When I read Saturday's Blossoms and Barbs in The Monroe Times, I was saddened by Lara Smith's barb about the MHS band's Cheese Days parade performance. This barb, the Times' readers' online string of negative comments and the local buzz about MHS band students and instructors is the result of misinformation and an incomprehensible desire to complain about and judge the time and talent our youth have volunteered to the community.
First of all, to Lara Smith, I am glad you're a part of the Monroe community, but you need not worry about the quality of instrumental music in its school district. Your children will receive superior individual and group instruction that far exceeds state standards. The music that MHS bands prepare and perform throughout the year is comparable to college-level repertoire.
It is ridiculous to wonder whether the band's presence in a three-hour parade on a biennial basis is representative of the music program. Fancy uniforms plus marching in a sometimes-straight line while playing a memorized march seldom add up to good musicianship.
I marched in Cheese Days parades when at MHS, but am grateful the band instructors had - and continue to have - the vision to build a symphonic program that concentrates on training fine musicians rather than activities that have little value other than to placate parade-goers.
As a professional musician, proud MHS band alumna and very-pleased parent of a current MHS band student, I say shame on all the negative bloggers, barbers and accusers for judging instructors and belittling student players.
Bravo to MHS band students who find joy in their musical efforts and to all district music instructors who inspire that joy and produce well-rounded and exceptional instrumental musicians through a thorough and positive - although obviously underappreciated - program.
Shame on Monroe for criticizing its youth. No wonder the population sign on the city's edges have changed little in the past 30 years. The slaps in the faces of these young players likely send most of them running to find more open minds and less judgmental neighbors.
I challenge Monroe to open its eyes and ears to musicianship that goes beyond uniforms and marching band repertoire. Attend MHS band concerts. Prepare to be impressed and moved by the talent, hard work and focus of our community's young musicians and their talented and dedicated instructors.
First of all, to Lara Smith, I am glad you're a part of the Monroe community, but you need not worry about the quality of instrumental music in its school district. Your children will receive superior individual and group instruction that far exceeds state standards. The music that MHS bands prepare and perform throughout the year is comparable to college-level repertoire.
It is ridiculous to wonder whether the band's presence in a three-hour parade on a biennial basis is representative of the music program. Fancy uniforms plus marching in a sometimes-straight line while playing a memorized march seldom add up to good musicianship.
I marched in Cheese Days parades when at MHS, but am grateful the band instructors had - and continue to have - the vision to build a symphonic program that concentrates on training fine musicians rather than activities that have little value other than to placate parade-goers.
As a professional musician, proud MHS band alumna and very-pleased parent of a current MHS band student, I say shame on all the negative bloggers, barbers and accusers for judging instructors and belittling student players.
Bravo to MHS band students who find joy in their musical efforts and to all district music instructors who inspire that joy and produce well-rounded and exceptional instrumental musicians through a thorough and positive - although obviously underappreciated - program.
Shame on Monroe for criticizing its youth. No wonder the population sign on the city's edges have changed little in the past 30 years. The slaps in the faces of these young players likely send most of them running to find more open minds and less judgmental neighbors.
I challenge Monroe to open its eyes and ears to musicianship that goes beyond uniforms and marching band repertoire. Attend MHS band concerts. Prepare to be impressed and moved by the talent, hard work and focus of our community's young musicians and their talented and dedicated instructors.
