A medieval tale may offer a lesson for Vancouver school board trustees.

It might be helpful as they decide the fate of the band and strings program in 44 elementary schools.

Famed conductor and composer Bramwell Tovey has suggested that they may not want to end up looking like the mayor of Hamelin whose town paid dearly because he refused to pay the Pied Piper.

The music director of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra was one of the speakers Tuesday (April 12) in the first of three public consultations on the proposed 2016-2017 school district budget.

Addressing the board, Tovey said that it is unlikely that any of the trustees want to be permanently associated with cutting the band and strings program.

“After all, the reputation of the mayor of Hamelin was at rock bottom after the Pied Piper had vanished,” Tovey said.

In the legend, the piper lured away the children in Hamelin after he wasn’t paid for getting rid of the rats infesting the town.

The Vancouver school board has to slash a total of $24 million in administration, facilities, and educational services to deliver a balanced budget required under the Education Act.

A preliminary budget proposal drawn by staff recommended eliminating all teaching positions that deliver the optional program.

The cut would save the district close to $400,000.

Tovey noted that it’s been the third time in six years that the VSO had to appear before the board to talk about the value of music in the lives of young people.

“The idea that our city can be an international cultural destination with visitors all over the world - our world-class symphony, ballet, and opera - and yet the kids don’t get to hear a note of music in the school system is ridiculous,” Tovey said.

Tovey and VSO president Kelly Tweeddale were among those who asked the board to retain the band and strings program.

These included representatives from the Coalition for Music Education in B.C. and the Point Grey Music Supporters Society as well as band and string orchestra members from the Sir Winston Churchill and Vancouver Technical secondary schools.

Students at Van Tech hung banners supporting the band and strings program at the school gym where the public consultation was held.

The VSO’s Tweeddale told the board that music is the “one language that every human being learns to speak long before any other language”.

“It is in essence our first language,” Tweeddale said. “All cultures today and back to the beginning of time make music. It is unique to the human condition and when we create music as an ensemble, together, it connects us to other people and other ideas. Music has been and always will be a social enterprise of civilization."

Before the public consultation started, school bands played on the grounds of Van Tech.

One was with the John Oliver Secondary School. Lara Spencer was around to see her son play in the band with his baritone horn. According to Spencer, her child learned to play the instrument when he was in elementary school.

"Music is a huge benefit to kids," Spence told the Straight, adding they should be given every opportunity to learn the art.