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I might be quitting band.

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ducksoup4pa

PostPosted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:31 pm


Well here is the story:

We managed to finish all of drill with music for the opener of our show by the end of band camp. Our band camp was incredibly short this year for some reason. Because of that, our instructors cracked down on us and made it so we actually got stuff done. I have no problem with being disciplined, I am glad we are being disciplined and glad we are getting a lot done, but the last few two days of band camp and night practices, are drumline instructor has just been a huge A**hole. He told us one day just to finish learning the show music before we learn any of the exercises he gave us. The next day, I had the next movement completely memorized after a long night of working on it after practice and he started screaming at me and the rest of the snare line freaking out saying how worthless we are and how stupid we are for not learning the exercises yet. The whole practice he keeps yelling that over and over again like he somehow expected us to learn the exercises within 5minutes of being yelled at. So that night I learned four out of our 10 exercises along with memorizing the beginning to the next movement. Of course the next day he freaks out on me for not only focusing on that movement. The whole day he is screaming at us. Or at one point it got past 100degrees F and we had been marching for about an hour without a water break and I was about to black out, I told him I needed to sit down for a second and usually in my line I'm the last to ask for a break and he knows that, but he just freaked out at me. I did fall in the next run through we did and then he yelled at me to sit down and freaked out at me saying I could have hurt someone by not sitting down. Our instructor is getting to the point where it isn't even disciplining us any more, it's just yelling at us. I joined band because it was fun, but now it's not fun at all anymore. I want to quit but I am one of 5 in battery that isn't a senior this year, and all my senior friends I love like family and don't wanna ruin their senior year, but I don't want to get screamed at anymore considering nothing I do is right.

I need some help on what to do. Please.

And by the way, Out of everyone on the snare and tenor line (all seniors this year except for me), I am the only one getting freaked out at. I'm not new to drumline like our bass or cymbal line (and thus aren't being critiqued), but I'm not experienced to the point where I can do any rudiment without thinking about it. I'm the only one being yelled at, and I mean yelled at, not critiqued.
PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:33 am


If I were you, I'd just suck it up. Yes, it sucks, but it sounds like you really like band. Don't give up just because your instructor is a butt.
I know where you're coming from. My instructor has been yelling and insulting me nonstop too. Not quite to the extent of yours (she lets me sit down when it gets too hot), but the rest is pretty much the same.

Ferocious Rabid Weasel

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zippythecellist

PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:29 pm


Dude, don't quit because your teacher is a poo head. rofl My middle school teacher was kind of a b***h too. She would yell at the whole class for some stupid thing 1 or 2 people did..... evil
PostPosted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:54 pm


i saw how long the story was so i just skipped it but AAAANNNYYYWAYYY, never quit.you will thank us later on in life

los_zorros_goalie


hpfan1dre

PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 5:09 am


do a pros and cons list, that's what my sister did when she wanted to quit band in her sophmore year(now a junior). She wanted to quit because of the band director let the kids mess around, the freshman caused lots of drama, and her section leader didn't show up for sectionals so she ended up quitting because there was nothing to drive her into staying. So if you really love band stay in it but if nothing is driving you to stay in there go.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:35 am


dun quit.

my reason:

your drumline instructor sounds like a total arse and you may be the only one being picked on,

but that shouldnt be your reason for quitting.

everyone is moody when temp. reach 100degrees F and your instructor is not exempt from that.

marching band is fun. marching band belongs to us, not the instructors. so dont let him ruin it for you by letting what he says get to you.

you have the entire drumline to back you up.

so you have no need to quit.

silver_mizu


Mish-x-Misha

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PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:39 am


Yeah. You just gotta suck it up and deal with it. If there's only a few of you in your line, you shouldn't quit. It will make the instructor even more fumed at you. Marching band is a sport. It is a TEAM sport. Everyone has to work together to make the show great. If you drop out, you're letting your team down and breaking off on a commitment. And that doesn't look good on ANY records.

