Dance & Aux Forum

These are the comments of "Woodwind70" an old school bandsman of New Orleans shares his opinion after being asked what he thinks of the current status of Our Cities bands.

I can agree with him 100% the man Knows his stuff ... These comments were cut from the forum at Nola.com

http://www.nola.com/forums/hsbands/

Woodwind70's Observation

Having been to parades on St. Charles Ave. on Friday night and Sunday, and will be out tonight until Fat Tuesday, here is my assessment:

O. P. Walker appears to lead the pack from whom I've seen on the parades. I was impressed that McD#35 played a march as they passed. Warren Easton looks/sounds very good. I heard Wright (remember, they had no band program pre-Katrina) and they are impressive along with the Roots of Music, and Lonzie Jackson appears to be working his magic with Carver. Lester Wilson (formerly of Xavier Prep) is doing a fine job at a middle school (name i can't recall) they were really strong for a 1st yr. program. Saw M. L. King, Clark, McDonogh and a few others but didn't hear them play. It's nice to see them on the parades lookin' good. 

Did hear the St. Aug Purple Knights at the ESJ-St. Aug basketball playoff game. Best sounding St. Aug band I've heard post Katrina !!!!!!!! I understand they only have 12 seniors so watch out, the sky is the limit for them!

The biggest disappointments so far are St. Mary's Academy, Xavier Prep and East St. John. All three have nosedived drastically. The famed ESJ "Phatt Boyz" are a thing of the past as they marched one parade with no tubas!

I think that the constant restructuring of charter/recovery schools in New Orleans will continue to be a hindrance into the progress of bands. There is a strong need for stronger mover viable elementary and middle school programs to feed the high schools! 

Remember the following are gone, and haven't returned:Andrew J. Bell, Carter G. Woodson, C. J. Colton, Augustine Middle, Live Oak, Green, Gregory Jr. High, McDonogh #28, Abramson, Kennedy, Fortier, Livingston Middle, Booker T. Washington, Marshall Middle. If I didn't miss any that's 14 bands !!!! Imagine how many kids are not being exposed to the arts !!

There is progress, but its stagnant.

To refer and answer to your first post about the quality of bands today, versus years ago. That is a multi-factored cause for the result of what you see today. I have been criticized on this board before for saying things about this, but here we go:

1. The lack of strong elementary middle and elementary programs. Post-Katrina, we saw a lot of neglect in the new-look educational system of New Orleans. We lost several good teachers who re-located after being displaced: Marlene Huntley, Gabe Watkins, Bryan Washington to name a few. Others who came back, Herman Jones, Joe Saulsbury, and Alonzo Bowens went into the "gifted" programs. We had already lost Joe Torregano from Gregory to East St. John, and Michael Torregano from Karr to Mississippi Valley State, Darrell Dickerson (Livingston) to Mississippi Valley State; Brice Miller is now at Alabama (not even in music anymore); Larry Birden (Walker) is at a university as well; Mary McGowan moved from MLK to Atlanta; Kenrick Foy (Abramson), and Walter Harris (Kennedy) retired, Jeffrey Hebert (now at St. Aug) went to Texas College; and the pulse of music education suffered a big hit. 

2. Quality of music educators. Now quality may not be the truly appropriate word here, but there is a difference . . . degreed, certified music educators vs. non-degreed, non-certified music educators in plain English. Basically, a lot of today's "band directors" have an understanding of the importance of a method book to teach fundamentals. Too many people today are focused on teaching them to play songs, rather than teaching them to read the notes, hear the pitches, count the rhythms, and understand what tone quality, rhythm, articulations, dynamics, phrasing, etc. mean to a quality musical development. Too often its learn the Bb major concert scale on the first day (Belwin Elementary teaches it somewhere like like 44-48 in their book) and let's learn the marching music and get you in the band ASAP! Total corruption, and pollution of the child for life!!!!!!!!

3. The "Southern Complex" The emergence of the "Human Jukebox" into pop culture (and I truly admire their work, and do see them going in a new direction) brought about the concept of more brass, and less woodwinds in the band structure in NO bands. The melody should not be played throughout a pop piece by mellophones; its against true musical structure; but often highlighted in todays black marching bands. Unfortunately, too many of today's music educators have not taken the necessary methods courses to truly develope flute, clarinet and saxophone players. Percussion sections are too large, notice most black bands have 8 cymbal players, and tenor and bass drum players who "pound" their drums with their whole arm and shoulder, instead of beating it with their wrist! Notice, Jesuit, Holy Cross, and Brother Martin, 2-3 cymbal players at best, it ain't that important to have 8!

4. Sound of black bands is different than white bands. When Salmen, Fountainbleau, Brother Martin, Jesuit, etc. pass, you will hear dynamics, and chord structure clearer, and the melodies won't be overemphasized, octaves won't be poorly executed, and intonation will be present and not wandering around in the wilderness. It is a cultural thing, and think about it, how often have you heard someone say "we blew you out!' or how often will you see bands "challenge" or "blow" at other bands with the only criteria being who was the loudest?

5. Hat styles - the use of the Trojan/ Spartan Style Helmet is overused. Looks good but overused. St. Augustine Purple Knights, John McDonogh Trojans yes, many others no. The drum major style is simply not cost-effective for most bands to uniform an entire band in. 

These are just a few of the things to consider. I hope that I gave you insight on the problems you touched on from your own observation. I don't have all of the answers, and I do know that most of the people who are leading bands today are doing the best they can under very, very difficult and trying situations.

Based on parades through Endymion last night, I would probably rate them:

1. St. Augustine - biggest improvement, and best St. Aug Band in the Post-Hampton era ever. Hats off to Jeffrey Herbert and his staff.

2. O. P.Walker - good sound, and a few more woodwinds would be the icing on the cake, group performs well. Hats off to Wilbert Rawlins and his staff.

3. McDonogh #35 - Heard them play marches on 2 occasions at Gallier Hall, fine job.

4. G. W. Carver - Something about Lonzie Jackson, always a good band, develope some woodwind players next year, and you'll increase your sound quality.

4 (tie) - Warren Easton - Good job as always.

5. L. B. Landry - Surprisingly good for a 1st year effort, band had a lot of spirit in their performance, and a nice little sound.

Middle Schools -

1. Sophie B. Wright - Desmian Barnes doing an excellent job.

2. Miller (something or other) with Lester Wils