Texas Bands Feeling The Ecomomic Crunch

Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009
Posted on Thu, Aug. 13, 2009
Costs becoming a barrier for school bands


By EVA-MARIE AYALA
eayala@star-telegram.com
The extras for high school band can add up quickly.
It’s not just the $30 for marching shoes and $25 for embroidered shirts, but the several hundred dollars for choreography, competitions and camp that can push costs up to $1,200 or more.
Now, bands are having to adjust to the economy, as more families have less disposable income. Concerned that the fees could prompt some students to drop out, area bands are tightening their belts to minimize costs.
The Richland High School band, for example, had planned to attend the prestigious Bands of America Grand National contest in Indianapolis this fall but canceled because of finances, Birdville fine arts director Danny Detrick said.
"Things like that have been adjusted to what students can afford," he said. While the band will still take a spring trip to a contest yet to be determined, Detrick said it is likely that the number of students opting to go will be down from last year.
Parents at Birdville High School are being crafty in their cost-cutting ways. They are designing and sewing 90 silk flags for the color guard themselves rather than paying $15 to $50 or more apiece, depending on design and size. The band is also having an additional fundraiser this year, a pledge marchathon parade through neighborhoods near the school, to help students cover expenses such as contest trips.
Junior Abby Whisman, a keyboard player, said she volunteers at every fundraiser she can, not only to help with her own fees but also to support the band as a whole. The fundraisers allow the band to do more, such as attend a Bands of America contest in St. Louis this year.
Such contests are "a recipe for instant friendship," she said. "You’re with a lot of good people who are helping each other out along the way. I will remember all this for the rest of my life."
Many band directors said their bands were opting to attend competitions in North Texas rather than across the state or country to keep costs down. Such contests can easily cost upwards of $20,000, with entry fees ranging from $250 to $800 per student and bus transportation costing about $2,000 a day, depending on location, officials said.
The Fort Worth school district tries to cover as much of the costs as possible, but a tight budget all around means that this year it will pay for only UIL-related events and one other contest, said Christina Walk, the district’s director of instrumental music.
Some band boosters have raised funds to go to one or two more contests in the past, but Walk said she’s told directors to plan on cutting back on those plans because fundraising is likely to be tough.
"Everyone is having trouble raising money, and they just need to be aware and prepared to select the best one to go to if money is an issue," she said.
Last year, the Western Hills High School band attended three non-UIL contests, with the district paying the costs. Band director Eric Mullins said the boosters would not be able to raise enough money in time to pay for additional contests. He noted that last year’s goal fell short as some product-sales fundraisers were not as successful as band members had hoped.
"Our kids are good sports and don’t really complain, but I do hear some students say they are disappointed that they only get to go to one other contest," Mullins said. "I’m disappointed too."
At Trinity High School in Euless, officials cut fees students must pay to participate from about $900 last year to about $675 this year. Such fees help cover travel and entry to contests, camp and related items. The band did not cut any trips.
"They understand that times are tight for everyone," said Mark Chandler, director of visual and performing arts for the Hurst-Euless-Bedford school district.
Chandler said the 300-plus marching band at L.D. Bell High School is on track to attend three Bands of America contests, including the Grand, where the band often receives top honors and won the grand championship in 2007.
Some booster clubs offer financial aid, which usually involves students in need volunteering at fundraisers to help cover fees. In the last year, Chandler said more families in the H-E-B district have sought such financial aid, and he expects the number to increase.
David Stevens, fine arts director in the Keller school district, said he’s cautioned band directors to prioritize trips in case booster groups can’t raise enough money to cover more than one or two. Many nonprofits are struggling to raise money, he noted, and boosters are no different. Stevens has also asked band directors to consider whether what they’re asking students to buy is necessary and to be conscious of pricing.
"From marching gloves to shoes, I want them to be very aware in what it costs," he said. "They don’t need the Cadillac of T-shirts when maybe a Malibu is just as good. I know I’m doing that at home, and I’m sure everyone else is trying to as well."
In Arlington, the most significant difference directors have noticed is the drop in private music lessons. Larry Brown, director at Bowie High School, said his school had about 100 students taking such lessons a few years ago but last year only about 30 paid for them.
Brown said band members do have to buy some items — such as a lightweight shirt to march in during hot weather — but he too tries to minimize them. The booster club offers financial help to students, but Brown said there hasn’t been a noticeable increase yet in the number of families asking for such assistance.
"We try to not ever let economics be a reason not to be in band," Brown said.