Payson Roundup

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

I think we are done with jocks and scholars. (:

Please don't take this as negative, I am just wondering?

I can understand the need for new uniforms belonging to the school, but instruments? Not much use for a marching uniform after you are out of HS. but a musical instrument can be a joy and used for many years after school is over.

When my kids took music in school in Mesa they had to either rent or buy the instrument of thier choice.
We owned a violin, trumpet, drum pad and a piano.

I know some are not marching band instrumets.
I am not as stupid as I seem at times. (:

My one son was in an elementary school marching band with the trumpet.
Lost interest, when he got in to higher grades and discovered girls and FFA.

Books have to be paid for why not instuments? I am sure some kind of funds could be raised for kids to rent instruments if they are unable to pay for them.

I know people that have owned thier own instruments for 50 years and still play them.

My aunt had a piano, organ, and accordian and played them until a year before she died at about age 74.
Her piano was an upright Stienway built in 1879. The accordian was over 40 yrs old.
She belonged to a Senior Band here in Payson.
Every Sunday she got dressed for church so if any church piano or organ player could not play she would go play for them.
Didn't matter which one needed her. She went.
She also gave lessons to the kids here in town. Not because she needed the money she enjoyed it.
I gave her piano to one of her past students about a year ago. He is in his 40's and tears streamed down his face when he walked into my house and found out it was his.

Now to get off track already , on my own thread.
I mentioned Future Farmers of America above and I believe it did more for my three kids than any other class they had in school. I hope that program is not dropped from the high school.

Shovelhead (Mike McLaughlin) says…

Did your kids buy the cow or just rent one?

dnp52 (Susan Grubbs) says…

Pat, I played in the band from 5th grade thru high school - alto sax, 1st chair. After graduating from HS, I never touched my sax again. On the college level, to play in the college/university band requires being really good. Really good, as in superior on the HS level. Those who want to play in a university band, compete against many who are there with music scholarships. I'd bet that there are kids at some of the major universities, whose scholarship is based on their experience and ability in band.

There are kids who really enjoy music, would love to play in the band, but can't afford to own an instrument. Some of those kids might actually be in the superior ability group.

If I'd been aware - my fault that I wasn't - that there was a need for both new uniforms and instruments at PHS, I'd have specified that my Credit for Kids contribution go to those needs.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

S.H.
Don't really understand the question but, we had a ranch west of Payson. Lots of cows !

Susan,
I didn't mean they would go on to bands at universitys or professional, just play for their enjoyment or get togethers with other musicians. I know there are a couple of groups here in town.
I am assuming by the way you wrote your post, you owned your sax. Is that right?

There is a least one music rental store here in Payson or was.
Unless you keep up with the school happenings, not your fault about the credit for kids for music.
It was in last nights paper. Too late.

No, Mr Naughton I am not blaming the paper for anything.

dnp52 (Susan Grubbs) says…

Yes, I did; but even back then, the schools (elementary, junior high, and high school) all had instruments available to loan/rent. Of course, back then, fine arts were still high on the high priority list.

Soul2Soular (Terri Bland) says…

Pat,
My step-daughter started clarinet in 4th grade. She is now still at it in high school. She rents her clarinet. We were considering purchasing a new, quality one for her when she was in 7th grade. I talked to Mike Buskirk, her band instructor at the time. His advice was to wait until at least one year in to high school band, as many kids do lose interest and the investment would be in vain. She is very good and has come so far from when she first started. It was so cute, she would go outside to practice, just so we could all laugh at the dogs that would all start howling at her playing (this was in Round Valley, and you could hear dogs for miles!) :-) She didn't do it all the time, and not for long in case somebody is thinking about disturbing the peace! :-) Anyway, I believe that for any child that wants to play, there is a way. They either have donated instruments or private individuals willing to assist. At least that was my understanding when I spoke with Mr. Buskirk a few years ago. He, by the way, was wonderful and instilled in my daughter and the rest of the kids such a love for music and a knowledge of how beneficial band is for these kids. Kendra would regularly come home quoting statistics for me about band kids vs. non in area's ranging from grades, scholarships, to success in life in general. Another teacher that goes above and beyond! Awesome.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Terri,
I said in my first post I was not being negative, just wondering.

