When does orchestra become challenging

[Anonymous]

It’s a bad issue right now due to staffing cuts. MCPS gave secondary principals staffing allotments based on how many kids were attending in person last February. Fast forward to September and lots of new kids move to the area, many kids leaving private or virtual academy to return to their home school but staffing allotments haven’t changed. At my school, this meant 6th grade band was cut and folded in with 7th and 8th graders. Doesn’t matter because there are also 7th and 8th graders trying an instrument for the first time because of the pandemic.

Orchestras in MCPS really get the short end of the stick but enrollment is just so much lower, so many schools can’t offer leveled orchestra classes. Also, MCPS has the same person teaching band and orchestra in most schools. This is very different than Virginia where a teacher specializes in just band or just orchestra. They have teachers specialize in one area and split between a MS and HS if needed. This is fantastic for recruiting and retaining students. It’s also frees up time for the teacher to get PD in either band or orchestra. MCPS has been behind the times for about 30 years in this area. Howard County is where you will find superior music programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a bad issue right now due to staffing cuts. MCPS gave secondary principals staffing allotments based on how many kids were attending in person last February. Fast forward to September and lots of new kids move to the area, many kids leaving private or virtual academy to return to their home school but staffing allotments haven’t changed. At my school, this meant 6th grade band was cut and folded in with 7th and 8th graders. Doesn’t matter because there are also 7th and 8th graders trying an instrument for the first time because of the pandemic.

Orchestras in MCPS really get the short end of the stick but enrollment is just so much lower, so many schools can’t offer leveled orchestra classes. Also, MCPS has the same person teaching band and orchestra in most schools. This is very different than Virginia where a teacher specializes in just band or just orchestra. They have teachers specialize in one area and split between a MS and HS if needed. This is fantastic for recruiting and retaining students. It’s also frees up time for the teacher to get PD in either band or orchestra. MCPS has been behind the times for about 30 years in this area. Howard County is where you will find superior music programs.

VA for upper school has the same numbers. None of this makes sense. The issue is that anyone good is not going to teach in a school except a rare person. The kids get general instruction not individual on the instruments. Many are not in private lessons and the quality of playing is basic at best, which is ok. Some schools just don’t have enough skilled kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm only familiar with the DCC, but Blair by far has the strongest strings program. Pre-covid they had a try-out based ensemble as well as "advanced" orchestra" and regular. I don't know what non-DCC schools offer. Probably the more Asian kids they have the better the strings program.

They just got a really skilled teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a bad issue right now due to staffing cuts. MCPS gave secondary principals staffing allotments based on how many kids were attending in person last February. Fast forward to September and lots of new kids move to the area, many kids leaving private or virtual academy to return to their home school but staffing allotments haven’t changed. At my school, this meant 6th grade band was cut and folded in with 7th and 8th graders. Doesn’t matter because there are also 7th and 8th graders trying an instrument for the first time because of the pandemic.

Orchestras in MCPS really get the short end of the stick but enrollment is just so much lower, so many schools can’t offer leveled orchestra classes. Also, MCPS has the same person teaching band and orchestra in most schools. This is very different than Virginia where a teacher specializes in just band or just orchestra. They have teachers specialize in one area and split between a MS and HS if needed. This is fantastic for recruiting and retaining students. It’s also frees up time for the teacher to get PD in either band or orchestra. MCPS has been behind the times for about 30 years in this area. Howard County is where you will find superior music programs.

Just no.

Please remember that band and orchestra separations at school are completely artificial, as classic orchestras, from which all other western musical groups developed, is composed of strings, winds, brass and percussion. So a conductor can of course teach band AND orchestra.

Most students only have a few years' experience, and practically any teacher can teach them at that very basic level.

There are no appreciable differences between counties when it comes to music quality in public schools. The words "superior" and "schools" just don't go together, my dear PP, whether it's public or private schools. I've personally listened to many If you want a "superior" group music experience, you've got to look to private studios putting chamber music groups together, or certain youth orchestras like MCYO and AYPO. DCYO is friendly but not on the same level.

[Anonymous]

You need to find a youth orchestra or maybe a teacher who has a chamber group or some other outlet. Sometimes the orchestra teacher will create smaller groups of more advanced students that can help. It never gets better. That's why my string players dropped out of school orchestra entirely by high School in favor of community and youth orchestras.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a bad issue right now due to staffing cuts. MCPS gave secondary principals staffing allotments based on how many kids were attending in person last February. Fast forward to September and lots of new kids move to the area, many kids leaving private or virtual academy to return to their home school but staffing allotments haven’t changed. At my school, this meant 6th grade band was cut and folded in with 7th and 8th graders. Doesn’t matter because there are also 7th and 8th graders trying an instrument for the first time because of the pandemic.

Orchestras in MCPS really get the short end of the stick but enrollment is just so much lower, so many schools can’t offer leveled orchestra classes. Also, MCPS has the same person teaching band and orchestra in most schools. This is very different than Virginia where a teacher specializes in just band or just orchestra. They have teachers specialize in one area and split between a MS and HS if needed. This is fantastic for recruiting and retaining students. It’s also frees up time for the teacher to get PD in either band or orchestra. MCPS has been behind the times for about 30 years in this area. Howard County is where you will find superior music programs.

Just no.

Please remember that band and orchestra separations at school are completely artificial, as classic orchestras, from which all other western musical groups developed, is composed of strings, winds, brass and percussion. So a conductor can of course teach band AND orchestra.

Most students only have a few years' experience, and practically any teacher can teach them at that very basic level.

There are no appreciable differences between counties when it comes to music quality in public schools. The words "superior" and "schools" just don't go together, my dear PP, whether it's public or private schools. I've personally listened to many If you want a "superior" group music experience, you've got to look to private studios putting chamber music groups together, or certain youth orchestras like MCYO and AYPO. DCYO is friendly but not on the same level.

I did not realize how different and better these groups were till we did one. Worth the price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why is she not in advanced orchestra? If she's that good surely the teacher would move her up.

Because this is the same troll that has started other threads like not impressed with Poolesville Global. She also started a thread attacking a school in Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is she not in advanced orchestra? If she's that good surely the teacher would move her up.

Because this is the same troll that has started other threads like not impressed with Poolesville Global. She also started a thread attacking a school in Bethesda.

How do you know? We choose our school for the music program and wasn't impressed.