The murder of music (and so goes guard)

I know my title is pretty extreme, but depriving kids of music is downright criminal. I've copied this post from my other blog, Joy in the Litterbox.

Someone actually left a comment, "Well, what else are we supposed to cut instead? English, Math, Science, Social Studies?" My answer? Football. :)

We all know there's a lot of waste in big organizations - each district needs to examine the budget.

Anyway the post:

Recently I lost my job as a color guard instructor. Not because I rotted at my job, but because school administrators didn't think music programs were important. I'd been at that school for eight years and feel like I'm grieving a death.

Below is a letter written to administration by a middle school parent. Permission to print and circulate this letter has been granted by the parent.

What A Loss 5/11/09

Today was the day I attended the last concert for my son’s middle school band at the Sheridan High School. The district decided to cut music from the school’s program from both the Middle School and the High School. All I could think of the whole time as we sat and listened, and then as we drove home afterward was, “What a Loss”. What a loss for those 20+ kids who practiced diligently and went faithfully to class each day to learn to read music and to play on an instrument. What a loss for the instructor who is so dedicated to instilling music into those kids, and what a loss for the parents, friends and family of all those kids sitting in the audience who will no longer have the enjoyment, pride and happiness that comes with seeing a child learn music.

Music is such a vital part of our everyday lives and has so many affects on a person’s all around being. A simple song can spark a memory and take you back to years and years in your past and bring forth a feeling inside a person of a time in their life that brought joy, sorrow, love or even laughter into their life. To take this gift away from not only the students of Sheridan, but the families of the students, the teachers, the staff and the community as a whole, to me, is such a great loss.

My oldest son graduated from Sheridan High School and was a dedicated musician to the Sheridan music programs and when I think back to all of the memories of those years, I cannot even tell you the disappointment that I feel. When I think of how many kids (my second son included.) will no longer have the opportunity to learn music or to have the memories of school with music all around them, all I can say is “What a loss.”

What will there be now to replace the music? HOW can you replace the music? Who will lead the Sheridan Day’s Parade? The Homecoming Parade? Who will play at the bon fires and basketball games? Who will play at the Pep Rallies and school assemblies? Who will play concerts for their parents and Christmas carols? Who will play for the school musicals? Who will play for the football, baseball, soccer, volleyball teams or wrestlers when they bring home the state championships? Who will play at the graduation ceremonies when our Sheridan students receive their diplomas?

Will you simply play a radio or a CD? Is that what this has come down to? Replacements? Can’t you see that you not you are not only replacing the music but you are replacing feelings, memories and most importantly, you are replacing PEOPLE.

When I think of the years and years of band competitions for marching band, jazz band and winter percussion that made so many students, parents, teachers and the whole Sheridan community so proud of what these kids from a small little community could accomplish, all I can think is – What a loss.

I pray there is some way to bring back the music programs of Sheridan. I want to hear the children’s music. If all we have, is to spend all of these events in years to come listening to a radio, CD’s or even worse, SILENCE, again I say, “What a Loss”.

Yvette Medina (Sheridan Middle School Parent)

Last week I was hired to teach color guard at Columbine High School. I'm excited about the opportunity, but my heart goes out to all the kids who'll never put their lips to a horn, sticks to a drum or hands on a flag.

Color. Guard.

Okay, now what are some of the weird names it's been called in the past? Band Front. Drill Team. Prancers. Flaggers. Twirlers. Auxiliary (like we're an afterthought)...

I prefer Color Guard.

Guard is coded in my DNA. My mother was a majorette and swing flag in a junior drum corps. Hate to admit it, but the first thing I learned to spin (I chafe at the word twirl) was a baton. From there, I experimented with stolen handkerchiefs tied to broken boom sticks or my baton.

Nearly all the kids in my neighborhood marched. I remember watching the neighbor lady hanging gargantuan rectangles of colorful wet fabric on the clothes line. The teen across the street marched from house to house in full uniform selling wrapping paper or crates of fruit "for the band".

My most pivotal memory is watching the Lake-Lehman High School Black Knights marching band perform under the lights at Meyers Stadium in Wilkes-Barre, PA. Aqua silk shimmied and shined under the lights as the guard brought Copland's Appalachian Spring to life. Crazy geometric patterns grew, shrunk and shifted with the music as horns flashed the audience.

Tiny spider legs skittered up my spine. I wouldn't be surprised if I drooled all over myself.

"I must do that." I whispered over and over as white-bucked feet drove like pistons on the turf in perfect time.

When the band marched off the field, I cried. Who wants to watch a stinkin' football game when there's something more magical?

Thirty years later, the sport holds that same magic. Eight years of instructing and five years of judging the Rocky Mountain Color Guard circuit perpetuate the dreams of my six-year-old self.

Seeing the successes of former guard members from my own guard or the circuit fuels my passion for the sport. Watching programs crash to the ground under the machete-like whack from struggling school districts breaks my heart.

I've created Silk, Wood and Steel to raise awareness of this amazing sport and build community across the world.

Sure, you're out to annihilate each other on the floor or field, but out of the competitive venue we need to show our communities the power of this sport of the arts.