View

In the past month, there have been a series of school district hearings where the school board and superintendent talk about the proposed budget cuts (totaled to $24 million), then people can give their opinion to the audience and school board. A proposed cut is 5th grade orchestra and band in the district completely, which essentially is 6 music educators who also teach at middle and high schools. Music would essentially start in 6th grade. Starting up band and orchestra in 6th grade would not allow for the more focused attention that a student needs in order to learn how to play an instrument, that 5th grade band offers. Plus, cutting back the music program now would open it up for even more cuts later on, making it all go downhill. We want this proposed cut off of the list in order to allow for students to have the privilege of participating in a high achieving music program.
Several Mountain View Band Students attended these meetings, and talked about how 5th grade music programs are necessary to maintain the strong and high achieving upper level programs. We displayed a tri-fold board covered in photos of band events and the signature of every single student in our band program. These meetings were effective in getting our opinions heard, and letting the school board know how important the music program is to thousands of students in the district.
Students from other schools spoke up about the music program at the hearings as well. Frontier Middle School’s orchestra brought a banner signed by parents and students that spanned the length of the stage.
A few months ago, hundreds of music students in the school district wrote letters to our school board about their personal experiences with music and why the program should not lose the proposed 6.3 teachers. A Mountain View senior wrote, “I joined band in 5th grade on a whim. I continued through middle and high school and fully intend to participate in some form of music as I continue to grow. What started out as a mere happenstance has turned out to dominate my life. And I cannot help but see it as necessary as any core curriculum.” We hope that the letters from students of all ages will help persuade our superintendent and school board to remove the music program off of the budget cut list.

On April 5, 2011, over 35 Mountain View Band students participated in an instrumental flash mob at Big Al’s Bowling and Arcade. The group, student coordinated, played a transcribed arrangement of Katy Perry’s “Firework”. The event was successful in raising awareness on the importance of music education in the community, and it also was a lot of fun.

Ever since fifth grade, I have had the privilege to participate in band. More than just class or an elective, band is an experience that has long lasting effect on students. Beneficial life skills such as leadership, team work, cooperation, and goal setting are learned in a motivating and supporting setting. Those skills can be applied to other future endeavors.
When beginning elementary students play scales correctly, they get an A. And then a new sheet of harder music. There is always something that can be improved. Music is an art, and art is constantly striving for perfection. Better yet, band shows the merits of hard work and practice on the final product. A concert isn’t a multiple choice exam that you can half-study for and then logic out the right answer. You either get it right or you don’t, and your study habits deeply affect your grade. What you give is what you get, the more you give the more you get. Band truly is a team effort: one wrong answer on an assignment won’t affect other classmates, but one missed note affects the entire ensemble.
Studies have proven that music benefits a student's learning capacity as well, and music is an essential part of development. I see this first hand in my band program- band students make up the top 15% of our school. Many students who graduate at the top of their class have participated in band. Our band directors encourage students to excel in academics, sports, clubs, whatever their niche is. It is understood that not everyone will have a career as a professional musician in a symphony or philharmonic orchestra, but students can indulge themselves in the music program and use it as a springboard to get to whatever career they aspire.
Mountain View’s band program is a community as well. I love having a family of 250 people. There is always someone to talk to, confide in, get advice from, and hang around. I remember everyone being helpful and friendly on my first day of high school, and that impression has lasted ever since. Students have lived on the legacy and reputation of being caring and genuine role models.
Music is a lifestyle, a connection to other people, a door to new opportunities. Not everyone will become a music major, but everyone can use their music education experience as a springboard to whatever path they choose to take.

With our own band program potentially being affected by budget cuts, we want to do everything we can to let the community know how important music is to us. We want future music students to be able to have the same beneficial opportunity that we have had.

Yes, we fully intend to keep advocating music education in our community, and we’ll submit another project next year. This cause matters to each and every one of the students involved in Mountain View Band. With the future funding for the program unknown, we’ll do everything we can to keep it alive!