The Drum Line closes
the band concerts

Today we went Chillirific a fundraising band concert in my grandchildren’s middle and high school. Besides chili there were performances by the three middle school bands and four of the high school bands. This fund raising was special in the fact the band is raising money to march in the 2017 Rose Bowl Parade.

With the five full time band leaders on staff, the 105 6th grade band, the Drum Line and the great participation in all the bands I am always impressed how much music is in the life of my grandchildren and all the lives of 400 plus students and parents in the middle and high school bands. At the same time I am sad for the major cuts in the middle and high school music education programs in Milwaukee Public Schools. How many full time band leaders are there in a MPS middle or high school, if any?

Yes Milwaukee Public School students come from low income families and are primarily students of color. But why should that matter? It does, however. Yes, I am happy my grandchildren are blessed for being in this school system of white families with middle class income. But I am sad that the many children and youth will not have the opportunity to play and love music and be in a band because they are poor and people of color.

An investment in music education would pay off in the Milwaukee Public Schools but who will make it?

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