Graduate: Band Program Has Gone From Best to Subpar
She says this is because of the loss of Larry Markiewicz.
One Bridgewater-Raritan High School graduate, and former member of the band program, said Thursday that in the weeks since director Larry Markiewicz was suspended, the quality of the program has taken a nosedive.
"In three weeks, the program has gone from the best in the state to subpar and unmentionable," said Bridgewater resident Becky Orlando. "In a band, the loss of one individual takes a toll on everyone, and thus takes a toll on the entire experience."
On March 5, the board of education approved the suspension of Markiewicz with pay pending further review and consideration by the superintendent. On that evening, hundreds of students and parents attended the meeting to speak about Markiewicz and why he should be allowed back at the school.
Several repeated that plea at Thursday's meeting.
Orlando said she wanted to fill the board in on what has been happening to the band program over the last three weeks. At this time in 2012, she said, the school had the best band program in the state, and, in February 2013, the jazz band earned a superior rating and was named best overall band at a competition.
But on March 12, in a state preliminary competition she said, the same band ranked sixth in its division and 14th in the state, earning a silver rating.
"Last year at this time, the band was tied for first overall in the state," she said. "How can a band decrease in quality so quickly in just over a month?"
"One of the biggest contributing factors to how you do is the overall mood," she added. "Mr. Markiewicz valued his ability to get that mood, and his absence took a toll on the students that night."
In addition, Orlando said, in late May is the state gala where bands are recognized for their achievements. The Bridgewater wind ensemble has been performing every year since 2004—until this year.
"The wind ensemble did not make the cut this year, and they will not be performing at the state gala," she said. "It is not only a shame, but an embarrassment."
"The loss of Mr. Markiewicz has taken a toll on the program and, more importantly, on the students," she added.
BRHS choral director John Wilson said he was inspired by the students who showed up at the previous board meeting to show support for his colleague.
"I am really impressed with the amount and quality of speeches and positive comments made about my colleague," he said. "I spoke to people who had endlessly wonderful things to say."
Dartmouth Avenue resident Cindy Loata, who graduated in 2007, said music has always been her passion and part of that comes from having Markiewicz as a teacher. She said she has always been amazed by his dedication to his students.
"He was my most influential teacher, and taught me to hold high standards for myself," she said. "We need more educators like him who are willing to go above and beyond. The school is top because of amazing faculty members like him."
Loata said she never felt threatened or belittled when working with Markiewicz, but was always motivated, and was part of the school's first jazz band and the sole drum major of the marching band.
"The fondest part was witnessing the level of teamwork among members," she said. "It requires all to contribute to benefit as a whole. A teenager may or may not realize individual decisions may severely affect the whole group."
Many students could not attend the meeting to speak out for their teacher because of the performing arts festival at the high school Thursday, but Ivy Lane resident Phyllis DeMichele said she was asked by her children to speak on their behalf.
"The students have learned more about leadership than I ever thought possible," she said. "They are pulling together toward common goals, learning to represent, the town, county, region and state."
DeMichele said the arts festival is just more proof of the quality of the band program at the high school.
"Students can catch a glimpse of their future potential," she said, saying that she remembers the first time her children heard the wind ensemble and watched them perform a song they had only received that morning. "It was incredible. That was the first day my kids figured out they wanted to be part of the music program."
But on their recent trip to Carnegie Hall, DeMichele said, there was something missing.
"The bands were outstanding, but there did seem to be a sparkle missing," she said. "I believe this has had a serious impact on the students."
Noel Zucchero, a junior at the high school, said she is not in the band, but is in the choir program, and she took a class with Markiewicz last year. She said she is shocked by the current situation.
"I really wish I was in the band, and one of my biggest regrets was dropping flute from middle school to high school," she said. "They are an incredible group, and definitely one of the best things Bridgewater has."
"To take that away based on one negative thing is ridiculous," she added. "The music department is lost without Mr. Markiewicz."
The district administration declined to comment on the status of the suspension, or the reason for it, saying they cannot discuss peresonnel matters.
james snider
7:07 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
There is too much talent in the band to have gone from the best to subpar in a matter of a few weeks. COULD it have been a show of solidarity by the students - to the administration at BRHS - that they do want the director back? My opinion, it would have been a better lesson to the admin to have continued towards gold, in spite of what is going on. Or maybe there is no answer.
There is one thing I do know, as I stated earlier, the band is beyond talented. Kids, you've worked too hard.
BR Parent
8:08 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
Is there a point where apologists will be embarrassed about sticking up for a teacher who has exhibited numerous examples of degrading behavior? Pattern seems clear, Nice to some and not nice to others. How many kids per year can be verbally abused? What is the price for winning all the trophies? Is Zero tolerance for students only? School officials do not allow students to get away get away with intimidating and bullying for as long as LM has gotten away with it. Band parents are teaching their kids that keeping their mouths shut is the price you must pay to get ahead.
Tugwalla
8:09 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
This column is a joke! How did the author NOT challenge such a silly charge such as... "since director Larry Markiewicz was suspended, the quality of the program has taken a nosedive."
An abusive bully of a teacher is suspended and all of a sudden -"Johnny cant play the drums and Mary can longer hit the high notes on her flute?"
