PLYMOUTH, NH — Despite his best efforts, Plymouth Public High School’s band teacher Jerry Bathman has seen little to no enthusiasm for their winter concert’s finale number, “Persona Across the Years”, a piece arranged by Paul Dukovsky and based on the works of Shoji Meguro.
“It’s perplexing to me,” says Bathman, “I ordered the sheet music from Alfred Music and left it on the music stands first thing in the morning, like a little surprise. I expected everyone to see it and get really pumped. Instead, they all just sat down, got out their instruments, and let out exasperated sighs.”
The band students gave a variety of reasons for their lack of excitement.
“I mean, we’re not very good,” said French horn player Bailey McColbert, ‘26, “We just barely learned ‘Pomp and Circumstance’ last week. Now we’re learning a seven-minute jazz medley?”
Percussionist Gary Planter, ‘27, offered another explanation.
“Bro, I’ve never played these games, but some of them are older than me,” said Planter. “I think Mr. Bathman is the only person in the whole school who plays them.”
Sheri Baldwin, ‘25, added, “I don’t play video games. I literally did not know this was supposed to be exciting.”
PPHS’s faculty also weighed in on the issue.
“Mr. Bathman does his best to engage his students and meet them on their level,” said Principal Bruce Parson, “Okay, but also, it really feels like these concerts are a 37-year-old nerd’s idea of music. Last year was a Star Wars thing. The year before was something called a cowboy bebop? And now this Personal or Person thing, whatever it is. I don’t know what this is. I guess it’s a cartoon about high schools full of perverts? I feel like we’re going to get complaints about this.”
Plymouth Public High School’s winter concert will take place on March 1st in the gymnasium, as the heat in the auditorium is still not working.
