The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1951-05-03
n kUSINGS OF
A MUSICAL
ARCKETEER

Several weeks ago, I wrote
column concerning the selection
of chairs in the band. However,
1t was not run in the Journal for
lack OF space but it was printed
IN the Leader, so | shall 60 over
1t again for those who might have
missed it. First of all the word
chair means in band lingo, a rat
ing. This rating is based on
musical ability and means, quite
a bit to the ones who receive it.
Previously, it has always been
a rather unfair and ticklish Job
to pick these chairs for this rea-
son. In the past it has most gene
rally been the older ones of each
section who have received the
first chairs. In most incidences
this was all right, but there were
some who were not capable of
filling this position. Therefore,
you can see that it could pos
sibly be unfair in some cases. It
IS also a ticklish job for some
times the idea arises that so and
so is Mr.. Woods pet and there
fore he has given them the first
chair.
We are trying to correct these
situations by turning to a new
method based on recording. It
works like this. Each member of
the band records the same march,
separately, of course. The record
in turn is played back to a group
OF alumni, who upon graduating
from the band, all held first
chairs. This group of alumni then
judged each member as the re-
cords were played over and over
again. The five people who grad
ed the chairs could not have pos
slbly known who they were pick
ing, as the not connected with
the records. Now to answer a few
question which | have been ask
ed. Do you think that Mr.. Wood
is passing the buck? Certainly
not, it is actually much harder
in real work to use the system
that is in operation now. In what
way would this be more fair? In
several ways. In the first place
it eliminates, to some extent,
poor musicians. Another reason,
it creates rivalry. To explain this
the way the system works now:
one who is in second or one seat
below anyone in that particular
section may challenge the next
one up, in what you might call
a duel. For instance, if the second
chair thought that he or she was
better musician than the one in
first chair they may challenge
them and the person who
is challenged must cooperate
and the two will record from
sight, playing a piece which they
have never seen. They will then
be judged on this. If the chal-
lenger fails, he or she may try
again in a month. However, if he
wins, the one who he defeated
must give up his title. How does
all this help? In order to chal-
lenge, you must be good. In order
to be good, you must practice,
and practice makes a better
band. What would happen if they
all got nervous? This happened,
as we'll as we have been able to
find, all who recorded were ner-
vous. Of course, some could be
more so than other and this, too,
was true. But there is nothing to
stop the one who received a
lower rating from working his
way back up to the position that
he believes he deserves. There
has been considerable discussion
as to whether this idea will be
successful. 1t is true that all new
inventions have bad points, and
this is no exception. However,
through trail and error and given
time, it will be successful and /
for one believe that it will be so.