The irony of visual and performing arts credits

Color Guard — the “sport” in which one spins pretty flags around and tosses guns in the air, coordinated to reflect the music playing from the enormous band, all while maintaining an even step size. On the surface, you would think this is a form of art and certainly a performance.

I did — which is why I was surprised when I learned that neither Color Guard nor Winter Guard receives any visual or performing arts credits. What surprised me even more was that the marching band does receive these credits.

Since the Color Guard is considered a part of the marching band, this disparity would seem to be clearly unfair. The way we move our flags and rifles is indeed a form of art. In fact, the first thing that pops into anyone’s head when they think of Guard is probably along the lines of “dancers” or “performers.”

If Color Guard — a performing art based on visuals — isn’t given visual/performing art credit, I don’t know what should. The Color Guard provides audiences with a visual representation of the music being played, a mix of dance and art and music.

Perhaps the reason for this difference is that band is a class that you can take, while Color Guard is not. But really, anybody can take a class — whether or not they use that time effectively is a whole other problem. Color Guard, while not a class, practices the same amount as the band.  

The new Color Guard instructor, Joey Kidd, is trying to get  a class — along with credits — by next school year.

If Color Guard actually has a class, the number of people allowed to join would likely be smaller than the current size of the team, although it would be a big time-saver when warming up for later rehearsal.

Several local high schools, such as Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton or James Logan High School in Union City, have Guard as a visual performing art class as well as a sport. So why not here? We do the all same things they do, without visual arts credits.

Plus, the Color Guard performs alongside the marching band at football games. Performing in front of people at a football game counts most definitely as performing.  

I’ve been doing this amazing sport for almost two years of my high school career, and although I have had countless memories and experiences, I’d like to think that my hard work counts for something material, and as a bonus, I won’t have to take Art 1 or Ceramics even as I’m twirling my flag or spinning my rifle. After all, marching band, the core of this school, gets the credits. Color Guard should have a class option and allow dedicated member to get the credits too.