hey congrats mate gl with it

-I'm the Forsaken your parents warned you about.-

that's pretty cool. yeah, the music programs are actually growing...not dying out. sadly we only have a district and state music festival (if you get a superior rating at district you go on to state) i happened to get a superior at both last year. which is good, it was my first year doing it (grades 9 - 12 only) i hate it when people don't do band just because they are afraid that people will call them names like band nerd or something. i have yet to be called a band nerd/geek by anyone outside of...band...and i'm the biggest band nerd you get. i do everything that has to do with playing my instrument. i got into all state band, i play solos for district festival, i'm in band, i'm in jazz band, i play for full orchestra, i go to every pep band thing i can...and the list goes on..

Ooo, a musical thread, I just can't resist....

Firstly, well done

Secondly, it seems to be the same on this side of the pond as well, with local councils trying to reduce the amount of funding that music centres get. There are only like 3 or 4 counties as far as I know that have a proper music trust for young people. Thankfully I live in one of them

It really is a shame that more young people don't get involved, most of my better friends I have met through musical activities...

But yes, well done.

Meanwhile... in Ohio's Public Schools...

We don't have the money to support band programs anymore (not like I'm a school band student, but I know people who are).

@Wolfy- Ditto for the number of ensembles. The more the merrier.

As for deterioration of funding, I happen to have an excellent set of directors with a sympathetic principal that know which arms to twist to ensure that the funding remains available, and, believe it or not, increases. My school is blessed with an immense performing/fine arts program that encompasses all levels of drama, choral, wind, and orchestral, as well as jazz music, on top of art, photography etc that make up the other half of the spectrum. Though it costs, the people upstairs do eventually realize that having these programs to some extent makes them look better to other schools and the government. And that's all that matters for some people.

apparently Venezuala (or one of those South American countries) has a radical approach to musical training and pumps huge resources into introducing the street kids who live in the slums and shanty towns to orchestral music. I was reading somewhere that it's been very successful and is producing a significant number of young world class musicians and conductors, one of whom recently conducted a major European orchestra, i think the CBSO but it might have been the Berlin or the London Philharmonic, not sure which, but whatever, it's a hell of an achievement, he's very young indeed (17?) but very very talented.

I'm shocked, Taw! Surely granting such power to people so young would not be allowed in Tawalkanistan...

the topic sorta died. the other day my friend showed me this site www.trumpetboredom.com
any brass enthusiast should just listen to this song:
Fanfare for 7 Trumpets

Impressive Wolfy. I'll be forwarding this along to our in house brass instructor, though I'm not a brass fellow myself.