Concerned Alumni of the CSD Music Program

31 years later I can still remember having a band and a chorus teacher. The current band is smaller than the band front was them. I know that this issue is not the teachers fault and not completely the fault of the school board. Residents of Cambridge and Dorchester county do not want to pay more taxes especially if they don't have kids in school.

The arts are increasingly being phased out of public schools, which is a huge loss. Numerous studies have shown how learning to read and perform music, in particular increases overall academic performance and lifelong learning ability. It is extremely shortsighted to make cuts to such an important program and I'm disappointed to learn of the demise of such a strong program. Our choral and band programs were consistently among the top rated in the region, if not the state and we had regularly strong showings at events like All-State and All-Shore concerts. This speaks to a successful program from elementary school through high school. That the chorus and band regularly boasted numbers of over a hundred students, I am sure that many more were positively impacted throughout the lower grades as well. The lack of something to aspire to at the high school level only reduces the interest at earlier stages of education and that is a loss that will be reflected in academic performance across the board and in reduced success rates after graduation. Please rebuild our high-school music program, for both current and future students.

Band and chorus are important for development of well rounded young adults. Don't let this slip.

As a parent of former band students, I cannot express enough gratitude to both of Sarah's and Chessa's band/ music instructors. They helped instill respect, discipline, and the love for the arts. It saddens me to see how the music department at CSDHS has deteriorated since the girls had graduated. I blame a big part of this from the lack of support from the school system/school board for the cutbacks and priorities. Also the lack of parent participation is a problem as well. I am well aware that parents work but the majority of the band students parents 15 years ago did too. Hats off to the Band booster members who also, helped make the band as successful as it was. Without your time and support, the kids wouldn't have been able to have the experiences of trips, festivals, and competitions. Please parents of the students of the current music program....let your voices be heard. Music is the best gift you can give your child.

I am a current member of the CSD band. I would just like to say that our director is not at fault in the situation. The problems we are experiencing are coming from a small budget that doesn't meet our needs, and the fact that our teacher is being spread out over band, chorus, general music, and piano. She is a BAND teacher. That's what she is qualified to do. So this is the fault of administration not hiring enough teachers to allow our director to focus on the band. However, the quality of our music is still amazing, regardless of numbers of participants.

After many years, our school in Cecil County has finally ADDED a music position so that we have two specialized music teachers. It will take years to recover the lost time and restart programs that had to be eliminated. I urge you not to make the mistake of asking one teacher to lead two very different programs.. Music is an integral part of an education, teaching discipline and teamwork, not to mention improving performance in academic disciplines such as mathematics. I was once part of a thriving and successful music program at CSD. It saddens me to think that my alma mater would neglect this vital part of a high school education. I have remained a musician and am an officer in our school's booster organization. With my encouragement and school support, music is now central to my children's lives, and has contributed to their academic and personal successes. Please support this essential program at CSD.

Clearly a change needs to be made.

I am from the Class of 1992 an was a member of the band and chorus for all 4 years of my high school years back then I was very proud to be a part of this wonderful groups and now I have kids and one is in 10th grade who started out in band and was very proud until he got to High School, there will never be another Mr. Batson or Mrs. Brohawn. Is is very sad the way the program has totally changed and not for the better. Very sad and upset alumni!!!!!

Being a part of the music program was a huge benefit to many of us. We learned so many important life lessons as a result of a caring, outstanding instructor in Mr. Batson. He was the most influential instructor I ever had (Kindergarten through College). To not fund an instructor for both vocal and instrumental music will be hurting the kids in the program. This program is failing and is failing the kids as a result. I made life long friendships & learned lessons as a result of having a good, quality program to be a part of.

Being in the band was the best part of my 4 years in high school. I learned a lot

I am a proud product of the music program in Dorchester County Public Schools. My high school experience with Mr. Robert Batson helped flouish an already eminent career choice. I was accepted at the Peadbody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, graduating with BMED in voice. My extensive band background made me one of the few undergrads who also played instruments, in addition to singing. I have now completed 28 years teaching music. My foundation provided a life long career, for which I am forever grateful.

Class of 1993

As someone who not only grew up in the CSD band program but went on to continue being active in the marching arts, it's my hope that my siblings and kids in the future can have the same experience I did. Come on, Dorchester Board of Ed.

I am currently a member of the CSDHS band and although I feel that two teachers are necessary, we do not need to replace our current band teacher. Although we do not have the "quantity" that it seems that everyone is looking for, we do have the quality. This was clearly demonstrated at our concert Tuesday night and if you were in attendance I believe you would have a totally different outlook on our music program. People emailed our director and said our concert was BETTER than Bennett High's, Bennett being one of the Maryland schools known for their music program. Throughout the past two years, I have developed and improved as a musician in ways that I never thought I would, all thanks to our director who has pushed me to do things I normally would not do. She is more than qualified to do her job, and I feel that if we got the STUDENTS to act as they are supposed to, everyone would be able to see it. I know that everyone wants the program back to the Batson days, but we have to realize this is not going to happen overnight. These things take time and we are quick to make changes before allowing current plans for our band to play out. ANY new teacher that comes into our program will have to go through a "rebuilding" period, just as our current director is trying to do but people will not allow her the chance.

The state on the current band program stinks

Band made high school. The best memories & the best people, I would go back to those trips & football games if I could. <3

thats how I made it thru high school

CSD Class of 1994! During my four years at CSD I participated in both the chorus and the band. I was a Drum Major during the 1993 and 1994 marching seasons. I participated in All-Shore Band, All-Shore Chorus, All-State Chorus, and Music Educators National Conference (now NAfME) All-Eastern Chorus. I graduated from Duke University with a major in Psychology and a minor in Music. While there I played clarinet in the Pep and Marching Bands, and I sang in the Duke Chapel Choir, as well as a student-run, all-female a capella group. And since high school, there have been only three years that I have not sung in either a church or community choir. Right now I sing Alto with a wonderful group based in Arlington, VA, called Choralis. This June we will be performing for the Chorus America National Conference, in Washington D.C., for music educators and composers from all over the country. All this to say, that music has remained an integral part of my life, largely due to the positive influence of music educators like Mr. Batson and Mrs. Brohawn. They were certainly tough acts to follow. But expecting one person to do the jobs of both the band AND chorus directors, much less do them both well, is ridiculous. As many have already noted, people who learn to play an instrument or sing experience benefits in all areas of life. Keeping the high school music program at the level it is now only does a disservice to students. Do right by the students of Dorchester County and help make it possible to again attract top-notch music educators to the community!

Please support this program to develop the talent of all of Dorchester.

One of the best times of my life was being in the band. I was vrry sad to see what had become of it when i returned to cambridge.