bagpuss
Active Member
I suppose this may be an imotive subject and I realise I might well be opening a can of worms here but, hey, doesn't look like I care!!
:twisted:
I'd be interested to find out what other bands think of the percussion equipment supplied at contests especially high profile ones such as area or national finals. In my experience, the percussion equipment tends not to be in brilliant shape and certainly isn't worthy of the contest it's part of.
I believe that in most contests where percussion is supplied, there is a rule that dictates that the bands must use the equipment supplied. It is this rule that I object to more than anything else. In the same way that a cornet player (or brass player in general) would not appreciate having the instrument that they're used to taken off them and given a different one to play on stage with, why should percussionists be treated any differently? In one fairly recent contest where I was playing timps and tuned, I was used to having the required notes on our 3 timps and in a certain (very logical and easy) order. Unfortunately, when it came to going on stage, there were 4 timps and the notes that I needed were not on the timps I needed them on. It therefore made changes very difficult (and impossible) in a place or two. I realise I may have been the only one to experience this problem, but in my view, once is enough. Every player should be given every available opportunity to play their part in the best way possible and not be hampered by equipment or the way it's set up.
I know that a lot of people are going to say that's it's all due to the 4 minute rule and that percussion can't be set up in that time. You're probably right, but, if that is the case, scrap the 4 minute rule!! If the contest is going to take longer because bands want to get set up properly to give themselves every chance of playing well, then so be it. If it over-runs, it over-runs!! I'm not saying that bands should be given as long as they like to set up, but I'm sure the 4 minute rule can be increased to say 8 or 10 minutes and the extra time can be built into the contest schedule.
I feel very strongly about this subject and feel that it's something that needs looking into. So if anyone from the 'powers that be' are reading this, please look into it and GET IT SORTED OUT.
Bagpuss
:twisted:
I'd be interested to find out what other bands think of the percussion equipment supplied at contests especially high profile ones such as area or national finals. In my experience, the percussion equipment tends not to be in brilliant shape and certainly isn't worthy of the contest it's part of.
I believe that in most contests where percussion is supplied, there is a rule that dictates that the bands must use the equipment supplied. It is this rule that I object to more than anything else. In the same way that a cornet player (or brass player in general) would not appreciate having the instrument that they're used to taken off them and given a different one to play on stage with, why should percussionists be treated any differently? In one fairly recent contest where I was playing timps and tuned, I was used to having the required notes on our 3 timps and in a certain (very logical and easy) order. Unfortunately, when it came to going on stage, there were 4 timps and the notes that I needed were not on the timps I needed them on. It therefore made changes very difficult (and impossible) in a place or two. I realise I may have been the only one to experience this problem, but in my view, once is enough. Every player should be given every available opportunity to play their part in the best way possible and not be hampered by equipment or the way it's set up.
I know that a lot of people are going to say that's it's all due to the 4 minute rule and that percussion can't be set up in that time. You're probably right, but, if that is the case, scrap the 4 minute rule!! If the contest is going to take longer because bands want to get set up properly to give themselves every chance of playing well, then so be it. If it over-runs, it over-runs!! I'm not saying that bands should be given as long as they like to set up, but I'm sure the 4 minute rule can be increased to say 8 or 10 minutes and the extra time can be built into the contest schedule.
I feel very strongly about this subject and feel that it's something that needs looking into. So if anyone from the 'powers that be' are reading this, please look into it and GET IT SORTED OUT.
Bagpuss