Speaking as a band alum myself, there are a lot of memories that get wrapped up in a wee bit of ego with these kinds of things. Alum used to come to our concerts all the time and act the same way. The truth? I've seen the tapes and the level of talent is pretty much the same. Don't let it get to you, OP.

It wasn't just you...and more band practice the better you will get...

Same thing happened to Lake Central High School. My dad was in it and they were better than any and all college bands. Fast forward 50 years and they're just sad.

The same thing is happening to my school. My school is also very sporty so this does not help. If we are in an area that a sports group needs, we are booted out. This includes the marching band too. We often get kicked off of our practice parking lot because of too many cars going to sports events.

Please tell me this didn't happen in north Georgia?

I feel the same way about my alma mater; everything about it has gone downhill since my graduation. The cafeteria food (as if it could get any worse, yet somehow it did), the teaching habits (most of the teachers are coaches who know nothing about what they teach), and academics in general (the entire school district cares more about sports than academics, which, last time I checked, were the main point of school in the first place). So OP, I can understand how the alumnis feel, but surely the program hasn't declined that bad. Maybe they were remembering their younger years in high school, "the best time of their life."

I was "the leader" of jazz band and everyone was sad when I graduated, because they claimed they'd suck after me and the other seniors left. I went back the next year....they did.

i feel the same way, except im in my last year of high school and within the years i noticed less and less kids into music

I just saw your name OP, talent means nothing without hard work! Work hard and get better then!

Sadly sounds exactly like my high school music program