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Neighbors sound off on Hoover High marching band practices

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Neighbors who live near Hoover High School recently relayed their concerns about Hoover’s Tornado Marching Band, specifically the noise from their early-morning and evening practices.

More than 50 residents attended a meeting earlier this month, according to the Guardian, a newsletter published by the Northwest Glendale Homeowners Assn. Its members voiced their concerns with Glendale Unified Supt. Winfred Roberson Jr.

“Neighbors said they supported the marching band; they just wanted the noise in the neighborhood addressed. Those who live near the school described the noise as loud and relentless in that the band practices occurred early in the morning and late into the evening several days a week,” according to an article written by Peter Fuad, the association’s president.

However, about a week later, during a Glendale school board meeting on Aug. 16, board member Greg Krikorian recounted that some neighbors expressed a desire for no marching band at all at Hoover High.

“A few of the residents said they want no band at all,” Krikorian said. “The challenge I have is, it can’t be black or white. There has to be some middle ground.”

Krikorian said residents raised valid concerns, but some were unrealistic.

He recalled that some neighbors suggested busing the band from Hoover High School to Glendale High to practice there.

“We, as elected leaders, have to stand up with our principal and our district to say, ‘Some things aren’t realistic,’” Krikorian said. “We can’t stifle everything that happens at that school.”

Krikorian also noted the school’s link to Glendale homes.

“At the end of the day, our public schools have increased the value of our homes,” he said.

In recent years, the Hoover High Tornado Marching Band has reached unprecedented prominence under the direction of Martin Rhees, director of instrumental music at Hoover High.

Back in 2009, when Rhees took the helm of the program, the Tornado Marching band was the smallest band in its division, performing in tattered uniforms and equipped with instruments that didn’t have cases to protect them on bus rides to football games.

In 2013, the band received a gift of new uniforms, instruments and cases that brought some students to tears when Rhees surprised the band with the new gear in the school’s auditorium.

The donation made by Johnny Harrison, former general manager of Lexus of Glendale, also included purple-stained drums to match Hoover’s school colors.

The band of about 70 students was on its way to great success. In late 2015, the band won its first California State Band Championship.

Some parents of band members, and at least one member of the band, advocated for the band and its impact on students during the homeowner association’s meeting, according to the Guardian.

“It was clear that speakers on all sides were passionate about the issue,” Fuad wrote.

According to the Guardian, the neighborhood association offered Roberson several suggestions to mitigate noise made by the band.

One suggestion included ending “unsupervised” warm-up and cool-down sessions on the field, according to the newsletter.

“Morning band practices begin at 7 a.m. with band members arriving as early as 6:30 a.m. to warm up,” the newsletter stated. “Evening band practices take place until lights out on the field at 9 p.m. However, band members put their equipment away after 9 p.m., using portable flood lights.”

In addition to having students practice with drum pads during their morning practice, neighborhood association members also suggested not having the band practice on the field on federal holidays.

Neighbors also suggested that the band trade practice times with sports teams so the band would end their activities earlier in the evening, according to the Guardian.

Roberson said he would review suggestions made by association members, according to the newsletter.

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