Klarinet Archive - Posting 000641.txt from 1998/04

From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subj: Re: budget cutbacks
Date: Tue, 14 Apr 1998 05:07:06 -0400

Roger -

You said it all !!!!! Bands need to get back into MUSIC EDUCATION and out
of show business.

I wish I had been able to spend my marching time in high school and college
in clarinet practicing and concert band rehersals rather than freezing my
buns and fingers in show business.

Gene Nibbelin

----------
> From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
> To: klarinet@-----.us
> Subject: Re: budget cutbacks
> Date: Monday, April 13, 1998 5:40 PM
>
>
> On Tue, 14 Apr 1998, Jill R. Exner wrote:
> > It's sad, isn't it? The same thing is happening here. Every year, we
> > band boosters have to struggle to raise more and more money because of
> > school board budget cuts. Last year, they decided they couldn't pay
for
> > the trailer we use to transport our equipment to football games--so we
> > have to foot the $300.00 per trip bill. Of course, the football
> > team--and equipment is transported ( after the weekly dinner for the
> > team, of course). I'm getting scared about it. Now, on top of that,
> > we're beginning block scheduling next year, which I am not sure will
help
> > things.
>
> Jill brings up some good points. However, at the risk of the large
volume
> of hate mail I might receive, I would like to contribute a few ideas:
>
> 1. The music/band teacher who puts their music program on the field
> or in a parade or fund raises for a trip to do the same without
> establishing a first rate, concert band, runs the risk of having their
> program cut beneath them. It is simple matemetics folks.......when money
> is scarce and the band does not seem to be any different than any other
> athletic team, the school board will cut the "team" that has the lowest
> value to the school (determined by ticket sales).
>
> 2. Many band programs and their teachers spend an inordinate amount
> of time fund raising for things like auxillary equipment (rifles, flags,
> gloves, spats, hats, trailers to haul marching equipment, marching
> percussion, etc.) and for trips to show off that equipment. In fact,
> locally, we have a band that travels every other year to attend parades
> for the Rose Bowl, Blue Bonnett Bowl, Orange Bowl, Gator Bowl etc. These
> bands do not perform anything other than parade music at the parade
> associated with the bowl game, pep band music at the game itself, and the
> same music at the tourist attraction of choice (Disneyworld or
Disneyland,
> Knotts Berry Farm, Six Flags, etc.). There is little justification
> musically for this kind of fund raising and traveling.
>
> Jill' comment about not transporting the band is a great opportunity for
> the band to bow out of football performances. And, in order to not
> discriminate, basketball games will be a problem as well! The band would
> do better to educate the students musically - in all areas - beyond the
> facet for which the district has publicly denied funds. It is sad that
> the music programs must constantly prove their worth, but school board
> personnel does change, and money can be an issue. The truely healthy
> band/music program that stands on its own without the publicity
associated
> with the athletic programs is in a much better position to avoid
cutbacks.
>
> Roger Garrett
> IWU