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Disrespect and negativity within the band!

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:18 pm
by JanelleKJohnson
Hello everyone my name is Janelle and I am the Low Brass Section leader for my new school. My problem simple is how can you change the minds of a band that has gotten exellence ratings into a superior performing band?????The band has no respect for each other and the talking is killing our practice times. When we attempted to enforce disciplinary actions members of the band including our band president and drum major almost quit the program. Please if you have any feedback let me know.

Re: Disrespect and negativity within the band!

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:20 pm
by vore
Leadership, attitude, communication, philosophy, and on and on... It all starts and ends with the band director.

Best to take your concerns to the band director for guidance.

vore 8-)

Re: Disrespect and negativity within the band!

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:59 pm
by STEVIE805
I am also the Low Brass section leader at my school. We had a similar problem last year, but I don't think it was as severe as you describe your problem. Something we instituted this year was instead of assigning push-ups to the individuals who were slacking off, give push-ups to the section leaders and drum majors for not having control of the band. The was this works is to have your techs, or director assign them and make it clear that it was because the person's section was being disruptive. This way the people breaking the rules will feel bad and hopefully stop.
But this is just what worked at our school, no two schools are exactly the same and they require different remedies. So try different things until you find what works.

Re: Disrespect and negativity within the band!

Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:37 pm
by Zarathrustra
Agreed. As the Low Brass section leader for the second year in a row I can tell you that getting the members to respect you will not be an easy task (especially when your brother is your second chair trombone player and is older than you). The thing is that you and the members need to understand that once rehersal begins you aren't friends anymore, you're bandmates. As stated, the band director is always the best place to go, especially if they are consistantly disrespectful. Members need to understand that talking takes away from the rehersal time as well as productivity of the time you do have. Bottom line, the director must be made aware of the problems and the band as a whole must be willing to work towards a common goal of excellence(superiority if that's your thing).