If someone taught me how to do this on my head I’d be eternally grateful.
DITTO. this is gorgeous
uh, so I’ve started watching Sons of Anarchy. and now i’m shamelessly falling for the fictional vice-president of a motorcycle club from California.
![Scene I. Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.
Caesar. [to Sooth] The ides of March are come.
Soothsayer. Ay, Caesar; but not gone.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/ccad2740b481e9284a200cf5a43ad0d5/tumblr_mjoq8qg3y01qz6f9yo2_r1_500.jpg)
Scene I. Rome. Before the Capitol; the Senate sitting above.
Caesar. [to Sooth] The ides of March are come.
Soothsayer. Ay, Caesar; but not gone.
“We all know that athletes, in high school and college alike, are awarded special privileges, but somehow it seems even more unfair that students who pursue other extracurricular talents, should, anywhere in America, be placed in a subsidiary position to their classmates who happen to play sports.”
this NPR article really hits home on issues that are definitely felt by public high schoolers in music programs, and ones that continue to repeat twofold in college, when the added factor of scholarship money comes into play. students who are passionate about art or music are denied the full-ride scholarships and extra educational support that athletes receive.
i am taking a 100 level religion class this semester which means the class is me (a senior, two months away from graduation) and 29 freshmen. shame on me for taking the class knowing this would be the case or whatever, but the point is, there are a lot of freshmen. four of them are on our football team.
(anyone familiar with the Philadelphia area will tell you that my school is not known for their football program. having one of the longest losing streaks in college football history will do that to you. but recently, we’ve been winning a bit. in 2009 and 2011 we made it to bowl games!)
so these 4 guys in my religion class. i ended up studying with them for our midterm last week. “studying” is a term i’d use loosely, because i was the only one who had done the study guide. our test was the next day, and these boys didn’t care. they knew they were going to fail the exam and they were totally fine with it, so we talked for a while. they told me about how they are all struggling to keep up their GPAs, and that they knew they weren’t college material. they weren’t like, embarrassed or anything, but they honestly knew and accepted the fact that they are in college not for academics, but for football.
what is strange to me is the system that universities set up in which they accept students solely based on their football abilities, and then give them a full scholarship to attend the university, take classes, barely pass those classes, and be a beaming public face of the university as a football player. maybe i don’t *get* sports and the whole mentality behind it, and yes, i realize the income that football generates for the university as a whole, but it just feels so wrong to me.
paying, bribing, and even in some cases begging, these football players to come to a school is like hiring a self-destructive massively famous actor to be the lead role in your independent movie. all the other actors, directors and members of your crew work exponentially harder and have a stronger initial drive and motivation to participate in your film yet are outshined by and paid less than the superstar/quarterback.
so, to get back to the initial issue. i played clarinet in the marching band my freshman year here. it was an amazing experience full of long days of band camp, longer nights spent trying to memorize music and fight songs, and weird parties. it was fun when the band kids were all in our little world together- like it had been in high school.
it’s frustrating to realize though, that outside that band bubble, our supporters are few and far between. if i tell somebody i used to be in band, i get the “oh cool” response and the conversation ends there. every single football player i’ve talked to (with one exception) has mocked the band. we are there to support YOU! generally, little to no love is given to band members.
don’t get me wrong though, i think we all realize that if you’re in marching band for the glory, get out now. it’s far from glamorous, but not worthy of the stigma that surrounds it currently. being in the band is hard work, fun, and a way for us creatives to grab up whatever scholarship money the college will give us. which isn’t much.
i just did the math (oh god, i shouldn’t have done the math) and estimated how many hours i spent practicing drills, music, or performing my first semester, then divided that by my scholarship sum, and i made a little less than $1 an hour during my time as a 2nd clarinet in the Diamond Marching Band.
so here’s what i have to say. colleges and universities everywhere whose football teams are accompanied by marching bands: divide your money up a little more reasonably and pay your musicians more. but if you’re not willing to do that, at least pay them the respect they deserve.
alls-well-with-the-world replied to your post: alls-well-with-the-world replied to your post:…
Favorite tracks include Hopeful, Bonfire, New Lover, Lights. How bout yourself?
Nightmares and Lights! i didn’t like the album at all when i first listened, but it’s slowly growing on me
The #1 takeaway from the last episode of Bob’s Burgers: Go to the library. Learn shocking new things.
<3
alls-well-with-the-world replied to your post: y’all better get ON this free Josh Ritter…
Agreed. Best Version of Harrisburg. That entire live album is fantastic. Rumors, Rattling Locks, et cetera. Josh Ritter Perfection
have you seen the concert footage from the Iveagh Gardens recording? it comes as a CD/DVD combo if you buy the album and it’s lovely, as is expected. how do you like the new album?
