Eclipsehornplayer

This is surprising to me:
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...603270316/1006

It's surprising to me because the Dearborn School District is most certainly the wealthiest school district in Wayne County and among the Wealthiest in the State of Michigan for sure.

Yeah,

Go ahead and cut instrumental music. That will help out for sure. You must be kidding me, instrumental music has helped me do so much throughout my life that I can't speak highly enough of it.

So if this is happening in a wealthy school district, imagine what's going on in poor ones.... So sad!

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Eclipse MHY Bb Trumpet with interchangable leadpipes
Bach 229 25A C Trumpet
Getzen Capri Bb Cornet
GR & Monette mouthpieces

tpter1

This is so unfortunate. The effects will be in more than just the 4th and 5th grade. The students taking part in the cadet program will also be seriously impacted. That is a tremendous program that benefits both high school and elementary students in many, many ways.

There are is also an advocacy group under the auspicies of the Music Educators National Conference called Music Freinds. They would be wise to investigate it.

It's always about reducing costs. However, public education has huge administrative costs that keep getting bigger and bigger. Like "the Blob"... no matter what happens to funding, administration grows. I think this is partially due to some of the federal mandates. Distrivts "need" administrative positions to be sure they keep up with the programs dictated by the government. The other group at fault is, unfortunately, music educators themselves, for not forcing the issue of accaounability via mandatory assessment.

Notice it isn't reading, math, science, or social studies being axed. Notice that the representative of the board cited "extras" in his description of instrumental music education. This is NO coincidence. In public education, that which is assessed is deemed important. Especially given all the humbug about school report cards and academic performance. Band is NOT given ANY state or federal madated assessment. Until such time as we are, we will never be viewed by boards of education, administrators, legislators or other educators as significant.

Do I like the autonomy of no mandatory assessment? Sure do. (Notice the ironic spelling in the first 3 letters of the word). Nobody breathes down my neck. I can do my job, and do it all to MY standard, not someone else's. I can take 8 weeks just on scales if I want to. I can make my high school band play Schuman's Chester if I want. Or Hot Cross Buns, if that's all they can get done. (Those are extreme cases... I don't do Hot Cross in high school, don't worry!). It's very liberating and very good for arts and music making in general. BUT... (and it's a big but, lemme tell ya)...none of the teachers take what I do very seriously. Why? Because they all have regents exams to prepare; all of them have numbers that get published on our school website in full view of ther taxpayers who want to see those numberrs be high. My audience at concert time cares (for the most part) that they can see their kid on stage, their name is spelled right in the program, and that the band "sounds good". Usually in that order. Do they care that they understand why Bach is played differently than Nelhybel? No. Do they notice? Hope so.

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-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting

W Scott

Here in the Reno, Carson City Nevada area the band programs are still going strong. The reason is that they are an integrated part of the curriculum and they are tied into the wider world of music.

In 5th and 6th grades, band is mandatory with grades given out. After that it's optional--but still fun. There are events such as 'Band-O-Rama' which takes place the first week in March. All of the kids in the Carson City bands get together on one night for a combined concert. Imagine 400 kids, at least 6 bands, crammed onto a regulation sized basket ball court. Then, there are all the parades and band contests.

The kids also get class credit for playing in the Carson City community band and attending our band concerts. It also gives them more playing experience at a tougher level of playing.

The Reno Philharmonic has a series of programs going for the kids in the grades up to middle school. They put on a one hour concert, twice a day and do this progam something like 12 times over a three month period. The concert is to give the kids the idea that music can be fun. It's entitled, 'Monsters, Myths, and Magic'. Selections include: Night on Bald Mountain, Phantom of the Opera, Theme from Jurrasic Park, and The Fellowship of the Ring---among others. The concert is financially supported by private foundations and the city of Reno.

One lucky class also gets to experience a 'musical petting zoo'. They go backstage where the members of the orchestra introduce them too (and let them play) several instruments donated for the day by a local music store. So, the kids hear good music, get to meet the 'pros' up close and personal, and they get to try out playing several instruments.

Obviously this doesn't take place without a lot of work and dedication from lots of folks. But, band programs can be saved if there are enough folks willing to work hard enough to try.

