Neighbor complains HS marching band rehearsals are too loud.

[NMAmy]

I lived near a high school for several years. We were far enough away that you wouldn't hear the marching band in the normal scheme of things. However, what I was NOT aware of was the fact that they'd practice marching up and down the residential streets in our neighborhood--playing the whole time. I was taken aback at first but it was always in the early evening and after I knew to plan for it (it was once a week or so), dd and I would sit out front and watch our own private parade.

The other thing I didn't know about was the cannons. My high school didn't have one so I'd never thought about it. The high school we lived by would shoot off a cannon every time they made a touchdown. If they were winning, I'd have a freaked out toddler and a terrified dog by the end of the evening. Thank goodness football season didn't last all year!

I never would have dreamed about complaining to the school about any of this.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I lived near a high school for several years. We were far enough away that you wouldn't hear the marching band in the normal scheme of things. However, what I was NOT aware of was the fact that they'd practice marching up and down the residential streets in our neighborhood--playing the whole time. I was taken aback at first but it was always in the early evening and after I knew to plan for it (it was once a week or so), dd and I would sit out front and watch our own private parade.

My high school practiced marching up and down the residential street as well, but only on Saturdays mornings in the late summer and early fall. My mom and I would go out and watch them marching as well. I love band music so I got a kick out of it.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

But if you *knew*, or should have known, ahead of time that the band practices at this time for years and years, wouldn't you just not have your child in the band in the first place if you don't like it? I don't get why people would put their kid in the band and THEN try to change the practice.

I never said I'd try to change it but I wouldn't agree with it. I'm sure different band directors over the years have done different things, so just because something is done now doesn't mean it was exactly the same 5 years ago or will be exactly the same next year.

I don't understand the unwillingness to change, nor the, "we were here first so deal with it," attitude. Why not come to an agreement that works for everyone?

 

[Hannathy]

I don't understand the unwillingness to change, nor the, "we were here first so deal with it," attitude. Why not come to an agreement that works for everyone?

Who's everyone? the 150 people in the band and the entire High School or the SINGLE home owner? based on these numbers I'd say it does work for the vast majority of "everyone"

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Who's everyone? the 150 people in the band and the entire High School or the SINGLE home owner? based on these numbers I'd say it does work for the vast majority of "everyone"

How about the band (singular unit) and the homeowner (singular unit).

 

[Christine]

Who's everyone? the 150 people in the band and the entire High School or the SINGLE home owner? based on these numbers I'd say it does work for the vast majority of "everyone"

Well of course it works for the 150 band members, they are the ones making the noise. I think it's just a matter of trying to realize that what your doing does have an affect on people around you. If there is a small way to compromise I don't see what wrong about it.

 

[Pigeon]

I think they should either stop practices earlier or find a new venue. What they are doing is obnoxious.

 

[My2Cinderellas]

if they lived here, they'd have to complain that they are being woken up too early. band practice starts at 7am and goes through first period. school starts at 8:10 so they are on the field until about 8:30-8:40.

I live 2 miles away and can sometimes hear the drums in the morning. I don't usually hear noise from the games.

If that is the long standing tradition, then buyer beware. I think the homeowners are out of line. It's a nuisance yes, but within the law.

 

[Tiffer]

Here's a link to the story:
http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2007/09/11/news/local_news/newsstory5.txt

In a nutshell...
The band practices in a school parking lot twice a week from about 6P - 9P. They have to do it in the evenings
1) because some of the musicians are athletes who must to attend afternoon team practices
2) the football field is in use during the afternoons and most evenings
3) they need light after the sun sets and the parking lot provides it

The band has been rehearsing this way for 25 years. Now a neighbor of the school is complaining about the noise because it keeps his kids up past bedtime.

What are your thoughts?

I never said I'd try to change it but I wouldn't agree with it. I'm sure different band directors over the years have done different things, so just because something is done now doesn't mean it was exactly the same 5 years ago or will be exactly the same next year.

I don't understand the unwillingness to change, nor the, "we were here first so deal with it," attitude. Why not come to an agreement that works for everyone?

I was asking you a question, not making an accusation. And the OP says they have been practicing this way for over 25 years. So , I took that as yes, it has been done the same way, by all band directors.

Your first post said that you would not want your child to practice until 9 and you would try to speak to the band director and compromise.

I am simply asking if you would enroll your child in this program, that has been the same for over 25 years, then ask that it be changed?

Not an accusation, just a question.

IMO--I would never enroll my child in a program that I knew operated this way, that didn't work for our family, then expect or ask them to change it. If it didn't work for us, I would not enroll my child.

As far as the neighbors, if the HS is not breaking any laws or ordinances, AND it has been done this way for 25+ years, AND the neighbor knew or should have known..I just don't see why the band should change it practice one bit.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

I think they should either stop practices earlier or find a new venue. What they are doing is obnoxious.

What's obnoxious about it? A bunch of kids doing something they love?

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Your first post said that you would not want your child to practice until 9 and you would try to speak to the band director and compromise.

I am simply asking if you would enroll your child in this program, that has been the same for over 25 years, then ask that it be changed?

Not an accusation, just a question.

