Meeting with Bro. Brown

I can't post without uploading a photo. I believe this is Mark Judd directing the group in an school assembly. From left to right Mark Call, Dave Brown, ? on Tuba, Paul Hatch and Everet Bluth. I meet with Bro. Brown on Monday afternoon and among other things discussed the music program. It was a very positive meeting and he assured me that the school intends to keep trying with the band program till it works. As he states the school has been known for its band program for years and he hopes to keep this tradition going. We both agree that the parents need to support the program by encouraging thier children to come to band. Cathy Hatch expressed it very well in her comment on the first posting (see below). She "made" them go and none of them have regret it. I expressed my support to Bro Brown in what ever decission they make and offered my help wherever they thought appropriate.

104 years later

Now 104 years later the school has canceled the band program due to "lack of support". It is sad that this tradition that has lasted for over a century is on the verge of becoming extinct. The Academia Juarez band has played for governors of states and presidents of countries (photos to follow). It has represented The Colonies and Nvo. Casas Grandes throughout Mexico in a grand and memorable way for years. The question of why is yours to answer. Has TV and the internet replaced this discipline for our children. de Tocqueville said that “in a democracy, the people get the government they deserve.” I believe that if we as a comunity allow it we will get the "kind of school programs we deserve".

100 years of Band

I remember the first time I saw this picture, was in the Church History Museum in SLC. I was impressed that all those years ago the founders of our comunities placed such a high value on music and the arts. Of course my first thought was, " I didn't know those musical insturments had been invented yet". In the interest of looking for pictures to post on this and my facebook group site I went to Nelle Hatch's book on the Academia Juarez 1901-1976 to look for pictures and info on the history of band at the JSA. The following info comes from that book.

This picture is of the band in 1905 which is just 8 years after the founding of the school. I suspect this isn't the first year they had band. ( I think that bass drum is still at the school. ha ha)