I have to ask the person who submitted the last post why it's important to write that you haven't seen the band director at a community event? Are you at every community event? You also state that you don't have access to the teacher but you do to the administration and school board members. Check the school website, you can find any teacher's email address.
I understand we are all entitled to our opinions. I respect the fact that you like the uniforms being worn during the homecoming parade. Personally, it doesn't matter one way or the other to me for this particular parade. Did you see the football game Friday night? They had their uniforms on when performing.

I'm going to have to go with Ray on this one. Marching band is about appearance and attention to detail. Anybody can play an instrument. But to have 50 or 100 kids marching, in perfect sequence, playing in unison, all DRESSED ALIKE is impressive. It shows pride in yourself, pride in your school. When done well, it's truly an awesome sight.

Putting on that uniform is your job if you're in the marching band. When you put that uniform on you represent not just your school but ultimately your community and even your state. But most importantly you send a clear message to all the little kids you march past about what it means to be part of a team. You inspire them to want to be like you, for one day they'll have that job too.

You inspire thoughts such as "Wow those kids from Jordan really know their stuff. I bet their entire school is excellent." And in our case they'd be right. Our school IS extraordinary, and I'm proud to see our kids march to represent it.

Should the uniforms be updated? Sounds like maybe they should. But until they are, you're stuck with them. Whining in an online newspaper isn't going to inspire change--research alternatives and present them to the school board, as a team, in a professional manner. But jeans and T-shirts are not acceptable alternatives, no matter what your thermometer says.

One last thought to chew on--have you ever seen a Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon? Check out this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y90UPLLo6nY

These men are wearing a uniform at least as hot as the JHS one. I don't hear any of them whining.

I also agree with Ray. I was in the band for many years and also had to wear band uniforms. I would have to say the uniforms of the 80's - early 90's we much heavier to wear. We wore them all the time, at 86 degrees out and at 96 degrees out. How many of the late 80's early 90's band members remember the "Hot-Humid" and were talking HOTTTT!!! State Fair parade days? Oh and by the way.....I had to also carry the Tuba. Quit complaining about the 86 degree weather, suck it up and be PROUD to be a band member. Don't get me wrong, I don't like to see kids go down because of the weather, however, I am guessing on Memorial Day, the kids that went down, probally didn't eat anything that morning and also didn't have enough liquids in them. Just like any sporting event, marching event, you have to make sure your ready to go......and and second....I can also remember wearing our uniforms for some concerts.

You said you don't see a need to talk to our director about this "problem," but the director is the one you should talk to. If you would have a problem with how a sport team is dressed, you would talk to their coach. Our director is our coach.
You also do not understand that our director did not go to school to be a teacher. He was in music proformance in college, which meant he just wanted to play in different bands, which is what he did.
He absolutly dislikes marching band, that is why we don't march with our knees high, but that is not why we do not dress in uniforms for Homecoming.
We have suggested to him that we get matching shirts and pants instead of the heavy uniforms. Many other schools do that, and it is a lot more up witht the times.
We always wear our uniforms for the Homecoming game; we always have; we just don't for the parade. It is a lot of work to get into the uniforms, and we end up being in the uniform for like an hour or more when we march in them.
Yes, you might have had to do the same thing when you were in band, and yes, your uniforms might have been heavier, but that doesn't mean it has to be that way for us. You know how bad it was to dress in them. Just because ten years ago the seventh graders got shoved into lockers, doesn't mean it has to happen every year for ever. Times change and fads go.
Yes, we should have these heavy uniforms, but they should be worn only at the formal events like Memorial Day and Heimitfest (as we do and have done), but for days when it is about showing school spirit, as the Homecoming Parade is, we should get to wear our school colors or our Pep Band shirts, which we have, and is what we did.
We don't practice like sports do with marching because our director does not like marching band and does not put much time into it. Also, our band is not big enough to have a corriographed field show. We are too small, and as I and my brother and sister remember, they tried to do a complex corriographed field show for Homecoming a while ago and it just looked not a jumble of nothing.
And I agree with DMRSandCreek. We do very well at during band contest, we received the highest rating at our contest last year; the year before that we received a very high rating. We challange ourselves with Catagory 1 music with just about every piece we play. You can come to one of our concerts and tell us we are not the best band around, we will all be very surprised.
Bucky, I disagree with you. Not anyone can play an instrument. Not everyone has the discipline to learn an instrument. Not everyone can march and play at the same time. It takes time, skill, and practice.
Ray, we always have uniforms on for the Homecoming game. If you came to more homecoming games, you would have known this. The fact that our band director might not go to events is not up to the people in band. He is a very busy man that can't just drop everything to go to a community event. The administration should and does not tell us when and when not to wear uniforms. As far as you saying, you don't know the director means nothing. Just because you don't know him does not mean you can not talk to him. Just because you don't know a person doesn't mean you don't ask them directions. Just because you don't know a cashier at the grocery store, does not mean you do not say hello to them or answer their questions. Our director is a nice man who would have listened to you if you had took the time to walk the twenty more feet to talk to him rather than talking to the superintendant.

