Bands front and center
Local competitions highlighting talentBy Justin McIntosh, jmcintosh@mariettatimes.com
Article Photos
Fact Box
Band-O-Rama
When: 11 a.m. Saturday.
Where: Don Drumm Stadium, Marietta.
Who: 13 bands will be performing.
Fort Frye
band pageant
When: 5 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Fort Frye High School, Beverly.
Who: 14 bands will be performing.
Article Poll
Is enough support given locally to school music and arts programs?Joining a high school marching band program is about so much more than just playing an instrument - it's also about leadership, finding a niche and camaraderie.
That's the message Marietta High School marching band director Ernie Cornell has been using to steadily build the program up from about 58 students a few years ago to 81 this year.
In a few years, Cornell said, that number could reach even higher.
"Next year, if we're able to recruit as well as we have and retain our members, we're projecting we'll run over 100 members," he said. "We honestly believe between 120 and 130 is attainable (within a few years)."
It might be a stretch, however, to expect the program to reach the all-time high of 160 members, Cornell said, especially in this social and economic climate.
All the hard work of building up the program will be on display this weekend at the 48th annual Band-O-Rama, the state's longest running high school band competition. Featuring 13 schools, including Marietta, the event begins at 11 a.m. Saturday.
But the times, to paraphrase one notable musician, they are a-changin'. Schools struggle to maintain and grow band programs, as funds and student interest are stretched ever thinner.
Frontier High School hasn't had a marching band in years, and more recently, Belpre High School did away with its marching band program for lack of student interest. Superintendent Harry Fleming said the program had about five students interested at the time.
"Right now, we're building back some good numbers on our orchestra, and we hope to reinstate the band in a few years when we build up a base of kids," he said. "I don't know if (the lack of interest) was a time commitment (issue) or what."
Warren Local Schools Superintendent Tom Gibbs said he's recently fielded calls from other nearby districts inquiring about whether his district was looking to cut its program. They're not, for the record.
In fact, Gibbs said, the Warren program is slowly growing, up to 107 students this year from 102 last year, thanks in part to other districts, like Belpre, closing theirs.
"They don't want other school districts to (close their band programs)," he said. "You always run the risk that when you run out a program that the kids involved in your program will look at other districts to fill that need. When Belpre reduced their program, we gained a number of students through open enrollment."
Fort Frye's marching band program was almost no more three years ago. Now, they're preparing for Saturday's band pageant, which will feature 14 bands performing at Fort Frye High School.
"We started out the year with four kids signed up, and we ended up with 16 that year, and 19 the following year," said Dennis Ullman, Fort Frye marching band director. "This year we have 30."
The program is funded solely through its boosters program, and is no longer part of a class at the high school. Instead it's an extra-curricular activity.
And in order to grow the program, Ullman's had to adopt a greater sense of flexibility with the band's members, in addition to recruiting junior high-age students with hands-on presentations at the end of each year that allow students to pick up a color guard flag or a drum to try out.
"I have junior high students that play football, high school students that run cross country, and we just work out scheduling so some go to football practice half the time and to band practice the other half," he said. "We have to remain pretty flexible so that kids have the opportunity (to perform in marching band)."
While the band program at Waterford might not be growing, it's not exactly folding either, said John Laswell, director of bands for Wolf Creek schools.
Last year, the high school marching band program had about 26 students. This year, they have 23, and despite the small numbers, they've made state competition the last 14 years in a row.
"The prospective future looks good as far as the numbers growing," Laswell said. "I've got a lot of interest in the fifth and sixth grade so far."
In a school with about 700 total students, Laswell said it's a struggle to get students interested, since so many are involved in other fall and winter sports, like golf, football or volleyball.
"The main point I'm trying to get across is you can do basketball, you can cheerlead, because we have people involved in other things as well," he said.
Like in Marietta's program, Laswell cited drumming up interest in middle school-aged students and the incredible support from band boosters and the community with keeping his program going strong.
