Posted by Just Wondering on October 21, 2003 at 12:07:55:
A little background: I'm a band parent, have played a little music, have wide musical tastes. Used to show horses - and then some levels of horse showing got far away from demonstrating the real job horses could do and became kind of a weird activity unto themselves. Now I go to marching band competitions and wonder about the same thing happening. This weekend's competition had really entertaining bands with good music who got rated lower than bands who must have met the standard but were terminally boring with what I would call academic music - correct but uninteresting. Have been observing this now over two years (both marching band and concert band) and just wonder what you all think. I'm not about to have a snit and take the kids out of band - it's a very good activity no matter what but just curious about the general feeling about these competitions. So whaddya think as musicians or directors or parents?