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Dr William G McManus
Music Director |
Dr William G. McManus, Music Director of the Concord
Band since 1995, has been Director
of Fine and Applied Arts in a very successful
Massachusetts public school system
and is now Chair of the Music Education
Department at the Boston University
College of Fine Arts. His perspective, we
thought, on how the Concord Band relates
to music education would be of great interest
to our readers.
CB:
How would you assess the
general health of public school music education
in the Commonwealth?
WGM: “Generally, music education
programs are strong in the public schools
in Massachusetts, especially in suburban
school districts. Many communities can
boast fine comprehensive music programs.
The band, choral, orchestra, marching
band, and jazz festivals sponsored by such
organizations as the Massachusetts Instrumental
and Choral Conductors Association
(MICCA) and the International Association
of Jazz Educators (IAJE) remain very
strong. The District and All-State Festivals
sponsored by the Massachusetts Music
Educators Association (MMEA) are spectacular.
On the flip side, there are too
many communities cutting back or eliminating
music programs. Music programs in
the cities and in rural areas of the Commonwealth
are especially limited.”
CB:
It’s probably safe to say every
member of the Concord Band began his or
her career as an instrumentalist in elementary
school. Do you feel that it is better to
start off a young child on a band or orchestra
instrument or on the piano? Why?
WGM: “It really depends upon the age
and interest level of the child at the time.
A five- or six-year-old could begin taking
piano lessons or lessons on a small size
violin, much as many students do in Suzuki
programs in Japan. This same child
could not begin lessons on a band or orchestra
instrument because s/he physically
would not be able to play the instrument.
Most nine-year-old children are physically
ready to learn a band instrument.”
CB:
In your career as a music educator
you’ve had the opportunity to observe
music teachers in action for the past few
decades. Are they different in any important
ways now from when you began your
own career?
WGM: “Music teachers tend to be more
specialized than when I began my career.
General music teachers often develop expertise
in one of several different approaches
to teaching music such as Orff,
Kodaly, Dalcroze, or Gordon. Today there
are many instrumental teachers who specialize
in teaching jazz. Jazz ensembles
and jazz choirs did not exist in schools
when I began teaching. Many other music
teachers are expert in the use of music
technology which also did not exist when I
began my career.”
CB:
For non-professional wind and
percussion players who want to continue
playing beyond high school or college, the
community band represents that opportunity.
What is your view of the significance
of the community band?
WGM: “There is no question that the
community band is an extremely important
musical performance opportunity for nonprofessional
musicians. Together with
community orchestras and choruses, they
represent the primary, and in many cases,
the only opportunity for non-professional
musicians to perform in a large ensemble.
Community bands in particular also play
an important role in preserving the heritage
of band music and they are an important
source of public entertainment.”
CB:
And now for the question we’ve
all been waiting for, would you please
comment on the Concord Band in particular
among community bands relative to
music education. How is it different? As its
Music Director, what goals have you set
for the Band in your second decade?
WGM: “The Concord Band is unique
among community bands for a number of
reasons. Its long tradition of commissioning
new works is commendable. Few other
bands can boast of this achievement. The
band also has a long tradition of inviting
truly outstanding guest soloists and conductors
to perform with the Band. These
opportunities provide very rich experiences
for our members and our audiences.
I plan to continue these practices and do
everything I can to maintain the very high
performance level of the Band. Perhaps
most unique is the dedication and loyalty
of the members of the Band. My primary
goal is to reward that dedication by continuing
to provide outstanding musical experiences
for the Band members and wonderful
concerts for our audiences.”
