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Numbers plummet in Beverly elementary band program

By Cate Lecuyer
staff writer
Published: November 10, 2008

BEVERLY — Elementary students, it seems, are less interested in playing the clarinet than they were last year.

And the trumpet. And the flute. And any other instrument that forms the foundation of the Beverly High School band. The number of fifth-graders in the band program has dropped from nearly 80 students last year to 32 this year — after the district eliminated the full-time band instructor position due to budget cuts.

Students who play an instrument in elementary school tend to go on to play in the middle and high school bands.

"I'd like to say we've consistently been one of the best bands on the North Shore," said high school band director Ray Novack.

So he and middle school band director Adam Costa are a little worried about the future if their feeder program fizzles out.

"I'm not ready to push the panic button yet, because I'm thinking it's a transitional year, and it will improve," Novack said.

He and Costa are teaching fourth- and fifth-graders for 45 minutes in the morning before school and think the new 7:30 a.m. practices before school — instead of during the school day — may be keeping kids away. They speculate it's because students who take the bus can't get there in time.

Maybe, they say, the $195 fee is too expensive for some. Financial assistance, however, is available.

"Right now, Ray and I are just racking our brains to figure out why this has just plummeted," Costa said.

When the full-time elementary band instructor retired, the district eliminated the position as part of budget cuts last year, saving about $50,000. To keep the program running, Novack and Costa agreed to teach before school — the only time they had available. They each receive a stipend between $4,500 and $6,000 for the additional classes.

The elementary strings program, which was just expanded into the third grade and is still taught by a full-time teacher during the day, has nearly 100 kids.

The band program, on the other hand, focuses on wind and percussion instruments. Students at each elementary school get one lesson a week, the same as last year.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Costa goes to Cove, Centerville and Ayers. On Tuesday and Thursday, Novack goes to Hannah and North Beverly. Then they both teach at their respective middle and high schools during the day, and often after school.

"We agreed to do this knowing it would keep things afloat, but I think the way Ray and I see it, it's a Band-Aid," Costa said.

Yet Novack said he's also thankful for the district's support.

"We're lucky we still have it in the schools," he said. "Because of budget crises, music is usually first on the chopping block."

Indeed, in early spring the elementary music program was a proposed budget cut, said Assistant Superintendent Marie Galinski.

"This is something we wanted to try this year, because we wanted to save the program," she said. The new structure of the band program is less expensive than last year, but it still costs more than what it's making.

"It's not a wash," Galinski said.

She said she's also not sure why participation is half what it was last year.

"I think it might pick up again after people see how it's run this year," she said. However, the district may send out a survey to get a better sense of what the problem is.

"We have to evaluate it this year," she said.

The theory was echoed by parents who have fifth-graders in the band program.

"You've got to get the feedback," said Brian Miller, whose son Luke plays the saxophone at Centerville. He walks to school or Miller drives him, so taking the bus isn't an issue.

"It's important to find out if that really is the reason," he said. "It could just be that this year there aren't as many kids that are musically inclined."

Parent Julie Rowe's son Daniel plays the trumpet. He normally takes the bus, but she drives him to Cove Monday mornings for the music lesson.

"For other people, that might be a burden," she said.

Yet the silver lining could be the students who do practice at 7:30 a.m. are committed. Many kids who start an instrument in fifth grade go on to play in the high school band — but not all.

"If they show more dedication to begin with, they're more likely to stick with it," Miller said. "You're not going to lose as many."

By the same token, Rowe said she knows a lot of kids who are taking private lessons or learning an instrument at a private elementary school.

"I'm hopeful they're going to wind up in the band in the high school," she said.

Even if the feeder program doesn't bounce back, Rowe said she thinks it will all work out.

"I'm optimistic and hopeful even if we have half the numbers, we'll have a good band," she said.