I watched the BHS Parade this AM on the Miles City web cam, thank you very much, and I noticed that the CCDHS Marching Band was very, very small.

Why? Is the marching band a more limited group than the entire band, or is the band much smaller than in years past?

I love seeing the old antique tractors. They have been there since I was watching back in the 60's.


FH

Part of it is kids are in various sports. The whole population of the band is down and when a few are off golfing or playing tennis or a divisional track meet, you end up with a small band.

I too enjoyed watching the parade on the cam, not a bitch, but I am hoping for sound next year.

The last good band was under Mr. Hartse's direction.

We actually have an excellent microphone on the HD camera, which we installed and tested. We wanted the band sounds from the BH events to be available to viewers, among other things. Subsequent to the microphone being readied, counsel informed us of the legal minefield we'd be walking through, should the sound be turned on.

Our problems would begin when we publicly broadcast music being played live, by musicians who get paid to play music. Then there is the issue of verbal vulgarity. Other city camera owners/operators report that they started their ventures with sound, but had to turn it off due to people shouting profane and/or hateful things at the camera/microphone. These acts led to audience loss, lots of ugly email and, in one instance, a law suit.

That's too bad, but not at all surprising in this Age of Litigation. Just one bad apple....

There are very few athletes anymore that are also in band, so that is not the issue. Numbers have been down for years. In the last year they are down even more. A poor choice in instructor can make or break a struggling program.

The enrollment of the high school is done due to a couple of smaller classes. . It will begin to rise again. Please do not make blanket judgments. Please celebrate the students and staff in their participation in the parade.

I am not making blanket judgment but an informed assessment. Lower school enrollment has nothing to do with students who were in the band program and are no longer.