See if you can guess why this happened.

RandyTX

So, last night I was part of a recording. The subject of the recording was a new school song, for a new high school that doesn't actually exist yet.

Since there are no students, there is no band, or even a band hall yet. But the school song has been written.

Now, I'm curious if anyone can guess *why* they need a recording of this school song, when there are no students and not a single class will be held for quite a long time.

What do you think the critical event is that requires a recording of a school song?
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kehaulani · Posted: Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:14 am Post subject:

If you got paid, what does it matter? If you did it for free, why?
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RandyTX · Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:21 pm Post subject:

Pretty close actually, except for one small issue.

In Texas, funding of a football stadium is *never* a problem. Textbooks for math or english classes required by the state? Sure. That could be a real problem, and a recurring one in many districts.

A new piano for the choir teacher, or maybe a sousaphone for the band? Absolutely. Sell band candles, magazines, candy bars, or perhaps even mattresses.

No, the reason they need the alma mater recorded now, even though school doesn't start until the fall is... for the *dedication* of the all important football stadium. So they can start worshipping the altar of football long before the kids that will be playing are enrolled in the school.
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Brad361 · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 9:02 am Post subject:

Randy's experience does not surprise me in the least, and this situation is a pet peeve of mine. I'm from Chicago, been in Houston since '95. Generally speaking, I do like Texas, but the insane amounts of money that is spent on high school football here is, well, insane. Multi million dollar stadiums that would rival many college stadiums, there is an absolute obsession with high school football. Honestly, I think there are a lot of guys
here who can't let go of their "glory days", and/or live vicariously through kids. I want to tell some of these guys "it's frickin' HIGH SCHOOL."

I believe this also has trickled down into school music departments, UIL (University Interscholastic League) dictates that school music contests receive WAY too much importance; in many schools the pressure to do well at contest results in school band directors spending inordinate amounts of time on contest material, and that results in little time spent on sight reading, exposing kids to other music genres, etc. I have no problem with kids perfecting a piece of music, and competition absolutely has benefits, but not when other important areas are neglected. School music is supposed to be focused primarily on learning, and I'm not sure that spending the majority of time working on a small amount of contest music is "learning."

Drives me NUTS, and it's a disservice to kids.

Brad
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Craig Swartz · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 3:06 pm Post subject:

Well, if you still need a mascot, I recommend taking one from Batiuk and become "The Scapegoats".

I guess during all the time I spent teaching I never really got bothered by the athletic tail trying to wag the academic dog. It's the way things are, and in many places, there'll be more people attending the athletic events than anything else (including classes in most of the joints I taught

) so what's the big deal? About the only time I got in anyone's face was the last year I taught public ed: Inner city HS, 4A (largest enrollment size) with very small band program. We had a show for all 5 home FB games, NFBD, then, because the students had helped create a kick-ass pep band (I somehow was blessed with an outstanding guitar, bass and kit player rhythm section who'd take off work and show up), we elected to play nearly all the home BB games rather than the required 4. Fun, right? Nope, the team (we're talking da 'hood) wanted all loud rap music piped in on the sound system during their initial warm up and wouldn't shut it off for us to play. Tried to negotiate with the AD but he didn't want to "offend" the team. So we sat one night, after which I got the Metro Lyrics for all the junk they were playing and read them out loud to the HS principal. God, did he try to wiggle out of it but NFW. I'd also provided them to a few responsible parents as well who dropped by on occasions. Under normal conditions I'd have just chucked it all and done only 4 games, in the end I think it was worth it. Damn! It's great to be retired- almost every day is a Saturday or a snow day.

LittleRusty · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 3:58 pm Post subject:

Brad361 · Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 4:19 pm Post subject:

I understand the realities; school sports programs generally get the majority of funding and attention. It is different in Texas (at least different from Illinois), the money and emphasis high school football here gets is way beyond just out of proportion. I'm in no way anti-sports/athletics, I just don't get the high school football thing here, probably because I'm not from here.

Brad
_________________
When asked if he always sounds great:
"I always try, but not always, because the horn is merciless, unpredictable and traitorous." - Arturo Sandoval

Robert P · Heavyweight Member Joined: 28 Feb 2013 Posts: 2596

I have a cousin who ran an award-winning high school orchestral program in TX. I have no doubt many of their students go on to academic and performing careers.

They didn't however have any involvement with the football program.

I personally find football in particular to be dumb. Besides the factionalism of many sports and the fandom therof, there's a high likelihood of injury - the focus of the game is to bash into the other players. Seems pretty stupid to go through the rest of your life with a blown out knee etc. because of a sport you played in high school.

I'm sure I could have played - 6'4", do okay in the weight room but even then I just found the mentality offputting. I'm guessing some really high percentage of cops - who as a group I have ambivalent feelings about - played football.
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Brad361 · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 5:42 am Post subject:

Craig Swartz · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 6:14 am Post subject:

RandyTX · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 7:41 am Post subject:

RandyTX · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 7:45 am Post subject:

Brad361 · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 6:20 pm Post subject:

Craig Swartz · Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 7:57 pm Post subject:

Brad361 · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2017 8:11 am Post subject:

Craig Swartz · Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2017 6:25 pm Post subject:

At least you didn't call me a Geezer... Had to double check. I do hope you make it to retirement, though.

Brad361 · Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 5:49 am Post subject:

Craig Swartz · Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 7:38 am Post subject:

Hell- I'm here! (well, at least half the year.) That ought to be reason enough.

Man, that State Fair thing... I'm always in MN for that unless they hire the symphony to come play the opening. (Did last year.) Fried foods have a huge effect- you measure a lot of the women walking around the IA State Fair not by inches but by axe handles...