Jazz Band: rebuild the music program at Oak Park High School

Petition for Jazz

Oak Park High School is know for its standards in Mathematics, sciences, language arts, history, and even it's elective classes.

Oak Park has recently been awarded with the top 200 schools in the nation. The school is relatively small, has an array of classes, the are no classes lower than a college prep., and the school offer a large selection of Advanced Placement courses. Also this school has been regarded with a low student teacher ratio. They will be 34:1 in the next year.

This economy has taken a direct toll on this school in academics, and in elective courses. In particular the music program. Already many students have left the district in search of a musical education. In the past the school had a strong living selection. Now there is only one. The petition is to take the first step to rebuild the music program. Years back there was an Orchestra, a Concert Band, Jazz band A, and B.

A Jazz Band unfortunately does not contain 34 players. the school has said that if the band were to receive 25 players then it would consider making it a class.

In a Big Band there are:
2 Alto Saxophones, 2 Tenor Saxophones, a Baritone Saxophone, 4 Trombones, 4 Trumpets, a Guitarist, Drummer, Bassist, and a Pianist. together that adds to 18. Having that many players is pushing the bounds of Jazz Band. The average sized jazz band is around 15 to 17 players. Another problem is finding players for those instrument. to find those exact instruments is difficult.

The same way a four year old would ask for a car is the same rational as asking for a 34 or even a 25 person Jazz Band. These are all of the people who support the reinstatement of Jazz as a class at Oak Park High School California.