I think either I was unclear or you misunderstood. I think that the band in question should compromise with the homeowner in question. What harm is there in making an attempt to be courteous? There are easy solutions to that particular issue.

When my DS starts a new activity, I don't make a practice of saying, "please give me the entire 25 year history of this team/club/organization." I say, "what can we expect in terms of a time commitment?" We then decide from there whether the activity is worth it. I'm not necessarily thrilled with every rule or situation, but I don't rock the boat when I know what we were getting into from the start. I wouldn't be happy with 9:00 band practice because it's ridiculous and there are ways around it. I wouldn't rally the troops to try to change it though.

 

[DawnCt1]

I think they should either stop practices earlier or find a new venue. What they are doing is obnoxious.

What's really obnoxious is being at a stop light with all of your windows shut on your car and feeling the entire vehicle VIBRATING from someone's loud, obnoxious, overdone speaker system. It takes no talent to blast a stereo. It does however take a lot of talent to play a tuba!

 

[4greatboys]

Here's a link to the story:
http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2007/09/11/news/local_news/newsstory5.txt

In a nutshell...
The band practices in a school parking lot twice a week from about 6P - 9P. They have to do it in the evenings
1) because some of the musicians are athletes who must to attend afternoon team practices
2) the football field is in use during the afternoons and most evenings
3) they need light after the sun sets and the parking lot provides it

The band has been rehearsing this way for 25 years. Now a neighbor of the school is complaining about the noise because it keeps his kids up past bedtime.

What are your thoughts?

They knew the school was there before they bought the house. They should have understood the band does practice there, as they have for many years. They should have bought a house elsewhere.

my house is very close to high school here. I hear the band regularly--not a problem. I hear the announcing from the games and people who go to the games park in my neighborhood when they run out of parking at the school.

I knew we were very close to the school when we bought and I know what goes on at high schools. Not a problem for me, if it was I would have bought a house elsewhere.

 

[Tiffer]

What's obnoxious about it? A bunch of kids doing something they love?

Slighty OT, but along the same idea:

For over 40 years in our town, when the softball and baseball all-stars win, a short "parade" of cars go honking through main street (a small town).

This "parade" of cars lasts approximately 7 minutes and lasts for about 2-3 weeks during the summer. )and people in the begining of the route can't hear it when it is at the end of the route, so what does it last, about 3 minutes for them?

They are not allowed to honk after 9 pm.

So many residents are up in arms over it. Going to the board meetings, writing to the news papers. One "lady" even came out shouting the "f" word at the children and giving the finger.

The word I heard most, was how OBNOXIOUS it was.

I goes right over my head.

 

[java]

They knew where they were buying. Tough luck on the noise. I can see why they are upset but buy better windows and deal with it. And dang a 3 hour practice is awfully long though isn't it? How good is the band? Is it music or noise? My kids would love hearing a marching band at night- but they don't go to bed until 9 anyway.

 

[malibuconlee]

These are just the things that come with buying a house close to a school. We rented across the street from middle school not long after DH got out of college. Behind the middle school was the high school.

I worked nights and slept during the day. During the season I did get woken up by the band. It was mildly annoying at the time. Very funny now. I never would have complained to the school about it tho.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

I guess many people would be shocked at how much time and work goes into marching band, then. Two, three-hour practices is like a drop in the bucket compared to the practice schedule many competitive bands maintain. When I was a band nerd, we had two weeks of 8-6 practices before school began. Before football season started, we rehearsed 4 days per week from 2:15 to 5:45 and all day Saturday. Once football season began, we had our practices Monday through Friday, and games and competitions on Saturdays and Sundays.

As for the home owners, sometimes you can't roll your eyes high enough. Then again, I grew up in the town that tried to ban music played by ice cream trucks.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Slighty OT, but along the same idea:

For over 40 years in our town, when the softball and baseball all-stars win, a short "parade" of cars go honking through main street (a small town).

This "parade" of cars lasts approximately 7 minutes and lasts for about 2-3 weeks during the summer. )and people in the begining of the route can't hear it when it is at the end of the route, so what does it last, about 3 minutes for them?

They are not allowed to honk after 9 pm.

So many residents are up in arms over it. Going to the board meetings, writing to the news papers. One "lady" even came out shouting the "f" word at the children and giving the finger.

The word I heard most, was how OBNOXIOUS it was.

I goes right over my head.

I had to deal with the samething, except for me it was the Brazilians honking their horns when the Brazilian soccar team won the World Cup, or won a soccar game period. I lived just down the street from a Brazilian church.

 

[Tiffer]

I had to deal with the samething, except for me it was the Brazilians honking their horns when the Brazilian soccar team won the World Cup, or won a soccar game period. I lived just down the street from a Brazilian church.

Did it upset you? How often and for how long did it occur?

If it did upset you, would it upset you less if it was local children celbrating their own victory?

I am just trying to grasp why people would be outraged by the kids doing it. I see why it would be annoying, but not to the levels some people took it.

 

[clutter]

I used to live right over a high school parking lot. Before I had my dd, the band would wake me at 8:00 am on Saturdays during football season. The last weekend of September, it would be all day long bands during a competition. After I had my dd, I noticed the drumline getting the bands off the bus late at night after football games (but it never woke her!).

This thread reminded me how much I miss it.