Since its founding, Willow Glen High School has had a multitude of options for students interested in music programs. Though an increasing number of these programs have been removed from the school due to a lack of student enrollment. San Jose Unified School District decided, last year, to remove the Chamber Choir and Jazz classes. This was because of the policy that any classes that don’t reach a minimum of 20 students enrolled will be cut. As a result, these music classes were removed.
Students enrolled in these joint classes have voiced their concerns. Daria Cisper, a senior who has participated in choir throughout middle and high school, expressed her thoughts on the programs being merged. “It’s not fair to the people who want to be there or who signed up to be in choir class.” When asked why it was unfair, Cisper voiced her concerns about how difficult it is to have an effective performing group when there are students in the class that aren’t there voluntarily.
continued on page 12 Lively photo of some of WGHS’s great musicians, photo by Nick Stiehm. These programs were abruptly discontinued. Students in these classes were impacted by this sudden change. Alina Wood, a senior, describes how the cutting of these music programs affects our school. “The performing arts department went from four or five classes to about only two classes.” It is clear that our performing arts department has suffered greatly from this district policy. Wood ex-
plains the combination of advanced and regular choir, meaning that now there is only one choir class offered. “Regular choir is where we learn general techniques and how to sing; advanced is learning specific techniques, performing, and showcasing our skills. After the policy, there is only now a regular choir.” Wood emphasizes the necessity of having a separation between the two classes. The skill levels between advanced students and beginners are so distinct as to where they need separate classes to focus on individual techniques.
Students enrolled in these joint classes have voiced their concerns. Daria Cisper, a senior who has participated in choir throughout middle and high school, expressed her thoughts on the programs being merged. “It’s not fair to the people who want to be there or who signed up to be in choir class.” When asked why it was unfair, Cisper voiced her concerns about how difficult it is to have an effective performing group when there are students in the class that aren’t there voluntarily.
“Students should be here because they want to,” she says, “not because they were told to.” Many students enroll in these classes for a variety of reasons. Some students sign up specifically for VPA credits, while others don so because they are truly interested in what the music programs have to offer. Whatever the motive is, the combination of the class- es has had a damaging effect on our music programs. The musicians at WGHS have suffered as a result of this district policy. It has eliminated the distinction between beginning and advanced students, which has hindered the ability of the performing arts department to keep current classes alive. The removal of these music classes sets back the music programs at WGHS.
