High School Confidential

By Alex Bleiweis

	Alex Bleiweis is a senior at Hendrick Hudson High School. He is the public relations officer of the student government. He enjoys studying French and watching sports.

Every successful musician will make the same assertion that Kevin Bacon did, saying that, “Music is the stuff that keeps us alive. It has the power to heal us, move us and stimulate our minds and our bodies. Kids need music as much as they need the education fundamentals.”

An unfortunate truth about local high schools is that music education is often overlooked if not forgotten. Although music education is becoming more prominent at Hendrick Hudson, the location of the band and orchestra rooms is particularly appropriate for the situation we’re in. Located down myriad flights of stairs, in what’s referred to as “the dungeon,” Hen Hud musicians, who are tirelessly rehearsing in order to achieve honors such as “Gold Ratings” at the annual NYSSMA festival, are flying under the radar. Music has proven to be an extremely vital component of education and needs further attention.

Much of my high school life has been dedicated to music. As a member of the Hendrick Hudson Wind Ensemble for four years, it’s been an exciting privilege to improve as a musician under the acclaimed band director, Joe Stamboni. As much as I’ve progressed personally, I’ve been disappointed by the lack of support for the music program as a whole. The band, for example, is still the same ignored group as it was four years ago. Every year, we play at least two major concerts, march in the Memorial Day Parade, play at three elementary schools, and do various other performances for community service, but it seems that these actions have gone unnoticed by everyone but our parents. In fact, even playing at fortissimo at every home football game has brought us more negative complaints from sports-absorbed coaches rather than compliments from community members. It drives me crazy.

Initially, you may not think there’s a lot to be said for music education, but the benefits of are so monumental that is a pity that it goes ignored by so many. Students who participate in music programs are proven to achieve higher standardized test scores than non-music students. Additionally, it’s been proven that music students are superior in basic math, thanks to being exposed to counting rhythms and beats at a young age. This is only what statistics have proven, but as a music student, I know that the benefits go beyond grades. Being part of the ensemble teaches me how to cooperate with a group of people in order to reach a common goal and it teaches the value of hard work and determination. These are important qualities that can’t be taught in textbooks.

Looking at all the hard work that’s put in by each student, I feel like we deserve to look out into the audience during a concert and see an auditorium packed with people intensely listening to our selections. Instead, I peer beyond the bell of my tuba and see a small scattering of people, mostly parents. Every single empty seat is a poor reflection on our student body and our community.

Maybe it’s not their fault, maybe it’s just that our society isn’t interested in music. Still, I can’t understand why the community packs the stands for a football game, but can’t come support the musicians. There are many improvements that need to be made to the music program, including new classes, new rehearsal spaces, and an acoustically sound auditorium. However, none of this can be done without support, which means more people have to start coming out to see us. We can raise all the money in the world, but we’ll never reach our full potential by playing to an empty hall.

You should ask anyone who heard last year’s epic Carmina Burana performance, a combined effort between the band and the chorus or any of the musical groups past selections including Respighi’s “Pines of the Appien Way.” They can vouch for us. Sacrificing two nights a year to come hear the group play for free is something that community members should be excited about.

So please, regardless of where you live in the county, find out when there are high school concerts in the area and attend them. You’ll be impressed with what you hear, and you’ll understand the importance of supporting this great cause.