Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Numbers up in beginner band, program taking shape

Things are turning around with the Prescott band program from the bottom up.

When Stephanie and Brandon Martindale took the program over last year there were few members at any level. This, though, has changed.

By working to make band and music fun for fifth grade students in general music at McRae Middle School, the Martindales had the unexpected pleasure of having about 60 students sign up for beginner band this year.

While all 60 didn't stay, the current figure is around 40, which bodes well for the future of the Prescott band.

The beginner band, she said, has full instrumentation, something it didn't have last year. Additionally, the band program had to compete with recess last year, and this kept the numbers down. This year, however, the band period was moved from sixth to seventh period.

Students take band Monday through Thursday, with Friday reserved for rotation. This is to give them a chance to get extra work in on areas they're having problems in, such as math, science or English.

Beginner band students are working through a beginning method book, "Standard of Excellence", by Bruce Pearson. The book, Martindale said, incorporates the cross curriculum concept of education. It also helps students teach themselves to play at home, she added.

"We want to make each student an independent musician," she said. We're training the Prescott High School band with the same idea. It makes worlds of difference, and I'm excited to see what they do as they make progress."

The PHS band should benefit from the beginner program next year and bulk up to 33 members. This will give the Martindales more flexibility and creativity for the halftime routines as well.

But, it all begins with the fifth grade general music class. "We saturated the students with different genres of music," she said, "let them experiment with instruments and had a lot of hands on activities."

This helped the students develop an interest in music and learning an instrument. The result was a class of 60 at the start of the year. "We have 38 now," she said, "and are counting on them to stay with the program."

The biggest problem this year, she said, has been getting instruments in the hands of the students. Ideally, a student would have an instrument at school and home, but, because of the numbers, this isn't possible. What the Martindales have done is let each student take an instrument home for a week on a rotating basis. By doing this, the students get in the extra practice they need.

A lot of parents, she said, are able to buy or rent instruments, and this helps their children get more practice also.

Normally, the Martindales split the band, with Brandon taking the trumpet, tuba and snare drum, while Stephanie works with the horns and woodwinds.

They use a method of teaching which requires the students to learn by ear. "We're big on teaching ear music, and they're coming along great," she said.

The students, she said, have surprised them, as they all have great attitudes and pose few problems. Students who showed behavioral problems in other classes are well behaved in band. "They just needed structure and discipline."

Several of the band members also play pee wee football, with this encouraged by the Martindales, as it helps the students be more well rounded and in better physical condition.

Three male members of the band requested the flute as their instrument, she said. This was surprising, she added, but welcome.

The beginning band will perform a Christmas concert, though the date has not been set yet. It will be sometime in December.

The band will also do a Spring concert and compete in solo and ensemble.

This year's fifth grade, she said, is showing signs of being more independent thinkers than last year's.

"The biggest problem is getting them to follow instruction," she said. "We try to teach them to be responsible young adults, and be positive influences and representatives for the community.

"This room is our little universe. Each class is like our family, with the high school being one big family."

The 2003-2004 Beginner Band consists of:

Flute  KeiUndra Collier, Kris Hipp, Jordan Ingram and Allie Ramos

Clarinet  Devonna Fricks, Desiray Purifoy, Amber Roy and Jamia Colbert

Alto Sax  Alex Ross, Emily Garrett and Brittany Edmondson

Horn  Austin Driver and Lauren Avery

Percussion  Deanna Hughes, Kyron McGill, London Cole, Erica Mauldin and Andre Norvell

Trumpet  Will Brown, D.J. Stigaullde, Johnathan Harris, Johnathan Burks, Cherrish Roberts, Jeremy Ward, Derrick Woodley, Justin Martin, Devonte' Fricks and James Colbert

Trombone  Trey Overton, Chris Smith, Julius Giles, Marcus Banks and Mallori Williams

Baritone  Brandon Wiley and Dakota Campbell

Tuba  Cody Fortner, Amber Peters and Jalan Box