High school musicals

Parent Cafe
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<p>Our HS has a huge arts program, including drama, musical theater, bands (5 of them, plus marching), jazz bands, choruses, orchestras (several), and dance. Our musical theater program wins awards nearly every year (except when folks start complaining because it’s always OUR school, so then they pick someone else, and everyone says, “What???”.) Many of our instrumentalists play in area youth orchestras, and a handful every year go on to major in music. Our drama programs send a handful on to high level MT programs as well. They produce some real talent.</p>

<p>However, one of the chorus teachers plays the piano for all musicals. Occasionally, the Jazz band teacher plays some percussion as well. Otherwise, that’s it. Piano only.</p>

<p>The first time I attended a musical at the school, I was shocked that there was only a pianist. My own HS always used a pit and therefore, that was how I thought it should be done.</p>

<p>But then I attended some musicals at other area schools that used pits, and was surprised at how distracting the amateur musicians were. I do like the atmosphere produced by having a pit orchestra, and I suspect the “average” audience member isn’t aware of the intonation and timing issues that grate me. But having a professional pianist trumps an amateur orchestra for me.</p>

<p>The orchestra once partnered with the dance program to do a ballet. My S was in it, and it was painful - time consuming, and mediocre. One bad violinist can ruin the whole thing (and there was more than one bad one.) As far as I know, they haven’t tried a repeat.</p>

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<p>That’s part of the compromise that’s inherent in most h.s. productions. While I imagine there could be rare exceptions, most h.s’s can’t field a full orchestra of accomplished musicians that won’t manifest intonation and timing issues. Even where a h.s has a cadre of student musicians who are “All State” etc, most of the student musicians are not and the disaparities are very noticeable. Very frankly, even where the h.s. goes to outside musicians, most of them are not of the caliber of journeymen working pros either; I’ve been to loads of h.s shows with mixed orchestras and community theatre with orchestras of “part time” or “semi” pros where the musical issues are grating. Even if the entire orchestra consists of conservatory bound students, they are not going to provide the musical consistency and quality of a seasoned orchestral/ensemble player (otherwise, they wouldn’t need to go to a conservatory to begin with, they could just turn pro). But that gets back to my earlier point. The purpose of h.s. shows should not be the pursuit of professional caliber performances at the expense of the educational value. Whether an actor, musician, vocalist or crew, it should be an inclusionary experience that provides an exposure to the arts, a learning experience in collaboration and dedication, the fun and joy of performing.</p>