District+4

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District 4 Festival Response.

The basic philosophy we hold in District 4 is that we are music educators first. The festival system should promote that philosophy. Many students from our district that participate in the system come from small schools. These festivals are the only time that they get to play with a full, balanced, and more advanced ensemble. The time that we spend at festivals is important for the education of our students. If we cut time from our festivals, we are limiting the education experiences our students may have.

Our festival system provides several levels of education to more advanced students. The true purpose of our audition processes at each festival is to tell us which students are ready for each advanced level of music education. One year, I may have student who will benefit tremendously from a district festival may not quite ready for a regional festival. However, the next year this same student, through growth at various musical experiences including district, may be ready to participate in a more advanced level.

As is often the case, we have students who do not choose to participate in these festivals. As beneficial as the festival system is, it is not necessarily for everyone. For these students, especially our exceptional students, adjudication festivals or solo competitions might be a better way to go. If these more advanced students have gotten all that they can from the festival system, we are then able to offer it to another student who can benefit from the experience.

At a time when high stakes testing is affecting many of our programs, I think it is essential to be very vocal about the importance of the arts. This is not the time to back off. We have to let everyone know that we believe that what we do is important. If we eliminate time from our festivals voluntarily, trying to be pro-active, we are saying to our administrators that we do not see value in the time we spend at festivals. By conveying that message, we are threatening the future of our festival system. We need to take a lesson from PIAA and the high school athletic programs. High Stakes testing has not made them cut their schedules at all. If anything, they have added to the various athletic schedules without apologies. They are not being asked to scale back their schedules, nor are they offering to shorten their schedules. They value and promote what they do.

Regarding festival policy, I continue to believe that we need to acknowledge that every district and region is run differently. We currently have districts and regions doing different things when it comes to length of festival, selections, and festival schedule. Each district or region does what works for them. However, each district and region needs to have good, solid reasons for what they do, and these reasons need to be documented within the district or region. Having these policies documented gives the districts and regions a guideline for dealing with any problems that may arise. If the policies developed by the separate districts and regions are working for these groups, is it necessary to implement a state wide policy changing something that isn’t broken?

I would also like to address our involvement as directors in these festivals. In District 4, every director attends their entire festival. At these festivals, we have have clinics, network with other directors, observe rehearsals, and connect with our kids. We are personally invested in the festival. This does two things. It conveys the message to our students, colleagues, administrators, and community that these festivals are important. I feel that students’ interest and participation will increase if the students realize that these festivals are important to us. If our students think that their director doesn't need or want to attend the festival, it must not be that important or worth their time. That message is also clear when PSSA’s come around and an administrator has to make a decision about whether to allow students to participate. Second, it can relieve some of the burden of being a host having colleagues around to support and help with the festival. The host then doesn't have the sole responsibility for all of the students. Each individual director is responsible for their own student and helps supervise all other student. I truly believe that it is worthwhile to try and gain more director participation in these festivals, even though it may be a challenge in some districts.

Respectfully submitted,

Brian Stacey District 4 President