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Because learning music is learning-in-doing it is much more high level learning then most of the core subjects. While a student is playing, they're performing all the mechanical stuff (breathing, fingerings, etc), WHILE they're evaluating their playing and how they fit in with the ensemble, and you have to think about what you're doing musically. And it's instantaneous. If you miss it...you miss it. The only learning that students do that comes CLOSE to this level is sports, where you have to work as a team, and do physical feats at the same time. If we want to deprive the future students from this kind of multi-layers high intensity learning...it would be a huge mistake.
What one learns from music/band is more widely spread than any other subject. In management there's a term called "circle of influence", which means the amount of people who are willing to follow you, including those who you don't directly manage. The lessons learned in music have a large circle of influence. They affect your psychomotor skills (like basic physical education does), your cognitive (like math and science do), and your affective (like language arts, and drama does). If you can find me another subject that can fill the buckets as well and music and band do....then fund the crap out of that. If not, maybe you need to look at the people that come out of your band programs, and think about the impact they have on your school and school division.
I'll leave you with one more thought....in today age, knowledge is less important than how to find the knowledge. I don't need to know how to calculate the surface area of a circle...I can google that. If I needed to know the steps in photosynthesis (or how to spell it, which I needed), google has me covered. However, I can't google how to balance the final chord of a chorale. I can't google the feeling that a great performance leaves with me. If I google how to play high on trumpet, I get a thousand opinions; none of which are customized to me like working with a band teacher would be. I think music education today is more important than ever.
Chris
B.Mus
I can't speak for everyone, but for me band has changed my life in the best way. It is a great privilege to be part of a musical ensemble.
I believe their is nothing more powerful and more rewarding than sharing music with a handful of people you will learn to make a family out of. You have so much opportunity to learn and grow as a person and I believe that taking away a band program would be the equivalent to taking away the spirit of a school. Band students perform for rememberance day, convocation, and other major events, and to kill the spirit in the seriousness and the livelyhood of what band gives these events, it is rediculous to even think about doing something of the like.
If it were not for band I would have dropped out of school - seriously. I didn't go into music as a profession, but Band helped me find my place in school that I would not have found otherwise. I can honestly say that having band helped me to stay in school and, subsequently, find a good career.
I see the value in both the arts and physical education. I think that it is absolutely ridiculous that people have to even argue about what needs to be cut. The lack of funding is the real issue. Once again, the government has shown how much they value (or don't value) education in this province.
The conversation around band content being irrelevant and replacing it with 'school of rock' content is concerning. There has been no thought into the logistics. Average public school class size is around 30 students, whereas a traditional rock group is 4-6 people. The cost of the sound systems and amps is easily as much as band instruments so how would this plan result in cost savings? I think less students would participate in a pop-rock program as its really hard to get teenage boys to sing as they go through voice changes - yet this is advertised as appealing to more students. The technical challenge of teaching guitar in a group format is much harder as precise finger position is more important to beginner success than on say a trumpet or a saxophone. I do not understand how the idea of pop-rock music is functional in a large classroom environment, or how it would provide any cost savings.
Both of my kids are more creative than sports minded. There should be compromise here. Perhaps leave in elementary schools so kids can see if they have an affinity to being a musician and then parents could focus then through lessons outside schools.
Why not cut sports programs? Kids wanting sports, athletics can go to YMCA or YWCA or extracurricular or community teams. Same difference to me. My kids hated gym class in school, and they are fit. It is a humiliating, bullying class for those not sports minded or talented.
Maybe there could be a split, where student could choose music or gym with parents involvement in selection. Cut a bit in both areas to keep schools well rounded environment.
Just cutting music and arts programs in schools is a travesty. It is a sign of the declining morality of our society when money dictates choices rather than considering how to serve future of humanity.
I believe band is important but if the student really wants to do it they can get lessons at "Long and Maquade" in Saskatoon. Band in the school didnt work for me since they play music nobody cares about with stuff like the flute, instead of music students enjoy such as rock music on the guitar, bass and drums.
as a retired teacher/administrator I can attest to the immense value of a band program. It gives children with a musical talent a place to shine and develop a potential not addressed anywhere else. Also, the band is a way for the school to become positively observed by the public it serves and there are not many opportunities for this.
There is a bigger issue that people either don't realize or don't know with schooling within PVSD. If you attend one of the smaller schools - basically everything but Balgonie and Lumsden (at least it appears that way) you don't even get to take some of the basic high school courses without having to travel up to 50kms for a magnet class. An afternoon (sometimes having to leave third period class early, to ensure they make the bus that leaves at the start of the students lunch hour) spent on a bus driving down crappy highways stopping at towns to pick up/drop off students to take an hour class and turn around to make it back to the school to then catch the bus at the end of the day to go home. Try doing this for Biology, Chemistry, Welding, Account, Psychology. Band/Music is important that yes many students may only get the chance to learn through school, however classes that they need to graduate high school, get accepted to post secondary or work force is in my opinion more important than band. Sports are also no different, not all schools can offer sports or only a couple selected sports and you travel and travel and more travel.
I'm a professional musician, and I never would have had the opportunity to develop my love for the arts had it not been for my school's band program. It's a shame to hear about a closing program anywhere, but the bigger crime here is that some kid might not discover their passion for music.
Band and choir changed my son's life. He found his passion and became part of the school community. He strived for good grades in all his classes so he could go on band trips. His confidence and belief in himself soared. He received all the benefits that kids in school sports get plus more!
Students can also find sports programs outside of schools, but the schools still fund that.
I have playing music for years , tv shows shared billing with recording artist of international recognition
and never once bellied up to the government funded programs , not one cent .
My music has always sounded sweeter to me because i payed my own way .
Play it smart , stay away from gov programs . pay your own way for your fun and it will mean so much more to you .