MUSIC FOR EVERYONE: ELIMINATE THE MARCHING BAND PREREQUISITE AT FAIRVIEW HIGH SCHOOL (Boulder, Colorado)

I do fully agree that this requirement should be relaxed. Our son loved music so much and played all the time and was in all-state band. We were told prior to enrolling at Fairview that he could play a fall sport and also be in marching band. This, of course, is very much not true. You can not be in a fall sport with any level of seriousness and also do marching band practice. We thought that was very deceptive. So now he can't play concert band or jazz band, and has stopped playing his instrument, which is really sad. Please rethink this!

3 years ago Featured

I am currently in both marching band, and the bike team, and was told race at multiple occasions with some 3 hours of sleep - totally unsafe! In addition to the 8 hours a week after school, marching band takes over many weekends as well.

Our son was not able to do band because his sports (not in school) activities overlap with marching band. Because he is not in band, he cannot be in any of the youth bands outside of school, he cannot audition for all-state and similar. He is still taking private lessons, but his opportunities to play with other people are close to zero. He has played his instrument since the first grade in various in and out of school bands. Music education should be available to all who want to participate. These restrictions are doing nothing but hurting students (and in the end, the marching band too). music should be there for students, not the other way around.

Our son (who loves music) was not able to stay in band due to the marching band requirements.

Students should get to choose priority over extracurricular events that overlap. The FHS marching band has forced mountain bikers to miss races by giving summative grades for attending.

All 3 of my children have done marching band and it has been an amazing experience for them but it is incredibly time-intensive. I didn't realize that it was a requirement for students to participate in any other bands. This seems unreasonable and unnecessary.

I have a current 9th grade FHS student and a future FHS 7th grade. My 7th grader loves [instrument], but knows he cannot commit the full time (for multiple reasons including medical) and so is planning on not continuing. I think it's a shame that it is all or nothing w/o a middle ground. The joy of music should not only be available to those with lots of resources (time, money, etc...) [redaction to protect youth identity]

3 years ago Featured

It seems rather unreasonable for the marching band being a gate keeper of all other music opportunities. There are students who'd love to be in a music program but may not be interested in a marching band or able to make the time commitment. This all-or-nothing policy does not serve students and their families well.

Didn't participate in any band activities at Fairview due to this requirement despite having played trumpet since fourth grade.

My oldest son wanted to continue to play trumpet in high school but did not want to do marching band. He really wanted to take jazz band but was not allowed. Instead of being able to take a class and continue playing, he dropped it all together and has never picked it up again. His interest in playing an instrument and learning music was squashed because of this requirement. He had friend that went to Boulder High and continued to play and enjoy it through out high school without the marching band commitment.

3 years ago Featured

I love jazz band, but have to stay in marching band despite countless efforts to get out. It has drained my, and countless friends mental health during the fall and also out ability to take health or other required classes if we want to do Jazz band.

It's good but it takes a lot of time.

I play and enjoy marching band.

It did not affect us personally but I know several kids and parents who stopped playing their instrument because they had to choose one or the other. I would highly encourage students to do Marching Band. It's a fantastic program and it's power lies in the number of kids joining but a fair balance needs to be found.

My son had music focus in middle school. The prereq was a deterrent to continue music.

Required participation in the marching band makes it impossible for students who would like to participate in one of the musical instrument groups to join if they have other after-school commitments, such as sports, martial arts, etc..

It discourages people with a wide range of interests from participating in music.

My son no longer plays the clarinet or saxophone and his budding music education ended because of this prerequisite.

I thought that it was ridiculous that if you wanted to play music that you were forced to do marching band. Marching band was so time consuming.

I enjoyed band all through middle school. Going to Southern Hills I saw much of the Fairview Band and looked forward to playing in it. The marching band requirement prevented me from playing in the band in High School at all because I just was not up to the commitment. I have friends who play in the band at Boulder High without it seriously affecting their lives and I want that for Fairview too.