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davidjohnson

that would be illegal here in arkansas. a school must provide both instrumental and vocal music.

dj

silverstar

Ok...that really ticks me off.

I've grown up (well, for 9 years anyway) in a school system that has a mandatory vocal music class through elementary school but not a mandatory instrumental one. For a while, the third graders were required to take a 10 week long violin class, but that was it. Once you get to middle school, depending on the middle school you go to, a kid doesn't have to take music at all. The focus is on computer skills, art, and technology education. (Which, since I was in music classes (both vocal and instrumental) I didn't exactly take those 'required' courses.)

Taking those classes away may help relieve the strain on the budget, but it's not going to help the kids at all. I mean, isn't that what school is for, to teach and help kids grow up to be well rounded people? Music is something that I believe should be part of every kid's life. It teaches dicipline, hard work, perserverence, patience, passion....it incorporates emotion, coordination, and is really rewarding. I mean, it has so many benefits. Also, to a little kid, being able to say, "I play the trumpet" or "I can play violin" or "I'm a drummer" just makes them feel special. They have people that don't play (and wish they could) looking up to them.

Ugh, why don't they cut out programs that they don't really need to be teaching? Or, they could cut back on things that really aren't pressing issues. Why music?

Argh...
Lara

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Eclipsehornplayer

Yeah,

Believe me your all preaching to the choir....

You'll never see them go what? We need to cut something, all right let's just cut out the football program! Especially in the Southeast where it appears to be a religion.

So sad indeed!

__________________
Eclipse MHY Bb Trumpet with interchangable leadpipes
Bach 229 25A C Trumpet
Getzen Capri Bb Cornet
GR & Monette mouthpieces

cmcdougall

David, I live in Arkansas and I didn't start instrumental music until 6th grade. In fact I don't know of any schools in the state that start instrumental music before 6th grade. If the school just can't afford this one or two years of instrumental education then I don't see what the big deal is as long as they are not cutting it all together. The kids that really are devoted can always go and find private instruction.

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Me and my horn.
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tpter1

Collin- The big deal is that it opens the gates for more cuts, first of all. Second, kids are more open to learining an instrument at a younger age than when they are older. There's less going on in their lives, and playing Hot Cross Buns really is special. Not all kids can afford to go out and start themselves privately. Not all kids can have instruments to start on, either. Music is something thal ALL people should have a chance to learn, not just those fortunate eniough to have the financial means or family support to do it. Some kids come to school just for music. It keeps them there. Some of the younger ones...it's the only thing they feel good at. These kids that started this year are going to lose that next year.

For me, all of that IS a big deal.

Where will it stop? If this cut takes place, where will it stop? Are they cutting extra curricular activities before classes? What of priorities?

Once a program is cut, it is almost never restored.

__________________
-Glenn
"Roses have thorns; shining waters mud. Clouds and eclipses stain the moon and the sun; and history reeks of the wrongs we have done. After today, after today, consider me gone."- Sting

davidjohnson

the districts are not required to necessarily provide instrumental and vocal music both for all students k- 12 at all times. the k - 6 programs are leagaly fulfilled by one class per week (about 45 min). i have too many students to even store that much equipment. when we don't sing, we circulate through some orff keyboards and lap harp/dulcimer/harp stations.

band starts for us in grade 6, but i don't mind if students join later...many do. once a student hits 9th grade the 'official' credits start accumulating. among them are instrumental or vocal music and art.

my schedule has gotten so complicated that i've been shifting toward recitals rather than concerts. mucho solos/duets 'cause my instrumental students can never all meet together. it's not bad. folx can still do solo contest & region/state tryouts if they wish...it's just different.

schools large enough to offer multiple sections per grade of math, eng, etc. still do well with full band periods.

dj

cornetguy

eliminate football that would mean the end of civilization as we know it.

starting students in 6th grade does have a negative effect on the program in terms of numbers, though they are at the same place as the students that started in 5th grade by the time they reach 8th grade. The only advantage to starting in 6th grade is that the teachers see them every other day.

What I want to know is what do the visual art people do right that music doesn't. I never hear of those classes being threatened or cut. I have some thoughts of we shoot ourselves in the foot by doing pep and marching bands, when most of the board and taxpayers only see the band there of course that is the impression that they are going to get is that this is not a serious academic endevor. But beyond that I dont know

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