*I know blogs can get tedious and people lose focus reading them after a few paragraphs....I'm guilty myself...but PLEASE keep reading....***
Tonight, on my way home from work, I was struck by a reason why our local school department should NOT cut the middle school program. I mean, I had reasons, but none that I thought wouldn't be vocalized by a million other parents...after all, there is even a facebook page. But tonight, on my way home, I realized what impact middle school band had on my life...and I wanted to make sure that opportunity was available to other kids. So, I got home, started writing my speech, realized I had to leave. Wrote more of the speech at each red light (I really hope I get that many green lights on my way to work tomorrow!) And go to town hall....where there was hardly any parking.
I trek up the hill on the newly repaired, unsecured, ankle and enter the building only to find I was not the only one with this idea....there were easily over 100 people there. I took a seat in the overflow room and did what I do best....I observed the people around me. Nods, glances, clenched jaws....all told where each person stood on the current topic. And then, the topic of the music program came up. I listened to some testimonials. I heard statistics. But, I didn't see any adult talk about how music affected who THEY became....so, I got up to go to the second floor to stand in line....and what a line! It rivaled lines I've seen at public hearings in Augusta (Maine capitol for my non-Maine friends.) I waited and waited....then one young man, I didn't catch his name, spoke about how music has affected him...given him a safe place. He walked out of the room, struggling to hold back his tears and I knew that I didn't need to speak. So, I left and made my way home...where I sit now. But I still want to share what I had planned on saying.
What I didn't say:
Good Evening, let me begin by saying 19 months ago, I sat on your side of the table in a small town of 11,000 people. We had no commercial tax base to speak of and a 41 mil rate. I know the job you have before you is very difficult.
Now, I want to tell you about a little girl that I once knew. She came from an unusual dysfunctional home with a suicidal mother and a father that lacked certain mothering abilities. So, she took over in places where her mother couldn't provide: housecleaning, child care provider and disciplinarian for her two younger brothers, chief cook and bottle washer. At the beginning of 6th grade, her local high school band came and played at her elementary school. She was enamored by the flutes. They were shiny, melodical and she knew she had to have one. Her parents told her that they could never afford a musical instrument. Not to be deterred, she approached her teacher and begged: Was there anyway at all she could get a flute? The teacher, knowing that life wasn't easy for the little girl, promised to look into it.
A few days later, the little girl got called to the office. And, there to greet her was the middle school band teacher (Mrs. Crawford, now Mrs. Cutler) and she was holding a small, black, square case. What this her flute??? Close enough, Mrs. Cutler happened to have a clarinet that was left at the middle school in years prior.
And on that day, an incredible journey began for her. She practiced daily, losing herself in the music. In seventh grade, she joined the middle school band, giving up other applied arts to feed into her hobby. She attempted (with some success) the bass clarinet, french horn, saxophone. And from it all, she gaind a sense of safety, solace and most importantly, normalcy. In band, she was just like everyone else.
She carried this forward to high school. Quickly excelling at her craft. She continued to use her band director (now, Mr. Neal) as a source of support, comfort and knowledge. Knowledge of what a better life looks like. Knowledge that anyone can overcome their obstacles, even her. She grew confidencec and compassion.
This young girl stands before you twenty four years later. She's only the second person in her family to get a college degree. She's one of the first to break into the middle class tax bracket. She's the mother of a whole, unbroken, family unit, with a blessedly normal life. And if you asked her what helped her get there, she'd tell you two things: I surrounded myself with good people with high standards. And, I lost myself in music to forget my surroundings.
I'm not here for my son who's in the seventh grade band. If band is moved to a before or after school program....we'll find a way to get him there. He'll get that experience...cause it's important. I'm here for that young girl/boy who's living the life that I led. If you make band an after school activity, this child will lose an important, life changing opportunity. I know your job is hard. I know you want to affect as few students as possible. But sometimes, you have to look at quality over quantity. This change that affects so few students may have an adverse, life-altering affect on them.
