Klarinet Archive - Posting 000256.txt from 2003/11

From: "Don Hatfield" <dhatfield@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] School instruments
Date: Tue, 18 Nov 2003 14:13:56 -0500

I think the previous remark about budgetary concerns in the US is very true
in a large number of areas, maybe the majority. It all goes back to "cut the
arts in schools if we need to save money/athletics first" and a few other
illogical reasons we've been hearing in this country for too long. A really
good school music dealer will work with schools and school systems to
provide competent maintenance if the money is there, and sometimes if it
isn't.

I don't think it's completely fair to say the schools do not want perfect
instruments...but the variable factors of where the administration stands is
a big key. Here, in WV, the trend for twenty years has been that there are
far too many former athletic coaches who end up as principals and
administrators, (I'm not picking, but having been a teacher and worked the
school music side, I know first hand) and here sports versus arts is a lost
cause, unless parents unite and fight back. For instance, in the county I
reside in, all middle and high schools are given $500.00 per year from the
county school board to cover repair costs...that's it. All additional funds
are raised by boosters and the students. This same administration just
appropriated 5 Million $$$ to repair bleachers at 3 local high school
facilities, after telling the parents two years ago the schools would have
to raise funds.

Until 1990 when this policy was established, it was not unusual for me to
pick up thirty to forty school instruments from each school in this county
(26 schools total!!!) in May for summer repairs and refurbishing, and the
bills would run as high as two thousand dollars per school. Now we have BD's
who visit the local state surplus depot to try and grab up US service band
instruments as the groups replace them (I have a good friend who, for
$100.00 in one visit, got a King brass Sousaphone, two Haynes flutes, a
Buffet R13 clarinet...and a gorgeous Ludwig concert bass drum...and after
two hundred dollars in repairs had fantastic instruments for his kids) they
can use, and they're continually running ragged keeping school instruments
going on a frayed shoestring.

My two cents...

> The thing is, schools don't want perfect instruments. Most of the students
> aren't playing good enough to appreciate a quality instrument (where I
went
> to school, most did not have any private lessons or anything similar, just
a
> group lesson from a woodwind teacher once a week and band practice once a
> week) and spending a lot on getting an instrument fixed by a reputable
> place, would be a waste of time and money.
>
> Jodi

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