"In a school like Waterford, I think the band is extremely important," he said. "Football and sports have their place as well, but as far as school spirit goes, marching band is very important. It's the most visual representation of the school, as far as the Waterford parade and other events in the community."
|
citizencane
|
|
|---|---|
|
10-09-09 8:45 PM
|
Many kids who forego band do so because of time contraints, rather than lack of funds. There are many donated instruments and gently used uniforms available, and help for those that cannot afford band camp. The real issue is that many kids have to choose between sports/other activities and band, especially during marching season. Although coaches and band directors claim to be sensitive to the problem, the students are under a lot of stress from both sides to be present at practices,etc. Therefore, many give up band. If students could choose a band that fits around their sport, ie: marching band OR concert band, instead of all-or-nothing, you would see more students in band. It takes a lot of dedication during marching season to rehearse until 9:30 pm twice a week, get home from football games in the wee hours, compete all day Saturday, and still keep up with classes and other extra curriculars.
|
|
armybrat
|
|
|
10-09-09 6:22 PM
|
(Many) years ago, when the bands marched down Putnam Street on Band O Rama day, was when Marietta was the only town in Ohio hosting an event like this. Now many towns in Ohio and other states have started their own competitions that the performing bands have a choice of where to go. Those were Marietta's bands glory days when they marched down Putnam Street to the stadium.
|
|
Asknoseknows
|
|
|
10-09-09 6:08 PM
|
TO PWCO032096: Education and Bands should be intertwined, to short change music and arts is to short change education. I probably did get off track a little, Stunned that President Obama got a peace prize. It hasn't been so long ago his speeched about education was televised. Whether we like it or not education and politics are intertwined. I felt it was not in the best interest of the schools not to televise the speech although it was too complex for ninth grade on down. I am stunned they didn't wait until after his presidencial term was up. As for those who felt he was furthering himself politically, for those of you who don't know I doubt he needed Wash. Co. School Systems stage to further himself anymore than he already is. That is absurb in itself. Obama is on a world stage already. Just my stunned knee jerk reaction to CNN News. News does that to me sometimes. Good article and informative about the local bands. I'm sure more students would participate if funding were avavilable.
|
|
scout82
|
|
|
10-09-09 5:06 PM
|
*used (not sued)
|
|
scout82
|
|
|
10-09-09 5:06 PM
|
I find it strange there are more bands performing at Fort Frye than at Band o Rama.... that is so different than it sued to be...
|
|
CharlesUgeneFarley
|
|
|
10-09-09 4:20 PM
|
No one remembers the cause of last gas shortage, and and the last presidential nobel peace prize. Jimmey Carter. A great man, but the worst president we have ever had. Until Now.
|
|
PWC032096
|
|
|
10-09-09 2:04 PM
|
Asknoseknows - Not quite sure what the Nobel prize has to do with school bands. What's your point?
|
|
Asknoseknows
|
|
|
10-09-09 1:55 PM
|
The president whos speech on education was blocked by many a couple of weeks ago that is President Obama has just won a Nobel Peace Prize. But a majority here felt he was unfit to have his speech televised to their childrens class rooms. Marietta gets so much backwards it seems. Good luck bands!
|
|
Asknoseknows
|
|
|
10-09-09 1:34 PM
|
Warrens band is impressive as well as the group who plays the bells."We all got up to dance, but we never got the chance. The marching band refused to yeild. Do you recall what was the deal the day the music died." American Pie., by Don McClain, boy wouldn't that sound bad as a marching tune. Shame some schools just can't afford a band anymore, an invisible loss in proportions greater than they know.
|
|
DeputyDawg
|
|
|
10-09-09 1:28 PM
|
It's too bad Band-O-Rama is slowing dieing. I remember when they used to have the big parade downtown,and there used to be somewhere around 30 bands. I would like to see it become that big again
|
|
armybrat
|
|
|
10-09-09 12:27 PM
|
I hope the Band A Rama goes well this weekend. I know alot of the band members are out with mono right now and a few flu cases. The band will definitely need the help and support of all band parents this weekend.
|
|
PWC032096
|
|
|
10-09-09 11:03 AM
|
I can honestly say...if it weren't for band I would have dropped out of high school. The arts give the kids a creative and expressive outlet that is very necessary in today's culture. It gives them a sense of accomplishment, purpose, and comradery. Most people attend math, science, history, et al because they are forced to by law. They participate in band and the like more often because they want to. To paraphrase "Mr. Hollands Opus"....."if you eliminate the arts the children will grow up having nothing to read or write about". So true.
|