I dated a girl in high school that was a band buddy. She played the "flute"...and did she play it well.

My first girlfriend was at band camp. Nadine, from Lockhart.

We won state in concert band the same year the football team won state. 5A. (There was no bigger back then.) I had a few friends on the football team. Still, it was an interesting year. 'Whole lotta football parents think the band exists to march at halftime.

Get on one of the school boards agenda to speak. Bring the issue up to the locals.

Ended up with a full scholarship and little money owed after graduation. Proud I got to be a part of something fun and entertaining. Christmas music and brass choirs were the best as a French Horn player. Even played a few times with the Arkansas symphony orchestra. College band was a different level experience. Marching season was just something to get through and party time. But it was amazing to do a couple of solos on the field my senor year.

Never owned a French Horn. Always used the schools. The university had Holton Farkas horns which were really nice. The last practice right before I graduated in 1987, I remember putting it in the case and in the storeroom, knowing that would be the end. It was a great life experience.

Buy a horn and pick it up again! It ain't easy to learn, don't lose it!

Better yet do what Booster clubs do… go raise funds!!!

Just look at the High School media programs they sell at the games. In a decent school that’s 2k-5k in profit by the booster clubs just based solely of advertising in the program.

Hell my Daughters Elementary school’s PTA raised 50k last year. Vast majority of that was raffle donation items from local businesses. The Dad’s club raised 10k off several fund raisers including several BBQ catering events. That’s 60k by elementary school parents

He/she whom fundraisers the hardest wins. It’s that simple

I played drums in public school bands 7-12'th grade, only had to buy a snare drum. I played all percussion instruments including a 16 piece Yamaha trap set in the HS Jazz Band, I couldn't have mowed enough yards to pay for that lol.

You might go over to the Fishing Forum and ask. One of the guys over there, Jacob?, is the Band Director for Nacogdoches Schools.

BQs..............

Their mothers always worked the concession stand.

Played trombone, baritone, (and Tuba once) in 6yrs of band - only ever had to pay for my own 'white' marching shoes.
Played bass-guitar in the jazz band too - they provided everything, and even let me take the bass & amp home during the summer to 'keep practicing' (aka, w/ my garage rock-band buddies! )

Football games sell tickets that generate revenue.

It's a proven fact that playing an instrument will make a kid smarter because it exercises a part of the brain that would otherwise become weaker. I didn't play in the band and was a "thank you laude" graduate. All three of my girls played the trumpet in school and they all graduated from both high school and college summa cum laude.

Yeah, I've been a season ticket holder for the last 15 or so years here at my alma mater and the last 7 or 8 years the football team has been so bad there were only 3,000-4,000 people in the stands at the begining of the game and after the band played at half time there was only about 1,000 people left for the second half regardles of the score of the game.

Excellent question. My guess is the fat superintendent salary and way too top-heavy administration. My wife is a teacher and we fork over some heavy bucks each year out of pocket for classroom supplies. Don't get me started on the ridiculous property taxes and piss poor roads and other BS mis-management of tax dollars in our sleepy community.

Come on Dude........ It`s Band...... LOL........ Just kidding. I live in a school district that has no football or band. FFA and basketball is where it`s at. Schools don`t pay for kids FFA animals to show either.

Why do dumb arse teachers pay for school supplies.

I call bs on that

Agree...

My Mother is a retired educator and she NEVER did that. She made sure the school (or parents) paid for what her curriculum called for.

Yep dude. It's a pity play.

Any teacher that does that.....should be teaching socialism.

Uh, my brain hurts trying to figure out the logic of that. A socialist thinks someone else should pay for it. The teacher referenced above cares about her kids. You wanna be brash - you don't get a pass for being diagnosed.

In his defense it’s a valid question. Is the Robinhood plan broke? Is it hurting more districts then helping. Would vouchers make school boards better utilize budgets, efficiencies, and talent acquisition.

There is a huge projection about budgets in this thread as it is. How do most private schools with lessor budgets, exceed public testing, graduation and college acceptance rates, while still having sports and other school activities like band?

No. Teachers equal govt at that age.

Oh poor teacher is buying crayola for the poor.

It begins early.

If you csnt afford crayons then you dont get to color.

Teachers whine about buying crayons when noone is forcing them to

I stand corrected

To put a bow on this thing - the world needs more decent drummers. Not wannabes. Actual, time keeping, rock-solid, ability to think what's going on and fit in, foundation of a band, drummers. They're as rare as hen's teeth. I've only played with 2 or 3 in my life. And believe me, the others are instantly obvious.

I'll post this here. (As I have before.) 'Hope it pisses some off. 'You listen close, he holds everyone together, including Lee Morgan, who almost takes off at the beginning of his solo. That's the power of a drummer. THE coolest.

So you want me to buy the teacher crayons for the stinking poor?

Yep. Think outside your pitiful self.