Facepalm

[wilkeliza]

Schools aren't in the business off of making money. Some charge a fee to use school instruments but that just covers maintaining the instrument. More than likely, it was a balance issue. Band directors don't want a band of saxophones. They want lots of flutes and clarinets, fewer saxes, just a couple percussionists, and certain numbers for the brass family. Or, maybe the instrument was of poor quality. I always have parents who go out and buy a violin and tell me what a great deal they got. Then their child struggles since their parents bought a poorly constructed instrument.

I don't think it was the school itself but just the one director. The clarinet was purchased from a student who kept it well maintained and the high school director inspected it when she sold it to me. We even had it refurbished with new pads and bought a new mouth piece for it from a local musical shop that my mother used for maintenance of both of my brother's instruments. I didn't struggle with the clarinet at all and actually did pretty well. I get needing a balance but neither band I was in had issues with balance as you had to compete to get into the higher bands. Both schools had 2 sets of orchestras the "competition" orchestra and then everyone else. Actually my original school had 3 orchestras on top of the marching band. They held auditions every season because of that so it was up to you if you wanted to fight the 50 clarinets or the 10 trombone players.

 

[Allons-y!]

I am an elementary string teacher and go through the same recruiting process. I am married to a percussionist (high school band director) and one of my sons is a percussionist. I also have a clarinet player, a violinist and a trumpet player.

I can imagine that your dd just might be bored. She could continue taking private percussion lessons to continue to develop her skills while learning another instrument in in school. I think it would be fun. First year percussion is so very basic and yes, if you have some skill under your belt, boring.

As a side note, my dh always wishes he had played something besides percussion. Something more melodic. He sits in the back of the orchestra hearing all these beautiful, exciting melodies and he gets to hit a drum. My son is starting to feel the same way. I think having the opportunity to try another instrument with the teacher's blessing is something most kids don't get. Then SHE can decide which one she likes the best. Not a bad position to be in.

Something to consider.

I'm sorry, but as a percussionist, this makes no sense to me. Xylophone, marimba, bells, tympani...all are melodic instruments percussionists play.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I'm sorry, but as a percussionist, this makes no sense to me. Xylophone, marimba, bells, tympani...all are melodic instruments percussionists play.

Oddly enough, DD made this very comment - She can teach me the xylophone. I don't know how to play that!

And we do have a very extensive array of percussion instruments available at the school.

As for being bored, it's 20 minutes once every 4th day. I think she'll be okay



I will say this. I did not go to this particular district as a kid. I went to school a few miles away. But, I always remember this school having a pretty big HS band, almost as large as ours. Went to a football game last Fall & was shocked to see fewer than 75 marchers despite the fact the school has grown more than 300 students from "my day". In "my day" this band would have been at least twice that. I suspect this instrument policy has really brought their numbers down.

We always dealt with "imbalance" in my day by taking volunteers to twirl flags/rifles, play tuba & baritone, etc. One local HS had 350+ in their band, but only marched 250. If you played a popular instrument, you weren't guaranteed a marching spot until your junior year. But, everyone still got to make their own choices.

Sure, if you have a kid who's so short he won't ever be able to reach 7th position, steering him away from trombone is a good idea. If you have a kid with an extra front tooth lodged sideways behind her traditional front teeth (like my daughter), clarinet may be out. But, if the kid CAN play trumpet and WANTS to play trumpet, the kid should play trumpet.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

Schools aren't in the business off of making money. Some charge a fee to use school instruments but that just covers maintaining the instrument. More than likely, it was a balance issue. Band directors don't want a band of saxophones. They want lots of flutes and clarinets, fewer saxes, just a couple percussionists, and certain numbers for the brass family. Or, maybe the instrument was of poor quality. I always have parents who go out and buy a violin and tell me what a great deal they got. Then their child struggles since their parents bought a poorly constructed instrument.

Beginning and middle school band teacher here!

In our district, the school instrument rental fee nowhere near covers maintenance---it's really just to offset the cost and so that students and parents feel at least a little invested in taking care of it.

Also, your comment about a poorly constructed instrument is right on. We discourage families from purchasing because if it a reputable brand in good condition, it will seriously hinder a student's progress. We also push rentals because our local store repairs rentals "for free" (yes, I know you're really paying for in your rental) and even careful kids sometimes have accidents, especially when it's new and uncomfortable.

Oddly enough, DD made this very comment - She can teach me the xylophone. I don't know how to play that!

And we do have a very extensive array of percussion instruments available at the school.

Did you mention this to the teacher? Perhaps the teacher was thinking your DD wanted to be strictly a "drummer"---but it certainly sounds like she wants to be a true percussionist! I discourage kids who just want to play the drums...because they will be bored or frustrated when they have to play the many non-drum percussion instruments...but when a kid wants to play the xylophone, they are much better percussion candidates.