Dighton-Rehoboth Marching Band
Cadet Proposal Program
This year, as a brand new pilot program, the Dighton-Rehoboth Marching Band will be offering our Beckwith and Dighton Middle School Students the opportunity to play their instruments with the High School Marching Band. This program has been designed to allow band students more time on their individual instruments, while supporting our middle school band directors during this very dismal economic time.
As many parents and band students have already experienced, our middle school music program has been drastically reduced while adding a great deal of strain on our already small music staff. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that this is not just a Dighton-Rehoboth School System problem. We are seeing music and arts programs deteriorating in all of our MA and RI schools, as well.
Our goal is that the staff and upper classmen, many of whom are planning to go into music once in college, be able to spend the first hour of every rehearsal with our middle school students. The middle school band students only see their band directors once a week. It is almost impossible for success! In order to play an instrument, much like with math or reading it must be a discipline taught through repetition and focus.
The past fifteen years, our Marching Band program has already been setup as to not interfere with the school day curriculum by having evening rehearsals. This allows our student band members time to do their homework, eat dinner, and get a rehearsal in.
The Cadet Proposal is obviously in its early stages and I'm sure there will be many questions as to how and why we developed this program. It is an extended invitation for the betterment of each student for a quality musical experience and to assist our music teachers in any way possible. For parents there are many ways that you can help support our music school program as well. Today is the first step. Please make it your business to speak to Mr. Scott Alegria, Friends of the DR Marching Band President, as to how we have raised money to support our program in the past.
Sincerely,
Douglas Kelley
Director, Dighton-Rehoboth Marching Band