I joined the board of this band (did if for my last community band too) and am pushing some agendas. The last community band (Suzy and I were in it for 15 years) adopted all of my suggestions over five years. The suggestions were to split the 13-sax jazz band into two, start simple auditions for new people, institute section leaders. I remember hearing some of my sax section folk saying, as the band got better and played harder, more interesting music, that they wonder if they could pass the audition now-a-daze.
This new band has whole heartedly instituted section leaders after five years of me pushing this as an aid help to the board and directors concentrate on their duties. Now they are seriously considering my start a simple audition requirement because we are often a 60+ piece wind ensemble! I submitted this suggested guidance for the section leaders to implement and board to approve:
As we get larger and with the possibility of a section in the band getting too large, the board is considering implementing a simple audition system for new candidates. It might go something like this.
Jim
This new band has whole heartedly instituted section leaders after five years of me pushing this as an aid help to the board and directors concentrate on their duties. Now they are seriously considering my start a simple audition requirement because we are often a 60+ piece wind ensemble! I submitted this suggested guidance for the section leaders to implement and board to approve:
As we get larger and with the possibility of a section in the band getting too large, the board is considering implementing a simple audition system for new candidates. It might go something like this.
- Ask if the candidate can commit to making most practices.
- Ask the candidate to play a concert Bb scale.
- Have the candidate and you play a piece of music to check their reading skills, keep it simple. (I used to use a grade three duet.)
- If they are not up to snuff, politely thank them for their time and if asked recommend lessons and perhaps another band. (For example, I used to recommend the <IBNH> Community Band.)
Jim