Music Programs

And the Music Stopped

Music extracurricular programs cancelled 2021-2022

Photos Courtosey of the Dry Gulch Gazette Former Winter Percussion students in formation at a practice during the 2018-2019 school year. The program was unable to proceed this year for many reasons.

By Scott Glueckert

Arroyo Instrumental Music Director Vernon Miyata has had to deal with the cancellation of two of his programs, Winter Percussion and the marching band. Commenting on the challenges that the marching band faced, Miyata had this to say: “The next challenge was finding a space outdoors to rehearse. ”

The marching band program has been around for many years. According to Miyata, this year they were not able to have a season due to COVID related concerns (especially if they were not able to get a space to rehearse outside where they were less likely to contract COVID). The Winter Percussion program was also canceled in large part due to the group not being able to practice enough due to the janitors having to disinfect the school on the weekends.

Marching band and Winter Percussion are both music extracurriculars that have been offered at AHS. One could very easily expect that their cancellation would harm morale for students in these programs. As has already been stated, these programs were canceled for a myriad of reasons.

These programs have been canceled largely because of factors outside of the control of the Music Department. Miyata was saddened and it seems that this sentiment was shared among the students in Winter Percussion.

“I was saddened. The marching band had put in a lot of time and energy up to that point and when we had to cancel it before our first competition, students were greatly disappointed that that happened.”

Senior Nicole Trevino, a 3 year veteran of the marching band, was disheartened by the cancellation.

“I mean I was upset, I did marching band since Freshman year right so and I think I’ve had friends, my friends I have today are friends that I’ve met throughout marching band from Freshman year, Sophomore year, even continuing to Junior year, to now.” Trevino remarked.

Trevino was deeply saddened by the cancellation of the program that had allowed her to make a lot of new friends. Trevino was also in the Winter Percussion program this year and offered a comment on the restrictions that the program faced due to the virus.

“When we were planning on having it, it would go through many restrictions because of COVID.” Trevino said.

It has been shown that Trevino believes that Winter Percussion was greatly changed due to the circumstances surrounding COVID. Junior Noreen Gomez, a former member of Winter Percussion, reflected on the things she loved about the program.

“It’s basically become like a second family and that’s like the kind of environment that I do I miss right now especially since I’m not able to do it right now. ” Gomez remarked. Gomez misses the feeling of community that she got from the programs. Sophomore Kiera Tan, a member of both the marching band and Winter Percussion this year before they were canceled, agrees with Gomez.

“Bonding, in a way. Having people to talk to with the same interests as you and also being able to work on yourself.” Tan said.

Tan clearly enjoyed the social environment as well as the self improvement opportunities that these programs offered. Tan will be unable to get these experiences from these programs if they are not around. Tan, despite all the challenges, would be willing to join the program again.

“I would. I find it fun and I don’t really want to spend all of my highschool years doing academics.”

It seems like students who were in the program this year would want to move into it again next year. As for the marching band, Miyata is deeply hoping that it will be allowed to continue next school year.

“Cross my fingers.” Miyata said.