Hi Emily, this is exactly the point i am hoping to present at the next board meeting or at least email to principal. The point is that every single one do those kids in orchestra will have played their instrument for longer than the teacher “teaching” them. If you put a student up against the teacher for a playoff, who do you think would come out ahead?! These inexeperienced teachers might end up putting a more advanced student in charge just to cover their a**es. But you better prepared to pay that student a salary!!! If admin can prove us wrong that these teachers are qualified, then you’d have to prove it to me by having them at least play twinkle twinkle on any one of those string instruments without making us all cringe!
D
Dominic Azkoul
7 years ago
String instruments need their own teacher!!
A
Anonymous
7 years ago
This is shameful, Batavia. You are better than this! The music department has always been strong and should remain strong.
H
Hannah Kramer
7 years ago
The music programs are so important to us students. We have found our best friends and a way to express our selves. We can get noticed by collages and get scholarships for our talents. We work very hard to do well. I am a band kid. I know if they stopped funding the band I would have very little reason to go to school. For the love of god and the we'll being of these students give them back their teacher.
S
Scott Kent
7 years ago
The excellent Rotolo music program enriches the students more than you know. Do NOT weaken it.
T
Timothy Mrenna
7 years ago
Mr.Griffith has always been my highlight of the day. He helps me learn a lot about the bass and also made it fun. He would be a huge lose to Rotolo if we lose him.
E
Erica Heider
7 years ago
This is such a loss for the orchestra kids. It’s the main reason my child continued with orchestra.
A
Aaron
7 years ago
Even though I am not in orchestra I stand by all of you in this decision. If their is anything else I can do to help let me know.
K
Kaitlyn
7 years ago
I love him so much the best teacher I have ever had I think this is a HUGE loss to the whole music program! I also have a friend who does orchestra in 5th grade and was really looking forward to being with mr Griffith but that won’t happen if he’s gone, so what I am trying to say is it is not only a loss for current students but also incoming students who might just give up their music career if this mistake happens!
E
Emmerson Pierce
7 years ago
I am in 5th grade orchestra and was really looking forward to being his student.
V
vajira Sarange
7 years ago
Please Keep Him
S
Samantha K Hewamanage
7 years ago
Please keep him
J
Jennifer Peterson
7 years ago
Chris is an excellent teacher!
C
Cheryl Cutsinger
7 years ago
Having worked with Mr. Griffith I can attest to what an exceptional teacher he is. It would be a travesty for the students to lose his leadership.
D
Doug DeWitt
7 years ago
You rock Chris. I support you.
A
Abigail Mrenna
7 years ago
Mr. Griffith has been a wonderful addition to the middle school. Replacing him with a band director (as great as they are) will not benefit students. One thing I have learned as an alumni of the Batavia Music Program is how difficult it is when a non-string player is put in charge of string players. Anyone can conduct an orchestra, but only a string teacher truly understands how bowings work, when it is appropriate to teach shifting to new positions, and what is "easy" or "hard" for string players based on these techniques; and the Batavia Music Program is designed so that students learn these techniques in middle school. Such a dedicated and skilled instructor is an asset to the students and the music department as a whole.
S
Sophie
7 years ago
Please keep him
J
Jack
7 years ago
All my friends really want him to be kept
R
Richard DeVeau
7 years ago
While I’m sure the band teachers at Rotolo are fine people and well-qualified teachers, to assert that the skill set needed to teach orchestra is on par with teaching band is simply ludicrous. Mr. Griffith brings exceptional talent, deep experience and a transparent affection for the music and each of the kids he teaches to his role as orchestra director. To watch him move through the groups of kids as they are tuning up and instantly pick out which instrument and which string is out of tune is simply awe-inspiring to watch. Moreover, as I have I’ve been raising my grandson, Lucas, since his birth, I can say he’s a pretty typical 12-year-old as far as school goes, which means, like most boys his age, he’s rather indifferent. Except when it comes to his cello and playing in the orchestra. Here, Lucas blooms. I know that this is due in no small part to Mr. Griffith. Rotolo Middle School has made a grave error in its decision to let him go. I fervently disagree with this decision and petition Rotolo to reinstate Mr. Griffith at once.
Most Sincerely,
Richard DeVeau
Save Mr. Griffith
Hi Emily, this is exactly the point i am hoping to present at the next board meeting or at least email to principal. The point is that every single one do those kids in orchestra will have played their instrument for longer than the teacher “teaching” them. If you put a student up against the teacher for a playoff, who do you think would come out ahead?! These inexeperienced teachers might end up putting a more advanced student in charge just to cover their a**es. But you better prepared to pay that student a salary!!! If admin can prove us wrong that these teachers are qualified, then you’d have to prove it to me by having them at least play twinkle twinkle on any one of those string instruments without making us all cringe!
String instruments need their own teacher!!
This is shameful, Batavia. You are better than this! The music department has always been strong and should remain strong.
The music programs are so important to us students. We have found our best friends and a way to express our selves. We can get noticed by collages and get scholarships for our talents. We work very hard to do well. I am a band kid. I know if they stopped funding the band I would have very little reason to go to school. For the love of god and the we'll being of these students give them back their teacher.
The excellent Rotolo music program enriches the students more than you know. Do NOT weaken it.
Mr.Griffith has always been my highlight of the day. He helps me learn a lot about the bass and also made it fun. He would be a huge lose to Rotolo if we lose him.
This is such a loss for the orchestra kids. It’s the main reason my child continued with orchestra.
Even though I am not in orchestra I stand by all of you in this decision. If their is anything else I can do to help let me know.
I love him so much the best teacher I have ever had I think this is a HUGE loss to the whole music program! I also have a friend who does orchestra in 5th grade and was really looking forward to being with mr Griffith but that won’t happen if he’s gone, so what I am trying to say is it is not only a loss for current students but also incoming students who might just give up their music career if this mistake happens!
I am in 5th grade orchestra and was really looking forward to being his student.
Please Keep Him
Please keep him
Chris is an excellent teacher!
Having worked with Mr. Griffith I can attest to what an exceptional teacher he is. It would be a travesty for the students to lose his leadership.
You rock Chris. I support you.
Mr. Griffith has been a wonderful addition to the middle school. Replacing him with a band director (as great as they are) will not benefit students. One thing I have learned as an alumni of the Batavia Music Program is how difficult it is when a non-string player is put in charge of string players. Anyone can conduct an orchestra, but only a string teacher truly understands how bowings work, when it is appropriate to teach shifting to new positions, and what is "easy" or "hard" for string players based on these techniques; and the Batavia Music Program is designed so that students learn these techniques in middle school. Such a dedicated and skilled instructor is an asset to the students and the music department as a whole.
Please keep him
All my friends really want him to be kept
While I’m sure the band teachers at Rotolo are fine people and well-qualified teachers, to assert that the skill set needed to teach orchestra is on par with teaching band is simply ludicrous. Mr. Griffith brings exceptional talent, deep experience and a transparent affection for the music and each of the kids he teaches to his role as orchestra director. To watch him move through the groups of kids as they are tuning up and instantly pick out which instrument and which string is out of tune is simply awe-inspiring to watch. Moreover, as I have I’ve been raising my grandson, Lucas, since his birth, I can say he’s a pretty typical 12-year-old as far as school goes, which means, like most boys his age, he’s rather indifferent. Except when it comes to his cello and playing in the orchestra. Here, Lucas blooms. I know that this is due in no small part to Mr. Griffith. Rotolo Middle School has made a grave error in its decision to let him go. I fervently disagree with this decision and petition Rotolo to reinstate Mr. Griffith at once. Most Sincerely, Richard DeVeau