Music students showed up en mass on Thursday to ask the School Committee to protect the integrity of their program.

Under the three percent budget voted on at last Thursday’s School Committee meeting, there will be seven teachers cut and 12 aides.  One of those cuts may include a middle school music teacher.

“This isn’t that start of dismantling,” said Assistant Superintendent Susan Cote. “This is not the beginning. This has been going on for a while and there’s no place to go. It started a few years ago with the sports.”

Melissa Blood, a former student of East Bridgewater High School, brought up the point that that when electives are cut they hurt the students’ future.

“Colleges won’t look at you if you’re not well- rounded,” said Blood.

Senior Jim Duffy is going off to college and has received scholarships because of his musical abilities.

“It’s because of this that I can go to the college I chose,” he said.

Duffy is the caption of the Winter Percussion and a drum major, and he said they wouldn’t even have that group without the instructors. He feels more prepared for the real world because of his leadership experience with the band.

Jay Hurley was at the meeting to represent the large number of music parents.

“There won’t be a band unless you go to private lessons,” said Hurley. Students are so committed to the band, they go to school with temperatures just so they can compete, he explained.

“I think it makes it all the more powerful to see the smiling faces,” said committee member Robert Condon. “I want to see the money to go towards music. I would hate to see the damage done to the music program.”

Hurley said that the music group would appreciate being kept in the loop when the decisions are made.

“I think there is no question in the involvement the music program brings to the school and the community,” said Michael Powers.

Hurley pointed out that the group was not there strictly for music, because after that more will be cut.

He explained that the parents of the music program do all they can to fund it, but they can’t step up and hire another teacher.

“We’re looking for anything that would motivate these children,” he said.

“It [the music program] creates opportunity and achievements that you don’t get anywhere else,” said Sarah Gregory-Barton a former student.

Tabby from Gordon Mitchell Middle School explained, “Music is a huge part of my life. I’ve been doing chorus since I was little.” She said that music relieves her stress and it helps after a long day of school.

“It keeps me out of trouble,” she said. “I learn something new there everyday.”