WHAT HAVE I BEEN UP TO?

Well, sorry I have not posted in a while. I do miss all my blogging friends. Here is the scoop on me.

1. Back to school was fun. My son finally received his trombone today!

2. Great Grandma Apley died. What a friendly, spunky person. She will be missed by all.

3. Daughter B lettered in golf!

4. My son is in the Wizard of Oz--he is a Monkey, Winkie and Munchkin. Huge commitment for everyone. Ann Arbor people are serious about their theater so it is really something.

5. Great field hockey season for my daughter C. They won a big tournament.

6.. Weekends include soccer, tennis, golf, U of M football games, etc.

7. I am dabbling a little in politics--try not to get involved because people just hate you if you oppose school millages.

8. Decorating the lounges again for the St. Joe Ball. The pictures above are part of my plans. The theme is Paris and we are having a french design -black & white bathroom.

Communist Band Instrument Selection

I am curious how band instruments are assigned in your town. My son had to select his top three instruments. My son is in 5th grade and when asked to select instrument choices for 5th grade, He selected the:

1. Trombone

2. Trumpet

3. Clarinet

We happily signed the form confirming his choices. We were foolish to assume that he would get a choice on his list-This is the public schools you know and it frankly, it always seems to be about the teachers and what is best and award winning bands. He tried the instruments at school and said the he could buzz the mouthpiece of trombone, but had trouble reaching the full range of slide, he could not buzz the trumpet mouth piece and had trouble playing the clarinet. Needless to day, he came home with the:

BARITONE!!!

What I said? I do not remember approving that instrument (as lovely as it may be). One, they are extremely expensive to purchase, rent, etc. and secondly, can he even lift it? Thirdly, it is base clef and means a life of harmony and quarter notes-rest-quarter note-rest (just kidding) Why is my child not getting a instrument on his list while others are getting their first choice? I think this is a pretty good question to ask.

I contacted the music teacher questioning this decision and she said...Trip had trouble reaching the full range on the trombone and the baritone and trombone are virtually interchangeable--no they are not!! He can easily go from the baritone to the trombone and we will give you a baritone for home and one for school. Do you see an agenda here!! Excuse me, why did you not give my child a choice on the list. There is a shortage of baritones in the high school and they think they can trick my son and us into this choice.

I pressed this teacher a little and uncovered that my son had some of the shortest arms in the class and that made him the best candidate for this instrument. He was actually measured!

Secondly, she said that they are trying to encourage the kids to play these instruments (lots of cellos too) because they have too many flutes and trumpets in the high school, the bands would be unbalanced and the kids are disappointed if they could not be in the best band.

In other words, you are measuring my child's arm to determine his musical instrument future based on his size today. I talked to my brother (a trombonist) and he said that no one can reach the low notes when they start out and there are trigger trombones to help for the 5th and 6th position anyway. Going from the baritone to the trombone is like going from the flute to the violin--not easy at all.

DO NOT MESS WITH THE BAND GEEKS.

So, in my lovely manner, I sent a really angry note comparing music selection to selecting young gymnast for the Chinese team based on physical size, etc. My son has a late birthday and is smaller today.

This is totally COMMUNISM. MEASURING KIDS AND PICKING THE SHORTEST ARMS FOR THE BARITONE IS UNBELIEVABLE. HEAVEN FORBID WE DO NOT PROPER REPRESENTATION OF THE BRASS INSTRUMENTS AND CANNOT WIN A GRAMMY AWARD.

When did the arts stop being about the kids and started being about the teachers and their awards?

Our music teachers are trying to talk the kids into instruments the high school band needs. Many kids were pushed toward the cello (too many violins too I guess--too bad if you are poor and cannot afford violin lessons on your own, those spots are taken by those who can).

I did say, shame on you. 1) give the kids a choice on his list 2) do not try to manipulate the kids into picking an instrument they do not like or are interested remotely in playing--it is about them not what you need in the future. A 4 minute interview should not determine the instrument a child should play and they should not be discouraged in anyway. You are telling kids they can not something to make your job easier.

Finally, after my angry, rude email, the music teacher called me and said she would have an instrument ready on Monday. She said " I disagree with all your arguments and hope he is not frustrated when he cannot reach the low notes'. I said, the good news his, he will probably grow.