Posted by Lee Stofer on February 08, 2002 at 10:06:42:
In Reply to: Trombones and bad players posted by Doug on February 06, 2002 at 23:21:55:
Doug,
Oh, that more high schools had band directors like the one I was priviledged to have! He came into a situation where there was a large, undisciplined Band program, instituted discipline and a vision, and had the guts to "fire" students who didn't shape up. The band had had well over 100 members, shrank to 64, then rebuilt in 4 years or so to 110, with their reputation as a musical organization growing also. Some people would be opposed to "cutting out the dead wood", but of those that worked and made the cut, there are a number of us from that small town in Kentucky that have become music professionals, as players, educators, and repair techs. James Stuppy, wherever you are now, thank-you!
-Lee Stofer