URGENT LETTER  From the YCUSD Music Staff

June 1, 2004

Dear YCUSD Music Program Supporters,

            As you may know, the YCUSD School Board recently approved a list of cuts which included two full-time music teacher positions.  We believe that these cuts may have a devastating impact on our district’s entire music program.  Brent Mitchell and Carl Hansen, two long time band teachers in our community, will be retiring at the end of this school year.  However, rather than replacing these teachers, the district plans to cut classroom music instruction and move some of our classroom music teachers into band classrooms.  Students will no longer receive classroom music instruction in 2^nd or 4^th grades, and many band classes will not be taught by band specialists. 

            We fear that these changes will have a long-term impact on our district’s music program, at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.  Because all students will receive less classroom music instruction in elementary school, it may take longer for students to develop their musical skills and knowledge.  This could result in lower quality music groups by the time students reach the middle and high school levels.  In addition, part of what has made our district’s program so strong is that we have had specialists teaching in their specialty area.  If these cuts occur, we will no longer have specialists teaching their best subject. 

            We need as many parents and supporters of the YCUSD Music Program as possible to attend the June 8^th school board meeting at Gray Avenue School.  If these cuts occur, our program will have been cut by 30% in the past two years.  The school board needs to know that these cuts are unacceptable.  We need you to attend this meeting, and please wear something blue so that our support of music can be seen. 

Thank you for your support!

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FROM THE May 1 Alumni Meeting:

The YCHS Band Alumni is here to stay!

The band will continue to play.  Bob Holmes has selected a nice array of music, easy enough to play yet hard enough to be interesting.  He suggested we play in a low key concert (the Peach Festival, click here for info) to garner interest in joining the group.  We are planning get-togethers and outings - for fun of course.  Please keep an eye on this website for information.  This promises to be a fun year! 

Please CONTACT us if you have any questions/suggestions.

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12/05/03 message from the YCHS Band Alumni Committee:
Hello to Barrie's Band and all YCHS Band Alumni;

It is hard to believe that 3 months have gone by since our September 6th dinner reunion, but believe me, our association is a long way from over. Our Alumni committee has been meeting on a regular basis since then and all of us are happy to report that it looks like we are going to continue as a group or should I say family for years into the future. ............. for the REST of the story, Click HERE!

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The YCHS 2003-2004 Marching Band, under the direction of Band Director, Kim Malato, and Drum Major, Mark Sawyer, took a trio of top honors at a regional competition Saturday (10/04/03) in Oroville.  See the article in the Appeal Democrat at:

http://www.appeal-democrat.com/articles/2003/10/14/news/top_story/news1.txt