,
whether visual or musical, moves in steps and stages.  It will require you
to plan out your instruction and require you to evaluate the results to
make you better.

I commend your director for allowing you to undertake this opportunity and
wish you well in this endeavor.  When I was much younger (old guy), I tried
out as a drum major one time and was very nervous that I would make
mistakes and the performance would fail.  Luckily, everything went well.
The last thing I would say is relax and enjoy yourself, it will all work
out.

Keep us informed about your results.

Rick Coates


On Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 6:52 PM, Winona Brackett
<trumpetqueenwb at gmail.com>wrote:

> Hello,
>
> I am a junior (grade 11) in high school. I play trumpet and I'm in my
> school's marching and concert band. My band director is letting his
> students apply and audition for marching band leadership positions. I
> would like to apply for Trumpet Co-Section Leader and Brass Captain. I
> have asked my peers their opinions on how well I would do as a brass
> captain or co-section leader and I've gotten different answers:
>
> "You have the musical talent, you would be great."
>
> "I don't think Brass Captain would be the best thing for you.You need
> to be able to teach marching; control the entire brass section;
> conduct them; warm them up; and have sectionals.I don't think it would
> be a good idea to have two captains (a music captain and a visuals
> captain), it would be confusing and could end badly if the two
> disagreed with each other."
>
> Those quotes are for both positions. If I was brass captain or trumpet
> co-section leader, I would have to learn everyone's music ahead of
> time so I would be able to help the students in my section learn and
> memorize their parts. (Field show music and stand music). I know that
> would take a lot on my part. I want to push and challenge myself, but
> I also don't want to bite off more than I can chew.
>
> What are your thoughts? As a blind individual, how do you think I
> would teach visual block? (Marching basics, drill where they are in
> the formation). Or, should I be the music section leader and have
> another student be the visuals leader? I have talked to my band
> director about having two leaders, and he seems ok with it.
>
> All opinions are appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Winona
>
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