One
of the most difficult and rewarding projects I ever managed was to create and
maintain for sixteen years the Hill Country Homeschool Band, which began quite
unexpectedly.
We
moved from the big city to a small town when our oldest was in fifth grade, so
my husband wanted him to go to public school. We went to a high school football
game and I discovered the head band director was my old junior high director.
He had me work with his flute students, and the following fall I subbed
full-time for three months during marching season while his assistant was on
maternity leave. This proved to be invaluable experience for what was to come.
During
this time our son joined the band, but by the end of sixth grade it was obvious
we needed to homeschool him again. Not wanting him to lose out on the important
things music (and band in particular) could teach him, I found other
homeschoolers who also wanted a band, including one of my former public school
flute students.
We
began with seven: my son on trumpet, two flutes, an alto saxophone, a trombone,
one snare drummer and one xylophone player who already played piano. All had
their own instruments except one flute player, and I found an inexpensive one
at a local pawn shop. Right away I realized that finding sheet music to fit the
needs of such an unusual ensemble was going to be my biggest challenge.
Thankfully I had taken two years of music theory, so from the beginning I
arranged songs to fit our ever-changing group.
We
could never practice more than once a week because the students were all so
busy with school and other activities, and through the years several families
drove long distances to participate with us (60-80 miles one way). At first the
band directors let us use the band hall after school, but later a new principal
wanted to charge us $50 a week, so we moved our "band hall" to our
garage. Our neighbors would sit on their porch to listen to us rehearse each
week.
I
quickly learned to adapt because each year was completely different. Students
would drop out, move away, or go to private or public school. The band never
grew larger than 20-22 so each year I had to start beginners with a few private
lessons and then "toss them in" with the others. I'd write easier
parts for them, and thankfully the older students enjoyed taking the newbies
"under their wings".
Almost
all our concerts were performed at area nursing homes which had large enough
rooms for us to set up. That was a win/win situation for both the band and the
residents, who looked forward to our 4-5 yearly concerts.
Most
of the concerts followed a "theme" with music the kids enjoyed
practicing together and at home: patriotic, movie themes (Star Wars, Lord of
the Rings, etc.), musicals, "remembering your childhood," Texas and
western, a history of music, and songs from around the world.
A
few of the students wanted more challenging music, so I'd enter them in area
solo and ensemble contests, as well as middle school and high school
region/area band contests. But the majority just wanted to play with the band
and hang out with their friends, so we never became the quality performing
group I'd envisioned playing for the public as homeschool "ambassadors."
With each of my trumpet-playing sons we did form a quartet of more experienced
players, so they had more performance opportunities, at least.
These
pictures came from my very large scrapbook. Sixteen years of homeschool band
created a lot of memories, most of them wonderful. I hope they are wonderful
for the former band members, too.
Very inspiring. I didn't realize you had done this for 16 years. We are in our 8th year with the orchestra and I am loving every minute of it.
ReplyDeleteDiana, it makes me so glad to know you're teaching a homeschool orchestra! I miss having the band, but the interest just kind of died out, or I'd still be doing it. :)
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