Honestly, I (representing myself; not the rest of the band or school) don't believe you should be offended because we don't wear our uniforms for Homecoming. Homecoming is not about Jordan as a town. Homecoming is about High School sports, and that is what we are supporting. We were very festive in our school colors. If you are offended by that, why are you not offended by the school not requiring school uniforms every school day or requiring every clothing company to make the same color shirts and pants, that way everyone can look the same all the time. Shouldn't you have the wear the same color shirt as your co-workers at work so you represent your company well and respectivly? This is what you are saying about our band. I should go to your place of employment and tell your boss that I am offended that everyone is wearing different things, that they don't look the exact same and aren't in step with everyone else.
The world is not a perfect place and just because you have a problem with something doesn't mean you should have the right to dictate over things that are going on. We have been marching without uniforms for the Homecoming parade for years, why would we change that now?

(I do not mean to sound mean, but it sounds like it would be that way.)

back in the day when we used to walk up hill both ways and carried the tuba players on our backs in the rain.... There was occasion to break from the full uniform, not too often. The full wool uniforms were prior to my date, we had the vapor trapping Polyester. Since then the band has undergone cutbacks and many things now have to be picked up by the parents of the band members. The band has also reduced in members as years ago the band was larger with a smaller school size. Instruments are not cheap and even the amount of time delegated to practice has been reduced. I was at the parade and not offended, I was at the game and also not offended. They are a High School Band, I am sure they can improve. They are also kids and I hope that at times they can have some fun. Lighten up, The Game was Good "Go Hubmen".

Composition.Notebook I agreed with almost everything you said before, but I have to say that Homecoming is a community event in smaller communities like ours.

I don't know if the JHS band has done this, since I haven't seen them march since I was in school, but on hot parade days I see people walking with marching bands with water bottles and towels to hydrate band members during the parade. Maybe the band could round up some volunteer parents to help with that if it isn't done already...?

And it irks me to hear that the current band director doesn't like marching and doesn't require marching at parades. (said Composition.Notebook)

I was in Band and I was in Football. Just before homecoming my senior year some parents and an unnamed problem teacher, who later made the news, pressured the high school to rethink their policies. I had to make a decision to pull out of band or football. I chose to stay in football. It should not be assumed that outside pressures do not adversely affect the band and some of the kids in the band. The style that is now used by the band is from the drum and bugle core. The style Cliff taught us was the military march. I was also in the James Gang Drum and Bugle Core. I prefer the look of the military march myself, however being in both have found the core style to be less painful and the uniforms less cumbersome as well as less expensive. The core style is now used more than the military march as it allows for more stylized movements and even can affect the music. Yes, Cliff was a great director and one of the last to hold out for the military march. The Band was more celebrated and more students were willing to participate in band. I would love to see Jordan attain the same level of music and members that we had in the past. I would also like to see the community behind them as they were in the past. If the current director needs constructive criticism it should be given and appreciated with out breaking the spirit of the kids or turning into an insult match. I have a niece in the band and to me it appeared that they were expressing team spirit; however it is the director that sets the doctrine the students abide to. I would bet that next year they are in full uniform and some of the students will be disappointed. As for pride they learn that from their parents and how their parents take pride in school, community, state and nation… are your flags flying? I know that many are not. My flag flies for the kids, parents, uncles and friends who have given or may be asked to give their life for their country. I still have my letterman’s jacket and am attempting to install a sense of pride in my children, so as the Beach Boys sang… “Be true to your School”. As Crosby, Stills and Nash sang… “Teach your children well”.

Here here!! :)

With all due respect I was also in drum corps and we "marched"... these kids do not even resemble marching, they aren't remotely in step, and that falls on the director. I agree with Andy that it's disappointing to hear that the band director doesn't like marching... it's part of the job sorry.

One last thing, Composition.notebook, you mentioned that you had parents that would be waiting for you after parades... don't you have any parents that actually march along side of you with water bottles in hand to give you drinks while marching? Just wondering because we had parents that were always willing to do that so that none of the students would unfortunately pass out. We also marched more often than you guys do,at the State Fair, Disney World, Epcot... it's a real bummer the band director doesn't like marching. We were fortunate enough to go to Florida every three years to march and those were some awesome parades and memories!

