Save the H.R. Pattengill Band and Orchestra

Rarely these days do we have the pleasure of seeing something artistic yield postive financial as well as social results. The H.R. Pattengill Band Program is just such an institution, and now one of the most successful educational programs in the state of Michigan is slated for elimination as part of a district restructuring program.

I could wax poetic about the passion and dedication the educators of this program, and their selfless devotion to both the improvement and happiness of their students, but I cannot sum things up more eloquently than one of said educators (quoted without permission or solicitation):

"The H. R. Middle School Pattengill Band and Orchestra Program serves more than 350 students a year on a daily basis. It is one of the largest and most successful performance based music programs in the Midwest.

Twelve years ago, there were 108 students in the Pattengill Band. Five years ago, there were 160. Two years ago, there were 180. This year, over 200 Band students AND 150 Orchestra students will walk through the band hall doors. There have been a total of eight ensembles: The Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Cadet Band, Drumline, Percussion Ensemble, Beginner Orchestra and Jazz Band.

Over the last thirteen years, the Pattengill Bands have performed over 22 times at Michigan middle school band and orchestra festivals where they consistently earn top ratings. Over half of those performances received “ones” from the adjudicators, the highest scores a band can earn. They perform class A and AA music (the equivalent of high school class D, C, and B), two levels above their classification.

The Pattengill Middle School Band has also competed nationally eleven times. Nine of those years, they’ve earned first place in their division. Eight of those years, they’ve earned first place overall. Five of those years, they’ve outscored every ensemble type competing at that event, including high schools.

Hundreds of students have earned the highest accolades achievable in the solo and ensemble and honors band at local and state levels. Students that have completed the three year program have later achieved accolades in music and other professional careers, moving on to earn places in prestigious orchestras, bands, professional and college ensembles, as well as perform and record with internationally renowned artists and produce their own recordings.

To put together performances, students individually prepare over an hour a day during school and put in over three hours or more of personal preparation per week. They put in almost five thousand hours of work to produce an hour long performance with two ensembles. The Symphonic Band does this for eleven performances a year! At almost every event they have attended, they have received recognition for being the most disciplined, well-behaved ensemble at the event.

They take pride in their community by accepting ownership of their equipment and facilities. With the help of the Band Boosters, they are almost completely self-sustainable while still assisting other district programs, sorting and organizing their own music, cleaning and repairing the inventory of instruments, collecting wayward instruments from other Lansing schools to return to playing shape and get where they are needed at other schools.

They have amassed an inventory of instruments, equipment and uniforms at a value of more than $250,000 through donations, volunteer work and elbow grease. The students and Band Boosters also currently use and care for a recycled set of high school uniforms that are used for performance. This instrument, uniform and equipment inventory is maintained with a budget of less than .02% of its value every year.

Students also receive a well rounded education beyond music synthesis and higher level thinking skills. All band and orchestra members actively read, write, research, compose and problem solve as regular activities in the classroom. They peer tutor in all subjects, and have supported charities such as the “Smile Train”, which raises money for necessary surgical services to children stricken with cleft lip and palate disorders in hopes they may be able to experience wind symphony performance.

In the last thirteen years alone, the program has successfully performed over 140 formal performances, with an average live audience of 600-1,000. The program has attracted over 100,000 spectators in the last thirteen years. Seven years ago concerts became televised, which now reach a greater Lansing area of 180,000 a year. The band and orchestra students at Pattengill are the most visible ambassadors of the Pattengill community. This exceptional program attracts over sixty five school of choice students to the Lansing School District every year, and keeps countless others in the district. It’s more important than EVER to continue our successful path; to continue to attend cross-district music adjudications, attend national music festivals, earn placements in local and state honors bands, and set the standard of academic achievement for all students at not only Pattengill but the entire district and other communities. Every single year, the band students represent their school with the utmost excellence, discipline and pride. These “at-risk”, “behaviorally challenged”, “unteachable and failing” kids year after year continue to surpass expectations and achieve incredible honors never thought possible at their age.

Lastly, the program is capable of providing an instrument and uniform for every student that is interested. Even at its current size. What better education can you get that costs the taxpayers $21.71 per student a year?

This is a program completely dismantled by the Lansing School District’s May 22nd, 2012 reconfiguration plan. This effectively shifts all non-specialized 7th-12th graders up to high schools and eliminates all middle school programs, rendering the brand new Pattengill Middle School performing arts wing and 836 seat digital auditorium designed for the music programs obsolete."