BRHS3
8:51 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
The band receives a silver rating on March 12 and it is all because the director was suspended 7 days before?! I don't think so, those high ratings are the culmination of all the work that has gone on through out the year, not in the 7 days before a competition. The suspension of the director is the right thing to do. Nobody likes change, but when a new director comes in that challenges the students and isn't a bully, the band will return to what it was. Being in the band will then be a far happier place than it is right now an the old director will be a distant memory. The zero tolerance for bullying should apply equally to adults and students.
BR Resident
9:24 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
I find these above comments to be a true reflection of your ignorance of the current situation. To imagine these kids performing intentionally below their capabilities is absurd. The seriousness of this situation goes far beyond what you all are possibly able to comprehend. Let's just allow the Board of Ed to evaluate all of the facts and take the most appropriate next steps.
james snider
3:31 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
Why does a difference of opinion always come down to derogatory comments being made? As I stated in the original article, I have a child in the band and a child that is in sports. Do you have any idea how the coaches berate and belittle our kids? So, if the band director is being investigated, a majority of the coaches should be too. Why is LM the only one being targeted? I am not ignorant. I am concerned. AND, if the kids did get together and did do this, good for them. Just a different way of looking at things, neither right nor wrong.
Mitch Schreiber
10:37 am on Friday, March 22, 2013
I attended the BOE meeting on 3/21.I was prepared to speak on Larry's behalf, but I did not need to do so. Students, former students, colleagues, parents, all got up to voice their support. Students can do a much better job than I can of expressing what he means to them. The common theme of everyone who spoke came down to the same key words: passion, commitment, dedication. In particular, the students who spoke showed great passion, something that has obviously rubbed off from their mentor. It's not about awards and what place the band came in. Mr. Markiewicz teaches his students to reach for the stars. To work as hard as you can. And if you can look yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and say you did the absolute best you could do, then you won. The awards and trophies are just a by-product. The kids just happen to respond so well that they end up with awards that are nice, but definitely secondary. The kids, most of whom I don't know. should be proud of the way they turned out and to stand up and speak on behalf of a teacher that has had a positive influence on their lives. Hearing these kids speak and also knowing many of the kids that have gone through the BRHS band program over the years gives me hope for our future. Today I am proud to be a Bridgewater resident.
Concerned Citizen
2:01 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
I'm proud that the Board of Ed has finally stood up to this bully of a teacher. It was time to remove him years ago. The band program will go on with someone who is committed, dedicated, and does not need to verbally abuse children to get them to reach for the stars.
BR Parent
9:44 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
LM is a teacher; not a coach. He teaches students inside a classroom and grades them on their work. BOE policies about teacher conduct are expected to be followed by all teachers. And not all coaches fit the negative stereotype. In fact, many of them are also district teacher (and they are not in need of anger management therapy) if you have proof of a coach bullying students in manner similar to LM, then they should be reported tool. What is really disturbing is that some of the students and parents that support LM know why he was suspended. They don't seem to acknowledge that there is a problem here.
Mitch Schreiber
10:08 pm on Friday, March 22, 2013
LM is in fact a teacher, for the first 40 hours of his work week. And for most teachers that is where it ends. But in hours 41-80 of his work week, in my opinion I would consider him a coach of optional extracurricular activities such as marching and jazz band. And these activities require a major commitment to participate in, with a selfless dedication to the team. I don't see it being any different than the commitment required to play football or lacrosse or soccer, etc.
BR Resident
11:19 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
LM has always been a hothead and should not be allowed back in the classroom at all, or at least until he seeks help at anger management. Throwing a stand at a student is unacceptable, regardless of what results he gets from his students.
BR Parent
11:47 am on Monday, March 25, 2013
LM is expected to behave like a teacher. He is expected to lead by example.
Throwing a music stand, humiliating students when the music is not played to his expectations, threatening to ruin a senior's future. (Plenty of examples of these things are out there.) Even if you like him, you cannot deny that these things have occurred. Students and former students know what he has done to some of their friends and they are choosing to look away. AND for the 41-80 hours that his is a "coach" he is still expected to moderate his tone and choose his words carefully.At times, he cannot get that under control and its a real issue. The students I know of who were treated poorly by LM are responsible, well behaved students with no axe to grind.
A BR Parent
1:05 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013
If LM used to bully the kids around, he deserves to be suspended and dismissed irrespective of what it does to the band program. If we expect the students to be disciplined, the teachers should be too. The teachers should be held to a higher standard and any deviation from it should be a cause for action. The band performs the way it does because of the kids who comprise the band. The coach I am sure had a role to play, but he is not indispensable and should be treated as such. Get a new leader who can inspire the kids and I am sure they will get back to their winning ways.
Cindy Yan
1:25 pm on Monday, March 25, 2013
When did he ever "throw a stand at a student"? And how come there was not a lawsuit against that when it happened? I am sure any student in Bridgewater is capable of filing a lawsuit against a teacher. Who is it to blame if the student didnt do anything about it? Who teaches their kids to "keep their mouths shut"? And why on earth would any sensible parents teach their kids that?! So they could "get ahead" in band/life? This is why those individuals are not successful. Students who have commitment issues will not succeed in school...let alone in our society.