Billings schools drop marching bands

BILLINGS (AP) — The Billings School District has decided to drop the "marching" part of its high school band classes.

Music director Scott Corey tells The Billings Gazette (http://bit.ly/ZeZtec ) the bands will continue to play at sporting events, but won't be playing on the field at halftime of football games.

Corey says students usually worked up routines for two, 10-minute performances during the football season. He says teachers felt it took time away from music instruction.

Band directors also found they were losing incoming freshmen because many of the students didn't want to march.

Corey believes the change will lead to a better music education and a stronger program.

Parents of band students were told of the change in a letter from the band directors at the city's three public high schools.