Orchestras and community wind bands in Brazil: Encounters of contrasting music practices and their pedagogical dilemmas

Abstract

Abstract The work discusses pedagogical dilemmas related to band courses offered to community bands by schools of music, governmental agencies, music festivals, foundations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Brazil. Even though these courses are for bands, most of their educators belong to the classical conservatory practice and teach its manner of playing to the bands’ instrumentalists. This article relates a multiple case study of three community bands of the Para State. The study focuses on the manner of clarinet playing in these bands. It considers the instruments and accessories, the didactic approaches, the instrument technique and the performance characteristics. It points out that the clarinetists’ manner of playing is common among community bands and yet very different from the approaches employed in the classical conservatory practice. The sonic characteristics of this manner of playing have cultural values and meanings that are part of the bands’ identities. Thus, the study opens up a discussion on what pedagogical postures coordinators and teachers may have in band courses when these two contrasting music practices meet.