Despite many challenges over the years, music programs in the
Morgan Hill School District haven
’t missed a beat, but continue to provide opportunities for
students to experience music in a variety of forms and at several
levels.
Despite many challenges over the years, music programs in the Morgan Hill School District haven’t missed a beat, but continue to provide opportunities for students to experience music in a variety of forms and at several levels.
The district’s elementary program, which currently includes all students in grades 4-6, was started through a grant. All students participate in a general music class in fourth grade, with students who wish to play an instrument beginning in fifth grade and others continuing in chorus.
The program was one of the items on the chopping block last year as the district faced budget cuts. District band boosters came to the rescue, donating more than $28,000 to keep the program alive.
Mike Rubino, an original director of Live Oak High’s Emerald Regime, was active in organizing the program. He also organized a district-wide after-school band program, for those elementary students who were not challenged enough in the regular band system.
The idea is not only to expose elementary students to music but also to develop talent at an earlier age, leading to a stronger middle and high school music program.
“We are really concerned about the future of the music program, with state budget cuts and out district looking at more cuts,” said Booster Club member Mary Carson. “The elementary school program is very important to our kids. We also need instruction at this level to be competitive as a high school band. If the students are beginning in the middle schools or as freshmen in high school, it really does hurt the level of excellence in the Emerald Regime.”
As the MHSD looks at budget cuts for this year, the elementary program is once again on the list for cuts.
Carson said while the boosters feel strongly about keeping the elementary program alive, they believe the district must fund the program.
“Unfortunately, we cannot come to the rescue again,” she said. “Our prime focus must be on keeping the Emerald Regime running. The district must step up and support its elementary program.”
Music at the district’s two middle schools, Martin Murphy and Britton, is safe for the time being, however. Not listed as possible cuts, the programs at the two schools are flourishing. Each has two bands, a cadet and an advanced band. The advanced bands frequently travel to compete with other bands across the state, and sometimes even take their show on the road to other countries.
Britton’s jazz band, which recently won “superior” ratings at the Monterey Jazz Festival, has an equally busy performance schedule. The school’s advanced band will be going to Europe to perform later this year.
Martin Murphy’s whole fine arts program has a new dimension this year: Fernando Silvera stepped in to fill the shoes of former Emerald Regime director and Martin Murphy director Jeff Wilson, who left the district last summer.
Silvera not only leads the two bands, he also teaches a drama course. With a new baby and a long commute, Silvera is a man on the go. He’ll take the Martin Murphy advanced band to Los Angeles this spring for a competition.
Wilson’s departure not only left a hole at Martin Murphy, but also at the helm of the Emerald regime.
Despite this and other challenges, the Emerald Regime Marching Band hasn’t missed a beat but continues to be an award-winning, internationally-acclaimed, perennially exciting music program. The most recent challenges the students, parents and staff in the program have had to overcome are a declining enrollment and making the adjustment to a new band director. Carson said part of the enrollment problem could be the difficulty in fitting band into the students’ schedules.
“It can be a problem,” she said. “Not only band, but drama or journalism. The students have no room for flexibility in their schedules if they choose to participate in these programs … One of the problems students face is fulfilling their PE requirements. Many of them end up taking a class at Gavilan College or a summer school class to make it up.”
Though the situation is not unique to Live Oak, Carson said many high schools award PE credits for participation in marching band.
“That’s what we see at many of the high schools we are competing against,” she said. “Our students have to fall back on other avenues. And now with budget cuts, the summer school programs offered will probably be mostly remedial, so students will be forced to resort to Gavilan. What if a student does not have the time or money for that?”
Carson said it seemed as though a compromise could be worked out, with new Emerald Regime Director Julie Weagle.
“She considered what it would take to take a class or two to get her certification so that the kids could be given a PE credit, but their just aren’t enough hours in the day,” Carson said. “Her schedule is very demanding.”
In order to get PE credit for marching band, according to district officials, there would have to be a certificated teacher, and students would have to also study a basic health curriculum.
“It’s incredible the amount of hours she has to put,” Carson said of Weagle. “August through November, marching season, it is a huge time commitment. Every Saturday and two nights per week in practice, plus time she spends after school. Even after marching season, the rest of the school year, she has jazz band one or two nights a week in addition to other performances and activities. In order to be a music teacher, it has to be your avocation, what you love, in order to put in the hours.”
Parents and students alike have been happy to welcome Weagle to the program, Carson said.
Weagle attended Penn State University, marching with the Penn State Marching Blue Band. Although her main instrument is the French horn, she marched with a mellophone, as section leader of the mellophones.
“With her college marching experience, she understands the energy and enthusiasm you need to bring in as director. The college bands do a new show for every game, so she really has a good comprehension of what is necessary for the whole production.”
The boosters play a big role in the productions, Carson said. A long-time booster member, Dave Aglotis, drives the semi which holds all of the instruments and equipment for the band. There is a whole “pit crew” of parents who set up all the non-marching equipment for the performances. Other parents, such as Gloria and Rich Lapera, cook for the kids and cook during the annual Crab Feed, one of the boosters’ fundraisers. Then there are the parents who are in charge of wardrobe, making adjustments and repairs, sewing flags, cleaning and pressing uniforms.
It takes a tremendous effort from parents and friends of the band, Carson said, to keep it on the road for performances and up to par during home performances.
More than just booster time, it takes booster money. Carson estimated it takes $150,000 to field a marching band of the size of the Emerald Regime, a AA classification with less than 75 members.
To raise this money, boosters put on weekly bingo games. Year-round, Saturdays and Sundays, an eager crowd fills Britton school to enjoy the bingo games and concession stand. This money provides the majority of the funding for the band. Then there is the annual Crab Feed, the stuffed mushrooms at the Gilroy Garlic Festival and the Emerald Regime Invitational, an annual competition which also raises funds for the band.
