Hate to say it, but I go with the school on this one. If it’s an orchestra, that means something in terms of a performance group. They all dress mostly one way, they perform as a unit.
The proper response is to start your own group with your own rules. Once you consent to ‘the man’ supporting your art, ‘the man’ gets to make rules.
The principle of the King’s Coin does not apply here given that the students have to buy their own instruments.
Wrong.
Its not up to the school. If it was its only up to the conductor. And in the world of classical music, the conductor IS the absolute dictator.
But no one, not even Toscanini with his legendary temper, would criticize any of their players’ personal instruments.
Exactly.
Be a part of the TEAM.
Wear the uniform, respect the rules.