Student representatives told the committee Monday that cuts to staffing have combined levels in the music department and reduced the quality of instruction for both advanced and beginning students. The students asked the committee to address how the program can be staffed to allow leveled ensembles.

Why it matters: mixed-grade, mixed-skill ensembles limit advanced students’ opportunities and require seniors to spend class time supporting peers, students said. The comments came during student-representative remarks following the committee’s business items.

A student named Ruby recounted eight years in the band and said this year “students are taking less joy in their music” because ensembles now include freshmen through seniors and students with widely disparate skills. The student said upperclassmen accepted into prestigious music ensembles are performing the same repertoire as beginners and that the situation is “a disservice” to both groups. Committee members acknowledged the comments, asked clarifying questions about whether the changes were caused by staffing reductions, and heard an administration reply that consolidation followed staffing cuts that reduced the number of ensemble sections.

The committee did not take formal action on the comment; administrators and members said the concerns would be factored into scheduling and staffing discussions going forward.