School music programs march on despite budget cuts

Sunlight beats down on the band students as they practice marching in the empty parking lot. They’re sweating and stepping wearily, but always in near-perfect formation.

If they work harder and get it right the next time, they’ll get a water break, the director says.

At that time, there were two weeks until school and the band had to be in top shape for the beginning of football season. Valley high school football season needs the sounds of brass and percussion booming a fight song, a McAllen Memorial High School band student says later.

But while it’s likely that the band will be around for a long time, it is feeling the crunch of budget cuts. And it’s not alone.

NOTICE:
Festiva and The Monitor are looking for outstanding choir, band, orchestra and mariachi students in the Valley who have shown dedication to their programs by being involved in UIL competitions and other out-of-class music activities. Click here to find out more.

Cuts

Officials cut $20,000 last year from the McAllen Independent School District’s fine arts budget, going from $562,323 in the 2007-2008 school year to $582,395 last year, according to numbers provided by the district, with the disclaimer that the figure does not include the salaries of school music directors.

Only five years ago, the budget was $618,772.

But the impact of a weakened economy is being felt at schools all over the country.

In Boston, one district reduced music, art and library classes to once a week this year, according to the Boston Globe. In California, which is facing a $26 billion deficit, the arts was among the first casualties of the first round of cuts at a school district in Camarillo, the newspaper there reported.

Locally, at least one district is an exception to the trend. The music program budget for the Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District grew from $456,057 in 2007-2008 to $519,834 last year, the district’s figures revealed.

Karen Herrera, director of fine arts for the MISD, said while the arts “received cuts jut like everyone else,” the schools are making due and being “more resourceful.”

“It’s not that we just get huge increments every year, but our board has really established fine arts as a priority,” she said.

Getting Creative

Di Wu would like some new uniforms. The senior drum major with McAllen Memorial High School’s band also thinks a new trailer would help the group cart its equipment to competitions.

This is a wish list, of course.

She’s been in band since the 6th grade and says she’s well versed in matters of money and fundraising. She’s done the start-of-the-year catalogue sales and has become a pro at begging her teachers to buy.

But much of the music education community learned long ago that when you don’t get what you need, you must find it, Herrera said.

“Sometimes we get creative and find alternative funding,” she said.

In-school Booster Clubs, made up of mostly parents, help individual programs with fundraising, but the community is also pulling for the arts, Herrera said.

Last year, Keep McAllen Beautiful and the McAllen Chamber of Commerce helped fund the construction of a mosaic along Second Street, near Hackberry Street. The Valley Symphony Orchestra and Melhart Music also helped the district start a pilot program last year called Success Through Strings, which teaches violin to elementary school students.

“That’s what everybody needs to be doing,” said Herrera, who has been in education 17 years. “There are grants out there. There are people who want to give to the arts.”

Herrera said that a large part of the arts surviving the tough economic times has to do with attitude.

“They (music directors) will find a way to repair a broken instrument if they need to. They beat the bushes and make it happen. That’s the way to go,” she said. “We’re going to do what’s right for kids."

The Art of Success 

There are only a few minutes before the band’s promised and long-awaited break. Wu stands atop a riser, in front of one side of the band. There is deep focus in her eyes, and her arms are raised in the air, ready to keep the beat.

There is confidence in her stance, no hint of the shy girl she used to be.

About six years ago, a flute changed her for the better. Marching band made her a leader.

“It has helped me become a more outgoing person,” she says later. “In the marching band you work as a unit and it helps you grow together.”

Those involved with the arts – be it music, drama or art – will attest to the power it possesses to change a person. But statistics speak to its clout in the classroom.

Schools that have music programs on average have better graduation rates than those without any, about 90.2 percent as compared to 72.9 percent, according to a 2006 study by the National Association for Music Education.

Herrera said that it’s her job to present findings like these and make this case for students in McAllen. But other smaller districts don’t always have advocates for the arts, she said. Those districts are usually the first ones to cut it.

“If we don’t have enough, in McAllen, we don’t cut fine arts,” said Herrera. “We’re a never say die district.”

HOW TO HELP

The Texas Music Project is a nonprofit that works to restore music education to Texas Schools. One of their biggest projects us the “Don’t Mess with Texas Music” campaign, which is a series of exclusive CDs with songs by Texas musicians. They have raised over $1.5 million for their cause, according to co-founder and executive director Michael Clay. Find out more at www.texasmusicproject.org or www.myspace.com/texasmusicproject.

NOMINATE STUDENT MUSICIANS

Festiva and The Monitor are looking for some of the most talented high students in the Valley to feature in an upcoming issue.

We're looking for outstanding choir, band, orchestra and mariachi students who have shown dedication to their programs by being involved in UIL competitions and other out-of-class music activities.

We're asking for everyone to nominate the following:

1. a female vocalist (choir)

2. a male vocalist (choir)

3. a wind instrumentalist (open to band and orchestra)

5. a brass instrumentalist (open to band and orchestra)

6. a percussion instrumentalist (open to band)

7. a string instrumentalist (open to orchestra)

8. a mariachi-style musician (open to mariachi students)

Based on nominations and the students achievements in UIL and other competitions, eight students will be chosen by the staff to be on an upcoming cover of Festiva.

We know how difficult it will be for everyone to choose their nominations, but please only one student per category, per school. These should be students who will be a part of your program in the 09-10 school year.

There is no standard form for student nominations, but please note that decisions will be based on what you say/write about the students' character, dedication to their program (including how long they've been a part of it) and achievements. Just be sure to include the student's name, grade, school and your contact information (phone number and e-mail).

We will examine each nomination with care.

Send nominations to sgonzalez@themonitor.com.