The following "Letter to the Editor" will appear in the April issue of School Band and Orchestra magazine...

To the editor,

In last month's issue of School Band and Orchestra magazine, a poorly worded quote in the article about our jazz studies program said, "We
believe that music is not a competitive sport and should never be lowered to the level of competitive sports." My intent was not to suggest that value judgments between the two disciplines should ever be made. What I intended to imply was that when the focus
of school music performance becomes competitive, it lowers or devalues the artistic and creative merit of the musical art form for the students. 

As a former high school baseball player, a current kid's soccer coach, and the father of two very active daughters who play just about every organized sport in our community, I know and appreciate the value of competitive sports. There are many similarities between playing in a band and playing on a sports
team, and much can be learned in both activities. Both have tremendous value for personal development and self-actualization.

I did not intend to sound as though I wanted to devalue sports by suggesting they are less worthy than
the study of music, and I am sorry if that impression was given. It was not intended.

Jim Warrick
New Trier High School
Music Department