How We Went From 13th Place to 4th Place: The Importance of Funding Music Programs
Music Programs always seem to be the first to have their funding cut when money is tight, but my indoor group makes the best of these situations and works as hard as possible with the support of our parents.
Indoor Drumline and Band have been a huge part of my life in recent years. I am fortunate enough that my marching band is funded by the school; My Indoor group, however, not so much.
Indoor Drumline is a competitive program where the drumlines and pit percussions of each high school get together and put together music and costumes that project a specific theme. Most groups have funding to buy their shows and instructors that can allow them to reach their fullest potential. My group did not have the funding to buy shows or instructors, so for the first three years I was a part of the drumline we had one instructor and we wrote our own shows (we still write our own shows), we received last place in nearly every competition. We didn't receive any support from our school, financial or otherwise. Our school still does not fund our program.
This past year our Music Parent Organization gave us much more funding which has allowed us to prosper and show our true potential as a group. The support of parents and others alike for groups and programs similar to my Indoor Drumline shows how much influence parents and other authoritative figures in our lives affect how we perform and represent our independent schools or programs. As a result of this support, we have been able to persevere and receive 4th place in our first competition of this year. (Shoutout to all of my amazing instructors!)
Looking back, I realize that it was not only our hard work that has gotten us through but the importance of being supported by others in the community and outside of it. The fact that some schools do not have music programs or that they are the first to get funding cut is extremely saddening, not just from music students standpoint, but from the others who use music as a form of therapy.
I have made so many friends and relationships through Indoor and would not be the person I am today if it wasn't for the people I have met and the person I have become musically and personally. I have learned how to be the best leader I can be and to do what is best for the group as a whole, be a role model for the underclassmen so the program can live on for the future. These people have always been there no matter what, you lose and gain friends over the course of high school and your life, but these kids have never left my side and have been my backbone. I am so happy that I was able to join and have access to a program that has allowed me and my friends to grow together and be the best version of ourselves that we can be.
Overall, music is very important to many people and should be celebrated everywhere and funded in all schools for every student. Music is so important to me and all of my friends, in fact, that's how I made most of my closest friends, we have the opportunity to change the way people look at Music Programs and the way they are run and we intend to do just that and possibly already have. 1st place here we come!
