Strong Support For Music Programs

To the Editor:

This is in response to comments by Mr Borst, a former band parent, published in an article about the school budget. I was a little disturbed at the implication that the band programs have become less self-sufficient and more reliant on district funding since his time as a band parent. I am the vice president of the Newtown High School Band Parents Corporation, and I would like to point out that the band parents do indeed raise funds to support the band programs at Newtown High. In fact, most of the actual operating expenses of the band programs, color guard, jazz ensemble, and more, are funded by the band parents. Just about the only thing relating to the band program paid by the school district is the salary of band director and assistant band director, when there is one, and some (but not all) of the transportation costs to competitions. And yes, we even pay for our own uniforms. I don’t know about 1981, but today a new set of uniforms for the entire band will run about $50,000 to $75,000. Funded 100 percent by the Band Parents organization. And a large portion of that funding comes from the kids participation fees, $195 next season, and our deposit bottle and can collections.

The chorus program is also mainly supported by their respective parents organization, the NHS Choral Parents, by their own fundraising efforts and participation fees.

It should never be forgotten that the music programs at NHS involve a substantially larger number of students than all of the sports programs combined. Most if not all of these programs also take place all school year long in one form or another, unlike sports, which only last a few weeks during their respective “seasons.” This keeps the students involved in something requiring concentration, discipline, and even lessons in time management for the entire school year. The NHS Marching Band goes out and represents the entire Town of Newtown, in fact much of New England, when they appear each year in the New York City St Patrick’s Day Parade. At which it should be well noted that the NHS Marching Band won first place the past two years running. And the chorus will be representing Newtown in several public concerts in Austria next year, presuming world events do not cause cancellation of that trip yet again.

The point being, any major cuts to any portion of the NHS (or NMS) music programs will have the effect of impacting the greatest number of students systemwide of any other possible budget cuts, save major bus route changes, of course. No other program schoolwide promotes more of a sense of nonaggressive teamwork, school spirit, discipline, and responsibility, and it should be expanded and supported, not just preserved.

John Krause

5A High Bridge Road, Sandy Hook                                  June 8, 2003