Director Conflict

[fruple]

So, 3 of our kids are in a local senior corp (and they have to be part of us to be in it). It's the drum major, and two percussionists. Now, ever since our director came back from his one year hiatus, they've all been... testy with each other. There have been communication issues, and things get blown out of proportion from both sides.

They're (mostly) civil during rehearsals, but it seems that behind doors they just go at it. The kids are being accused of not wanting to be associated with us, not telling the director about conflicts with ample time, etc. The kids say he yells at them, calls them out in public, and throws advance warning schedules back at them. However, I know they are upset with having him back, so it's hard to know the validity of the statement. I haven't talked to the director about his side, because that just seems rude to me.

Basically what I'm getting to is that if things go bad when they talk again before band camp, at least two of them are going to quit (I don't know about the drum major). To me, this seems ridiculous, even if you do have a conflict with the leader (as was the case many times last year). I just want to know if I'm being jaded by the fact I personally think the director is awesome, or if you think the quitting is a bit overboard. Also how would you handle this situation (as someone on leadership team and as that person)?

Sorry about the length, and thanks in advance for any help.

[290Piika]

This sort of thing has been happening at my school since we got a new director my freshman year. Many people have problems with all three directors.

Multiple people hate the program now, and most of them have quit (the rest are forced to stay). They were merely contributing to the goofing-off and were not being productive. One person wrote insulting grafitti on the band room wall. Someone keyed our Percussion director's car. Parents allowed students to talk back to the Perc. director too.

Is the quitting overbored? No. They're too immature to get over themselves and the fact that they have a director they don't like. If they wanna quit so badly, just let them quit. There's no point having someone if band if they don't want to be there in the first place, no matter how great of a player they are. They don't contribute positive and constructive behavior a band needs.

[Lee]

The switching of directors can be tough, and it often takes a full 3 year cycle for them to have the band on their side. The upper classmen (and sometimes sophomores) complain that the director isn't as good as the last, and the freshem choose sides.

[the_sousabone]

MBI members are a group of classy people. Some directors can feel threatened by members who have marched in a higher organization than the one they're directing. Maybe your director has some of that going on.

[bombermwc]

That's one side, but I also have experienced students that come back from a year of drum corp and think they know better than anyone on the planet..."well we did this in drum corp". It gets really old and as the director, you don't have to put up with it. They either respect you as the director, or they go. As the student, it's your job to shut up and do as your told...not argue with the director.

If the director is a jerk and you don't like him/her, you have 2 choices. Cram the attitude down and stay in because music is that important to you....or quit. Another school in our district is known for having a very difficult director....big attitude problem. Ever year his band shrinks more and more and has been sliding down for several years. On one of his better years, his best mello player (an all-stater) was tired of his attitude. He had been dogging her all season and she snapped. You've never heard so many cuss words fly and a mello be thrown so far. I can say that everyone else in the band was giving her props for having the balls to do what they only talked about.

[the_sousabone]

^ that too. Welcome to TFBC. If that's your second post that's definitely a well thought out one.

It's a good point. If the members are giving your director some attitude he has somewhat of a right to be testy. Band isn't corps and corps isn't band.