Dale Halverson. I direct the band at the high school and have since 1983, which means I have now taught the children of former students, which is a thing that happens to a person and nobody warns you. I am on here because three of my students told me to be on here, and then immediately regretted it. Kevin, I saw your bulletin about marching band cadences. We'll discuss it Monday. (Kevin is one of the best drummers I've had. He knows I think that. I'm saying it here so it's in writing.) What I actually want to say, since this is my page: The band room is open at lunch. It is open before school. It is open after school until 5. If you are a kid who does not have a table to sit at, it is open for that too, and you do not have to play an instrument, and I will not ask you any questions. That has been the deal for 22 years and it will be the deal until they make me leave. Other things: I play trombone, badly now, gloriously in 1979. I have a wife named Pat who is a saint. I have a 1994 Buick that I refuse to replace. Practice your scales. Not because I said so — because in about ten years you'll wish you could still play, and the ones who kept it up are the ones who can.

Former students. All of them. I want to know how you turned out, every single one of you, and I mean that in a way that I hope isn't strange to say on a website.