By Amanda Tennant, staff writer
On April 7, 2015, residents of Kenosha voted “yes” to a recent referendum proposed by Kenosha Unified School District that would allow $16 million to be invested in high school athletic facilities. According to the ballot, money from the referendum would be spent on all three high schools and the invested projects would include a new football stadium for Bradford High School, safer viewer stands for Tremper High School and an updated track and softball fields for Indian Trail.
However, despite voters approval of the referendum, critics have emerged with argument over what programs the district urges the community to support. Perhaps the most vivid come from members of Band of the Blackwatch. Band of the Blackwatch is the combined high school marching band that is available to band musicians across KUSD to participate in over the summer.
In fall of 2014, Blackwatch members voiced a desire to become a field show marching band after many years of just being a parade marching band. The issue was presented to the KUSD, but after deliberation, the idea was struck down due to a lack of funding.
As a current Blackwatch member, it is confusing as to why there is a lack of funding for this program when district officials can put together a $16 million referendum for the construction of stadiums and stands. The Band of the Blackwatch is just as deserving and money needs to be invested to allow the marching band to participate in field shows.
One of the major reasons as to why Blackwatch deserves to have money invested towards field shows is because the marching band has been a part of KUSD and Kenosha for over 30 years and in those 30 years, the band has become a distinct Kenosha icon. Every summer during the Kenosha Parade, Band of the Blackwatch is always recognizable by Kenosha residents as they march with pride down Kenosha streets. And, the band is not just well known in Kenosha, but in other cities as well.
Year after year, Blackwatch is invited to march in numerous Illinois parades, including the Lake Bluff parade and the Vernon Hills Parade as well as other Wisconsin parades, such as the Somers Parade and the Lake Geneva’s Swedish Days Parade. On top of that, Blackwatch has been invited to perform in places across the country, such as Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Blackwatch’s talent has been recognized by Walt Disney Studios and has repeatedly been asked to perform every other year at Disneyworld in Florida. With so many accomplishments, it is obvious that Blackwatch members are hardworking, dedicated, and very deserving of any kind of investment.
Another advantage to allowing Blackwatch to participate in field shows comes from competitions.
Generally, Band of the Blackwatch runs from early May to the middle of July every year. However, with the addition of field shows, that schedule would be extended to start earlier in January or February, since field shows take more time to learn and prac- tice. Though some may argue that field shows would burden the band due to the extended time, I see it as an opportunity. By starting to learn field shows in January and meeting once or twice a week either in a high school gym or on a field outside, Blackwatch members would be extremely prepared for the competitions in the summer due to extra months of practice. Also, the time dedicated to concert music, since Blackwatch also plays for concerts such as the Ice Cream Social, would not be affected because by the time summer starts, the field show routine would be prepared so the field show time would not take away from learning the concert music.
Also, by participating in the band for such an extended period of time, the Band could be seen as a type of sport and athletic event. Marching is a great form of exercise and stamina. During field shows, not only does a musician need to play his or her instrument at superb level, but also at the same time must march in particular formations and practically run across the field in roll step. This makes for quite the workout.
Especially with childhood obesity increasing throughout the United States, any type of exercise in a school event should be readily welcomed.
Lastly, another point to make is that it wouldn’t cost that much money. According to bloomberg.com, the average cost of a marching band with field shows participating in the Rose Bowl would cost just a little over $7000. Also, keep in mind, $7000 is the price for the elite, audition marching bands and a local band would probably cost a lot less. So compared to a multimillion dollar football stadium, a couple thousand dollar field show investment is not that much.
We all want our activities to be appreciated and adored, but when an event comes along that has the opportunity to improve many activities such as Band of the Blackwatch, the district should support it.