Buzz Band forever!!!
I agree with Jason, let's get the alumni buzz band together! Not to take anything away from the JHS band. I give these kids credit for sticking it out with band. With all of the class requirements that have been forced on these kids and less time for electives, those in band are giving up the opportunity to take classes in home ec (FACS now - remember foods and clothing?), industrial arts (do they still call it that?), computers, business, art, etc. Things are different now, and we are fortunate to still be able to offer fine arts opportunities. Who knows what the future will hold with budget cuts.

Comp....you say other towns wear t-shirts.....have you been to a State Fair parade, every town there Big and Small are wearing the traditional Band Uniform. I have to say this, its all the Band Director. I know numberous kids that have quit the band over the past 3-4 years and they all state the same reason.

and since were talking band....Where the heck were ya for the Homecoming volleyball match? I would have figured thats one match you would have forsure played for. Did any members of the band bring up why you were not playing?

Not to bring up the Buzz Band again, however there were a few times that our "famous" director could not make a game, it that case we usually had a drummer lead the band, sounded still awesome.

The only thing I'll comment on is the discrepancy between "J-townfanmischief" and "Composition.Notebook"'s comments...

Earlier Composition.Notebook said, "He (the band director) absolutly dislikes marching band, that is why we don't march with our knees high..."

Now J-townmischief says, "he (the band director) still likes pep band and marching. That's just not his forte..."

Both of you are spouting off things like they are facts. One, or both, of you are wrong. So at this point it's hard to believe anything you two comment on.

All of my comments are my opinion, so take them as they are.

And I still think band is more extra-curricular than just a class.

Wow. All I can say is be glad the band has only had ONE director for awhile. And I use the word "awhile" loosely. I joined JHS band as soon as Mr. Klehr offered lessons (5th or 6th grade) During my entire school career in Jordan (K-12) we had FOUR count them, FOUR band directors. Cliff Klehr first, then retired. Ms. Heidi Thelan (I think, its been awhile), second, replaced due to "accusations." Third, Mr. Webber, resigned. Fourth, my senior year, can't remember her name though....Miss something or other...
My point, at least this guy seems to care about the band in some aspect. Whether or not he likes marching band, I know the band does well in concert settings, and that says something. I personally feel that I didn't get that much out of band during the 6-7 years I was a member due to the incredible turnover in directors. Each director was so different in personality, musical tastes, etc. there was never any consistancy. Band trip to Florida? HA. NEVER happened. Oh, and the uniforms in discussion, we were fitted for those going into the 9th grade (class of 2001) I remember it was such a HUGE deal, because they were so "top of the line" and expensive. We had to take incredible care of those uniforms, that sadly, we barely ever wore due to the complete chaos caused by high turnover in directors.
It was great being able to wear those brand new custom fit uniforms with pride----when it wasn't too hot or humid.
In my opinion, a quality director is more important than "nice, community pride inspiring" uniforms. Both would be great, but can't we be happy that we at least have the important part covered?

Yeah. Our Concert Band goes all year; it's been that way for years. I agree that many of you seem to not appreciate the Jordan Band. We are tiny (approximately half of what my parents had when they were in band) and the fact that we are as good and powerful as we are is incredible. Our director, honestly, like I said before, does not like marching. I remember him telling us this a few years ago. Just because he doesn't like it, doesn't mean he doesn't try to get us up to a decent standard. And the fact is that the only practicing we did in the week of the homecoming parade is the practicing we did on the field for the field show. The cop was driving very slow, and marching in step at a slow pace while playing a faster song is incredibly hard. I understand that seeing a band out of step looks horrible, but that is how it went. And the people that hold the flag do not count, we honestly pulled them out of class that morning and asked them to hold our flag (same as we did for Hemitfest). Parents have changed over years, yes. Parents don't want to have to drive their children up to the school five times a week to play for pep band (at volleyball games and such), because I'm sure many of them were not in band and do not want to "waste" gas. And it is a relatively short amount of time we play, lasting about an hour for Volleyball.
Homecoming is the one parade, the one time throughout the entire year, we don't wear uniforms when we possibly could. Don't get so bent out of shape for one time. Jordan is our home, and we feel comfortable enough that we believe that the community will see that Homecoming is more of a high school dress up event than a big community event. Yes, it is about people coming back, but we have not dressed in formal uniforms for the Homecoming Parade for years.
All of you are saying formal, hot, polyester uniforms could be worn and that many schools wear them. But just because everyone does it, doesn't mean it is good. So if someone jumps off a bridge, I guess "all" of you would too.
Jason - Have you noticed that we do not play the State Fair? If we played the State Fair, I'm sure we would wear uniforms, but we don't play at that.

I have asked the director why we don't play at the State Fair anymore? He has never once said it's cause he don't like to march, he told me it was hard to get the kids to show up for practice for it. If he don't like to march, I would have loved to heard that from him and would have accepted that answer.

Yup. That's what I'm getting at. Many of the kids are talking about doing something like that.