Police Halt Recital by Guitar Students

BOUNTIFUL, Utah – Police responding to noise complaints halted a recital by private music teacher Mike Smith’s 25 guitar students. Smith said he never knew that amplified music was not allowed at Bountiful’s North Canyon Park.

North Canyon Park is the only park in the city that does not allow amplified music, police Lt. Steve Gray said.

Lt. Randy Pickett said two officers responded to a noise complaint at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The two officers split up and one talked to Smith and the other with participants.

There was only one song left to play, but the officer talking to Smith was unaware of that, and participants and their parents were told to leave.

“There was a lot of yelling going on,” Pickett said. “Eventually, the officers did shut it down, and people went away very mad.”

The city has received a number of calls from angry parents, he said.

Gray said that if Smith had told police there was only one song left, the group would have been allowed to finish.

“He wasn’t communicating,” Gray said, “and if he’s not going to talk to us, fine. If he’s in violation, then let’s stop it right now.”

A video tape by Lisa Yarter, whose son is a drummer, showed Smith at the microphone on stage taking a vote from the crowd and trying to persuade the officers to let the band play its last song.

The crowd booed when the officer didn’t allow the music to continue.

Smith said he has a recital each year for parents to attend, normally held at Discount Music. But when it began to get too crowded, he decided to use a local park.