Kids have to pay for their books but the school furnishes musical instruments. Seemed a little odd.

Now you have me back to the jocks. Who pays for their uniforms and equipment?
I think all that the students pay for are thier shoes. Right or wrong?

I guess that could be taken two ways. Right or wrong they buy only thier shoes or is it right or wrong for the school to pay for the uniforms and equipment. Do I have you all confused?

Soul2Soular (Terri Bland) says…

Hi Pat. I guess this is another one of those times when facial/vocal nuances are sorely missed. I didn't think that you were being negative at all. I was just giving the info that I knew as far as band instruments. I don't remember if she had to pay for her uniform or not, but I believe it was supplied by the RCMS and they were passed on to the next years students, not kept. I totally agree about books at the high school level having to be paid for. Guess that show's how long it's been since I graduated and how young my kids are. I didn't even know that they still made the kids pay for their own books! As far as uniforms, I think you are correct that the students only pay for shoes, as the uniforms can be used in future teams, member's etc. I am not sure where the money comes from if the school does provide the uniforms, maybe the booster clubs or maybe donations, or maybe part of their budget. Mr. Sandoval, are you out there? If so, could you enlighten us as to the correct info on the books as well as uniforms/instruments for any of the groups that require those types of extra's.
Pat, as far as right or wrong? Mr. Sandoval might be able to let us know if our assumptions are correct. As to the principle of the matter- I guess that, like most subjects, would depend on who you ask. Another thread for a good old-fashioned debate? :-)

Soul2Soular (Terri Bland) says…

One thing to add that I do remember from my high school days, new uniforms were rare and few and far between, so when they were obtained it was a huge deal back then. They never got new ones every year.

roysandoval (roy sandoval) says…

Thanks to the Credit for Kids Donations the Fine Arts department has received significant donations over the last several years. They determine where the money will be spent. For example, sound, lighting, choir lifters etc. This year they received $35,000 to be used for fine arts at all the schools but the H.S. fine arts will get a big chunk. I'm not sure they are as “broke” as might have been portrayed. As I write this, the High School Band account has over $13,000 in it. I cannot remember turning down a purchase request for the band or choir, with the exception 2005 when Mr. Potvin needed several very expensive drums replaced. It was at that time that we sat down and I suggested making the band and fine arts a specific goal for the Credit for Kids program. The next year, those drums were purchased.
Another example is the trip to New York so our choir could sing at Carnagie (last year). We in effect “forwarded” budget money into their extra-curricular account so they could go, until such time that they did the fundraising to pay it back.
I agree with you that students (and parents) should invest in instruments. There are rentals available as well. Having said that, there are some instruments that the school should keep on hand because they are very expensive and not practical for students to purchase. Some examples might be, bass drums, multiple marching snares, tuba, baritone.

As to FFA, and I know I have said this before on this blog; it will not be dropped. It remains an important extra-curricular club along with the other vocational clubs that are national.

patrandall (Pat Randall) says…

Thank you Mr. Sandoval.
I don't think many people realize what all is done in FFA. I have probably posted this before, but here goes again, my kids learned, and earned awards in public speaking, welding, meat judging, meat cutting, judging animals and raising them. How to conduct meetings, by Robert's Rules (much better than our councils)
I can't remember all the awards they won at thier high school, at state level, and Nationals in Kansas City. One son was Ariz. state farmer. My daughter was FFA Sweetheart one year. So I am a proud mommie and think Future Farmers of America is a great group.

It was really nice to go to thier banquets and see all the boys in white shirts, ties and their FFA jackets fastened all the way up. So I guess it also taught them how to dress. (:

My one son said it was so impressive when he went to Kansas City and the whole group stood up as one with thier blue jackets and the yellow emblem on the back when President Nixon came in to give a speech to them. His words were it looked like a field of grain with a blue sky. That from a roughneck 16 yr. old.
Oops almost forgot. My husband was an honorary farmer one year.