Students play their way into higher level experiences in band. District and County band are field trips that band students can go on for being at a higher band level. Pennsylvania Music Editors Association (PMEA) Junior High District Band took place on March 24, and County Band took place on April 9. County Band was at Ambridge High School, and PMEA District Band was at Blackhawk High School.
“[Students] experience other people from different schools. They get to be social and improve musicianship,” Ms. Julia Lawrence, band teacher, said.
Students who attend County or District band get to experience new opportunities and lessons. Students learn from a local or chosen director and are put in a group with other students from other schools in their section. Many band students recommend trying for the opportunity because it’s different than other band experiences.
“For my personal instrument, it wasn’t hard. I play more of a specialty instrument,” Klaire Evans (8) said, describing how she got into County and District Band.
Not every student gets into County or District Band. To go, you have to be selected based on the instrument you play and the teacher’s recommendation. The students who went to District Band from the middle school include Lincoln Murphy (8), Klaire Evans (8), and Emme Borrelli (8). County Band students include Klaire Evans (8), Bryce Wagner (8), Issac Mattern (7), Maria Rombold (7), and Lucy Tyler (7).
“They’re always on their best behavior. I saw kids hanging with other students, taking the full opportunity,” Lawrence said.
Students get to experience new music, new friends, and new conductors at the band events. County Band is for grades 7-12. The bands get to work with a guest conductor. The conductor is either a teacher or a professional who was asked to come in.
“Major things I took away from it were coming out of your comfort zone, learning to work with other people’s ideas, and having fun in a different situation. I would say the experience didn’t improve musical comprehension. I learned more life experiences,” Evans said, talking about her experience.
