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The Twist in Music Education
Ah, yes, the wonderful world of high school music education, where we take young, budding musicians and transform them into fierce competitors. It’s almost like we’re training them for a Battle of the Bands rather than nurturing their love for music. Programs like the University Interscholastic League (UIL) competitions and Bands of America (BOA) have truly mastered the art of turning high school bands into well-oiled, competitive machines.
For schools in a decent district where the term “family vacation” still holds meaning, parents can write a big fat check in addition to the band fees to support the program, making sure kids can ride in those comfortable tour buses. Otherwise, be prepared to send your kids out to solicit funds, all so they can participate in competitions far beyond the reach of their budget and league. Heck, ’tis the asking-for-free-money era, thanks to the widespread misuse of GoFundMe.
Great way to educate our children.
Marching season kicks off as early as mid-July if you’re drumline parents, and August marks the start for the rest of the gang. This continues into the school year, where performing at EVERY SINGLE football game is mandatory, followed by preparations for Saturday competition. My personal record involves picking up…
