Klarinet Archive - Posting 000632.txt from 1999/07

From: PSHIROM@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] School Music Programs
Date: Tue, 20 Jul 1999 00:39:11 -0400

I guess you haven't heard about Plano's music program. Here, music is very
important. I'm a junior in high school and band is my life. Here, marching
band is very important in the fall. We attend all sorts of competitions. We
meet after school every day for 2 hours to practice and we work on our
marching music during class, along with other music for things like our
annual Spaghetti supper and a winter concert. There lots of people in band
and a lot of people not in band who wish they were. We get lots of support
at football games.

This year's band trip is to Disney World and we were invited to play at
Carnegie Hall this year.

So, all hope is not lost. There are still a few band programs going strong!

MB

I too am concerned about the state of school music programs. I'm not
a music educator and my children are too small for this yet (but some
day I hope they're interested).

1. It seems that (at least in this area) less kids are starting (or staying
with) music? (Maybe a foundless opinion.)

2. In our area the fall "band" program is marching band. Didn't this used
to be an after school extra curricular thing? The kids miss half a school
year of "concert band". That doesn't leave much time for chamber music
or other types of instrumental learning.

3. It would be nice if they went to Disney World and such places to play
concert, chamber, and jazz music. (maybe they do this, I don't know.)

4. Think of how many fine and exotic instruments uniform money could
purchase.

In many ways I feel sorry for music educator's whose hands are tied
by administrators who want entertainment provided at football,
basketball, (soccer, swimming, track, lacrosse) events.

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