Disappointment. Tryouts?

[John K.]

I could say sorry ONCE, if after I said it ONCE, I could be done with it without TONS of comments about it. and even after Ive stated it, the same people keep talking about it.

And I do read my posts... IF EVERYONE was a scared hermit, and no opinions were said, life would suck, nothing would change. But this a place for opinions. And I NEVER said you can't have an opinion. Im just trashing your opinion because your putting words in MY mouth, and quoting me out of context. Yes, I said at least I didn't do it in varsity band, but not as an excuse, not as a justifiable reason, just as a comment.

I love the comment about it being my band. ("Good luck in your band.") Part off it being a band Is that I'm not the only person. .

The fact that I'm acting like Kaiser Kersey, with a strict, what I say goes policy is a perfect example why im a bad example. I mean, I don't work, I don't try, I don't care, I don't practice, I don't try and help people, I don't talk to people, I'm overly controlling, and very violent in everything I say is a perfect example of why I'm not a good example to freshman. And I will never work to improve my flaws.

Im a bad example to not only freshman, but to all mankind.

(The above text is my right to my opinion, and my first amendment rights. You have them too, exercise them....)




Well, this has moved far then the subject... So why do you guys think about last year?

[Dru]

Wow, i haven't seen a discussion like this on the message boards in a long time, so instead of writing an engineering ethics paper, i'm going to reply on here instead

First thing is first, John, the name "Novak" will always refer to Chris, mainly because he was first and has a better perception of what college is the best.

So was i was reading this topic, it seems like there is one general problem, a lack of leadership,dedication, and attitude. Thats nothing new, in my four years of band i we all saw plenty of all of that. The subject of tryouts was also brought up, and that topic has been lingering around the message board ever since it was created.

Think about it this way

Problem: There is a lack of many qualities of character that are required to make a band program efficient and create positive results

The Solution?

You guys talked about having a tryout or "evaluation period".

Ask yourself, what would this solve?

It would obviously make the band smaller, but who would it cut?

As with most tryouts, it would cut the weakest players.

This doesn't solve your problem, because some of those weak players could be the ones with the best attitude but aren't necessarily the best players, and in my four years of band i've noticed people that are like that, not necessarily the best players in their section but have a great attidute.

Your solution should be what Cassell said.

More leadership from more individuals working together will create a positive learning environment where people will not just do what they're supposed to, they'll feel obligated to do what they can to make the band better.

Everyone has to want to look be better, not just hope it will happen. And when i say everyone, i mean everyone. Whether you want to look good because you want the band to get a high score at competition or you want to look good because you know if you don't your section leader will get on your case about it, the reason doesn't matter

Everyone has to WANT it.

just my thoughts.

[John K.]

Well put dru.

No tryouts, thats a bad idea... But I believe if a student misses the first few practices, espicially as a lowerclassman, they should be cut. As I saw in my own section this year, people who didn't show up early in the year, didn't bother showing up later in the year. Those same people also look bad in the show, don't know there music, and have bad Attitudes.

The difference with our band and Novi/Plymouth is that our band Doesn't want to be good. People don't care that our scores are bad, untill we get them. If some of our problem kids went to Novi, they probaly wouldn't be in the show.

[Kyle C.]

ohhhhhhhhh boy i wish i would have seen this sooner.

I agree with John attendence was our downfall this year. As Drum major i got to see the attendence sheets and every day there were 15-25 people missing. And naturally they were the 15-25 people who needed the most help.

I agree with Mr. Cassell, the attendence policy needs to change becuase unfortunatly lowered grades are not working.

Everyone who didn't go to camp-
So this year we didn't have a drum major instructor so Mark and I got to wander around and peek in on other people's sectionals. Hunnycutt slept nearly everyday, and one day she flat out said "I don't know what I'm doing". She's a nice girl, but shouldn't be instructing the pit especially when everyone in it is not a percussionist.

I wish I had been drum major last year also, so I could have helped more this year insted of learning this year.

PS the senior class has always goofed around so don't blame it all on us. Freshmen aren't just empty minds they know what is inappropriate, well at least I did. HOWEVER, most section leaders could have worked harder this year. I will give credit to Jake, Alyssa, and the gaurd for at least trying. When they would try sectionals no one would show up. I held 3 clarinet sectionals and the same 4 people came everytime. There are I believe 14 clarinets; most of them underclassmen.

My advice to you all as I leave is that we all show up. This show had so much potential but was quickly crushed when 30% of the band decided not to come to practice. It's not that hard to schedule around 2 days a week. And just about all sports practices this year ended before marching band started. Novak and Bobby always made it to practice afterwards, for the rest of you, you didn't even make an attempt to show up. If you honestly can't handle a two our marching band rehearsal, for which most of the time you are standing there doing nothing, then refer to John's first post and take that little bit of advice with you when it comes sign up time.

We had a lot of disapointment this season, It hit mark and I hard too. I don't know if this applies to the other leaders either, but by the end of the season, and seeing the attendence, then going to see the effort put out on the feild made me so depressed that I didn't care anymore. I really truly hope that next year you guys can pull it off and make it great because Nightwatch also has the potential that riverdance had. Just try to get that potential moving.=]