If an unused band instrument is gathering dust under your bed or taking up storage space in your closet, Commerce Middle School can help you out.
Beginning band students play a few notes in one of Jack Balthazor’s classes, but a shortage of instruments led Balthazor to issue an appeal for donations of band instruments.
Middle school band program seeks donation of instruments
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#1
Anonymous
on
08/27/08, 04:29 PM
(Reply)
Let me guess - the football team is not having any problems getting the supplies they need. Seems like the schools ought to invest in the kids with a future, not the kids who's peak in life will come with playing Class A high school football.
#2
Insignificant
on
08/28/08, 03:47 PM
(Reply)
This is a big reason that our schools have a problem with AYP and test scores - believe it or not, music and the arts only enhances performance in other subjects like math and reading. We should be investing more money in the arts in school, not pouring all of the school's funds into sports. Kids who want to play an instrument in band should be able to do so whether they have the money for the instruments or not.
#3
Football/band mom
on
08/28/08, 08:05 PM
(Reply)
My son plays football and was a member of the band. Both required him to buy his own things. Just because it was football did not mean everything was given. The football just seems to have more parent involvement to get out and help to raise money. Maybe the band parents should try that.
#3.1
Anonymous
on
08/28/08, 10:19 PM
(Reply)
The band parents work at the concession stands as one method of raising money, but they are not always given a fair shot. Just do a little investigation into why they sell Coke instead of Pepsi and you will realize part of the problem at hand. A few years ago, the band parents made the switch to selling Pepsi. The reason was that they discovered Coke was selling the product at a higher cost to the band parents and redirecting the extra profit to subsidize the athletic director under the table. The band parents were doing the work but the athletic program was reaping the benefit. You should have heard the uproar from the athletic boosters after the switch was made to Pepsi. Pepsi even put in a new scoreboard at the stadium and they were still furious. Why would they care what product the band parents sold if they didn't have their hands in the pot? This year Commerce has a new band director who is coming into this completely naive, subsequently the band parents have been "persuaded" into selling Coke again. The band has parent involvement into raising money. They are just doing it under the false pretense that what they are raising is going to support the band.
#3.2
Anonymous
on
08/28/08, 10:33 PM
(Reply)
When you say your son was a member of the band, I'm assuming that he is no longer part of the band. But which of the two did he have an easier time getting what he needed? It looks like you are touting the superiority of the football parents, but I strongly suspect he met far less resistence getting his things with the football team. By the way, did your son make the switch because he's that good at football or because he just couldn't fit in unless he played? It's this type of attitude that hurts the chances of a decent band program ever gaining momentum, and it stinks that people don't really have a problem with it.
#3.3
Just a thought
on
08/29/08, 07:02 AM
(Reply)
Hypothetically speaking, if you couldn't afford your son's football equipment, do you think they would go ahead and provide it for him, or do you think the coach would have to solicit donations from the community?
#4
Football/band mom
on
08/29/08, 06:16 PM
(Reply)
He actually joined football to get in better shape for baseball. He enjoys both football and band. I don't recall one being any eaiser than the other getting what they needed. Everything is expensive these days. But, I like him being involved in things. I think if someone could not afford their things, the coach would find a way, just as the band director is asking for donations. I don't see anything wrong with it. Its looking after the kids best interest.
#5
Anonymous
on
08/30/08, 10:13 AM
(Reply)
I agree with the second post that this could be a great way for the schools to address issues with AYP and test scores. I hope the community responds to Mr. Balthazor's request, but I also hope the school allocates more funding in this area. Most of the above posts seem to view band as an extracurricular activity. While this is true to a certain degree, I feel that the arts, including band, is a part of a balanced education. This means the schools would not be adding additional funding to an extracurricular activity but to a valuable academic classroom resource. As a side note, I think it is great that so many middle school students are interested in learning an instrument this year. Four times as many students as last year is pretty impressive.
