European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 15, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday june 15, 1992 the stars and stripes a Page 9 education music fades for High school bands Rawdon cuts into number of performers by Luke Britt staff writer Raf Lakenheath England when seven Small bands gathered in the Lakenheath High school auditorium three weeks ago it was Clear that the draw Down has student ensembles playing for time. The Atlantic Region band evaluation symposium an annual gathering of Young musicians from the United kingdom and Belgium has for 11 Vears been the highlight of the school year for bands that participate. It is the Only Chance for the bands to display their talents to their Peers. This year however the symposium was dominated by a sense that it was the last Hurrah for at least one american school in England and a foretaste of things to come for the other six. A i think schools Are being Given certain considerations because As Long As there Are students even in Small numbers there will be a need for schools a said or. John Stanley music director for department of defense dependents schools in England. A but it is inevitable that we feel the squeeze of the draw Down  for Woodbridge High school the inevitable is Here and May a symposium was the last for that schools band. The american presence at Raf Woodbridge will end sometime in mid-1994. Strangely Woodbridge was the largest of the seven bands at the symposium with nearly 100 musicians. But when the symposium is held next year there May be very few students left at the school according to administrators there. Stanley seems certain that the other bands will return next year but hesitates to discuss what might happen after that. The symposiums he said will continue As Long As Young people in his Region Are interested in music. The Atlantic Region is the Only Dodds Region that conducts symposiums Stanley said. Stanley conceived the idea in 1981. The purpose he said is to provide bands with the expertise of professional conductors other than their usual teachers who listen and provide feedback to each group. Each band performs and is critiqued in two areas prepared music and sight Reading. The symposium is not a Competition. The disparity in the sizes of military schools makes competitions unfair Stanley said. Whereas Woodbridge a band is considered Large by Dodds standards Alconbury High schools group of 35 students is probably one of the smallest in the system Stanley said. A it just  be fair to pit the two against each other a he said. A the evaluations have proven to be very productive and healthier for the students than direct  the conductor of the United states air forces in Europe band it. Col. Roger Sebby this year evaluated the bands after each performed music the band had practice before. Ralph Cabret band director at Woodbridge a Middle school evaluated each bands ability to read and perform music they had never seen before. A we want to give positive reinforcement of what the students Are doing right a Cabret said. A we do criticize. But generally we give those comments to the music teacher  after a band completed its prepared music Safe conductor Sebby stepped up from the auditorium seats 8m Moar Tolm the band from conf Hon american High school in England strikes up a number alter Haring Only in minutes to examine the music. Bob Modr is directing the band at the Atlantic Region band evaluation symposium at Lakenheath High school. 8ss Jim Dai Treim Julie Sumrall 16, a Junior at Alconbury High school in England plays a portable keyboard at the symposium. To compliment cajole and encourage students about what they were doing right and wrong. A former Junior High school teacher Sebby has Learned to Couch his comments to students with humor to prevent injured feelings. To a timid trumpeter he said a grab some air Young Man. Its free. It May not be any Good anymore but it s still  what Sebby tries to do he said is give the individuals in the bands a the ensemble idea. A if you have 36 people to a band there will be 36 different ideas about How to play something a unless you can get them to grasp the concept of  the sight Reading portion of the symposium was less a amps Jim Derheim members of the Woodbridge High school band take notes on another bands performance. Jovial. Cabret a self proclaimed stickler for music literacy gave the bands a piece of music and five minutes to study it before asking them to play it. The students handled the Challenge very Well he said. A sight Reading is not easy at any level a Cabret said. Quot because it is not simply a matter of what to play but when to play it. That takes  despite the draw Down and perhaps in response to it these symposiums will be More and More important to the future of music in Dodds Stanley said. As military communities become smaller the opportunities for school bands to perform will likewise decrease