Is your snare instructor your OVERALL band instructor? Or just for your section?
At my highschool, we have our band instructor (Jeff Cutter), our four (don't even get me started on that number...) drum majors, and then individual senior and junior section leaders. Each section leader is in charge of the individual section. But over all, your band instructor has complete power over any choices.

If this is the case, and there IS a higher power, talk to them about what's going on. I'm sure they'll be able to explain why he's being this way, or tell him to back off.
Making you be outside in over 100 degree weather without water for an hour /is/ illegal in some areas... ._. You COULD call the cops on him. But that would be useless.
Else, you could just try to talk to your instructor after practice. Ask him why he's yelling so much and so eager to get so much done so soon. Do this while he's drinking water or gatorade or something, along with yourself, so that way you are both calming down. Maybe his wife/girlfriend just ditched him, or his mom died or something. Emotions can always affect someone's personality.
PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:53 am


I agree with Misha, I would have a sit down with them. Plus all yelling and no focus means that the show will go nowhere. After the sit down, if they let you of course, doesn't approve the attitude of your fellow band members and director then I would say do a pro/con list. Then make your choice. I say a week due to band computations usually being in October, so it gives them some time to prepare you leaving, if that would be your choice in the end.

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une_pomme_verte

PostPosted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:08 pm


well, i'm in guard, but the guard coach is practically the assistant band director because she knows music, too. we have something like a chain of command. if you have to say something, talk to your section leader. if its important then they'll talk to the DM (or, for us in guard, our coach...depending) and then it goes to the BD. so, if you don't want to have a face-to-face talk (BDs can be uber-intimidating...) you can talk to someone else

but NEVER EVER quit
i'm speaking from experience. in our band, about 20 people quit, and not cuz they graduated. and most of them were ones you'd never expect becasue they were totally and completely dedicated to the program....and then something changed. and now the rest of us are working hard to stay where we always have been, and now i'm scared of being "that class" that caused the band to go downhill ....
so please, don't quit... crying
PostPosted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:42 pm


Do you really want to let your instructor get to you and be the reason for taking away something important to you? You've stuck with band this long, finish what you've started. :]

And I suggest you talk to your teacher sometime when you're not practicing and ask them why they're being so ridiculous, and tell them you had considered quitting. If he's still got an attitude, appeal to a higher authority. Teachers are not allowed to call you worthless and stupid.

Chin up. :]

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PostPosted: Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:34 pm


Don't quit because your teacher is an idiot.
You seem to like band alot so why throw it out over some freak of a teacher?
And besides its not like you can't mock him with the other kids in your band who hate him too twisted
PostPosted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:50 pm


I understand where you're coming from. My band director's also an a** only to me. smile

I also have seniors I wish to please, so I'm staying, but if you think the cons out-weight the pros, quit. If your band director's been yelling at you for a while, it's unlikely it'll stop. Mine's been yelling at me for no reason for 5 years now. But I can't imagine life without band, even if I know my senior year's gonna be hell. Ultimately, it's your decision alone.

ANTlQUE

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sasukefan1234

PostPosted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 8:25 pm


hey i would do what everyone says. trust im in the guard at my high school and i get yelled at alot but as my last instructor said, suck it up, and you wouldn't be in this unless you actually loved it or cared, so do me a favor dont quit. heart
PostPosted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 9:05 pm


I think that you should talk with your upperclassmen and make sure you're doing everything 100% right (adding in something along the lines of "Yeah, I don't like being yelled at by...) so that there SHOULD be no reason for him to yell at you. Be the best you can at rehearsals. If he still yells at you, not only will your upperclassmen now be aware of it, but you KNOW something's up. Now you have their support and since they're all seniors they might have some leverage with him, they might be able to talk to him, or at least help you through this difficult time.

If you really don't want to do band anymore, then there's no point in staying. But if you love music and the whole band experience, then stick with it. Don't quit because one guy's being a jerk. And if he keeps harassing you, I'm sure you could report him, no problem, to a counselor.

havishanta


catkitty223

PostPosted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 4:38 pm


You know...I kinda like to get to my point as fast as possible.
So...explanations aside,

DUN QUIT.
NUFF SED.
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