Band stories

[Selena]

Any former high school "band fags" (that's what we were called in the 80's at my school) out there? Does anyone have any horror stories to share like the news story below?

I remember in Jr High/High school, we had a band director, Mr Sullivan... he was a strange fellow. He was a 40-something year old single man, tall, skinny, glasses and had thinning straight red hair. He used to put pencils behind his right ear instead of keeping them on the music stands. When he got pissed off and frustrated at us for doing something wrong during practice, he would throw those pencils AT us. At the time, I was a kid... and though it hilarious. So did the rest of the band members... which would piss him off even more. Other than these outbursts, he was an okay guy... for a teacher. He would also throw them at the ground. Gee, in retrospect, it was kinda dangerous.

But whatthefuckdidIknow... I was just a kid!



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AP) BOULDER, Colo. A substitute music teacher has been arrested after allegedly whacking a 10-year-old student on the head with a viola bow after telling the class they were "the worst players I've ever heard."

http://cbs4denver.com/watercooler/wa...068025106.html

[Bean]

Yeah, I was a band fag, but we had a math teacher in high school that lost an arm and had a scarred face from the Vietnam war. He always wore a suit jacket or blazer with the empty sleeve tucked into the pocket. That man was so scary and he could hit any kid in the room at 20 paces with a chalkboard eraser. With his back to the room, he could wheel around and throw in one motion and clock any kid in the head with it!!

[moiradochartaigh]

:: stands up :: Hi, my name is Diane, and I'm a recovering "band fag."

Yeah, our band director was a little nuts too. He'd break at least a baton a week by whacking it on a music stand, or when he was really peeved he'd throw a stand halfway across the band room.

He never physically assaulted a student, though. The worst treatment we got was marching drills in 90+ degree weather and 80%+ humidity in our full wool uniforms.

Funny..... despite the occasional craziness...... I developed a deep appreciation for music thanks to him.

[Selena]

Funny..... despite the occasional craziness...... I developed a deep appreciation for music thanks to him.

Same here. I truly enjoyed every minute of my hs days in that band. I wouldn't have given it up for anything.

[daBaroness]

Actually - I was a choir geek. But the choir and the band both had lunch the same period and the band room and the choir room were across the hall from one another.

Our band director, Woody Budnick, was one of those rare, rare teachers who inspired his students and engendered their love, admiration and loyalty. The band actually used to have reunions of band people only - across all years - that were highly attended.

Woody, as well affectionately called him, was the funniest looking old curmudgeon - a little stooped with age and a pompadore hairdo that would go every which way as he conducted. And big, thick, bushy eyebrows!

But I don't know of a kid, band member or not, who didn't love Woody. Both of the bands (4th hour - was the top notch band) and 6th hour gave it their all! Marching wasn't necessarily their strong suit - but once in the stands - nobody had more school spirit and energy than the band. And the jazz ensemble was recognized all over the area where we lived - Woody LOVED jazz. Even the pep bands at basketball games and wrestling matches rocked the house!

But their real forte was playing concerts. Their annual pops concert was always sold out and well worth the time to watch. They played awesome music - the students got opportunities to do solos and special bits throughout the show - there were skits and costumes and all of the kids had a genuinely fun time performing under the baton of Mr. Budnick.

Woody - wherever you are - I know you're smiling down at all of us adults whose love for music was a gift from you...

[Bean]

I had more fun in the high school band than I did with the band at Syracuse. It was fun at college, don't get me wrong, but alot of the people in the were mean, snarky, nasty people who loved, more than life itself, to make others miserable by making fun of them. And I don't mean poking fun, it was all out, mean spirited, designed to embarrass and humiliate. No wonder I was so screwed up after I got out of college......

[Isabelle Warwicke]

My Jr. High band director's name was Mr. Lestina. Our band had won all kinds of awards due to his direction. I played second chair French Horn. I quit the band after Mr. Lestina threw a baton at the dumbass tuba player behind me and hit me in the face instead. I dropped my horn on the floor and walked right out and to the principal's office to tell her that I was quitting band. The school did bupkiss to discipline him.

Now my piano teacher and vocal coach, Mrs. Kettleson, LOVED her. Adored her kind temperment and firm tutelage. I still send her Christmas cards every year. She was one of those few adults that helped shape who I became as I grew up.

[MoonWench]

Well I was a choir geek myself but our director was insane. I was in the Jazz Group so we were a very small class. But he would get so mad a one tenor that he sentall of us outside into the freezing rain and then he locked us out for an hour. We had no way of getting back inside. The worst part was when most of us got sick and missed the next performance he knocked our grades down.

[Mistress Morigianna]

myname is Misty and i dated 'band geeks".. French horn players (a tongue instrument) a slide bone player...(no joke needed) and a drummer who could keep a beat......

Oh was this the wrong thread?.........

[Kathryn Blakeley]

I've had 3 crazy band directors in the past.

The first was Mr. Blackwell. He was cool and all. Gave us challenging music but sometimes he'd slip. While conducting the baton shot out of his hand and hit the first chair clarinet.

Next was Mr. Phillips. We called him Phil. Had us march with instruments in the POURING RAIN. At least he paid to get our pads and stuff replaced. Our old uniforms were black wool. He had us pin silver fabric on it exactly over the green design on our uniforms. He didn't really give us challenging music. During Symphony Band sophomore year he pulled a Blackwell. At the same clarinetist too! Then he was fired and stole my only copy of a DVD I had made of the season.

Last was Mr. Ebert aka Eberta. Guy looks like a high schooler. My last marching season was so annoying! The girl who was section leader of flutes (not me because of band politics) was never there and when the freshies listened to me and not her she complained to him. He was cool about it and didn't do anything stupid with it. But for the musical - he got the wrong score and the choir director got so PISSED. He walks up to me and says Alli, why aren't you playing your solo? And I look up from my book and ask Solo? I only play 4 songs? He turned and yelled at Eberta. It was pretty funny.

Yeah more fun band stories later.