Six Canyon Ridge High School band members, along with students from Twin Falls High School, went to Montana from November 14-16 to participate in the University of Montana All-Star Bands. Participants came from across the Northwest U.S. and Canada.
All participants were split into three separate band groups. They learned from guest composer John Mackey, as well as conductors James Smart, Director of Bands at the University of Montana, Dr. Erin Bodner, visiting Director of Bands from the University of Washington, and David Stewart, visiting Professor of Music at the University of Montana.
John Mackey is well known as a composer of contemporary classical music, and the CRHS band had experience playing music written by him. Most of the music played at the music intensive was written by him.
“[We] were given music several weeks in advance to practice. The music was… let’s just say the music was difficult to play,” said junior Zach Davis, a euphonium player in the CRHS band.
The schedule included rehearsals, sectionals, Q and A’s, campus tours, rec time, and a final performance concert where each band played three songs.
Through the trip, CRHS students formed close bonds with each other. Relations deepened between the CRHS members, TFHS members, and members from other states and Canada.
“I was close with a couple of [students], but the trip definitely brought us closer. We also had the Twin Falls kids come with us, so it helped connect the schools together because we are both small bands,” said junior Sawyer Boardwell, another euphonium player in the band.
Not only was it a learning experience for the students, but also for the teachers who accompanied them.
Mrs. Joy Atkin, the CRHS band teacher, said she learned this: “My role, other than transporting, is I was able to watch three very good band directors and then John Mackay himself. As a director and as a teacher, I gained a lot of valuable information and teaching tips and tricks. So it was almost like a professional development for me.”
Reviews from student attendants were nothing but positive.
“My favorite part was working with the guest conductor, John Mackey. He was just super cool to work with, he had really cool ideas, and his music is just incredible,” said CRHS senior and trumpet player Cameron English. “The most memorable part was in the hotel… we were just making each other laugh the whole time, and we did not go to sleep because we were up so late.”
Boardwell expressed his favorite part of the trip as “getting to see the University of Montana.” Boardwell said, “It’s a huge campus, so trying to navigate it on my own was a little difficult. But I really enjoyed getting to see it… it was just really cool.”
From Mrs. Atkins’ perspective, “[The students] really liked and learned a lot of higher-level playing techniques that we don’t necessarily do in high school that they got from those professors.”
“I absolutely loved watching their growth, watching what they learn, having them come back and tell their peers about it, and what they want to do in the future. I mean, that’s why we do these things. It’s just that the inspiration that they got from doing it,” Mrs. Atkin further added.
“I learned a lot about managing my breathing as a player. I play the trumpet, and you have to breathe a lot. Most people when they breathe lift up their shoulders, but the person that we worked with-he had a doctorate in trumpet-he helped us realize to breathe more with our stomach going in and out, than up and down which helps you sustain your breath and sustain your air for better tone and better length of notes which helps you play for longer as well as better,” said English.
Boardwell said, “I learned a lot about ways to go from one note to another. We did sectionals with professors who specialized in the instruments we play. The [professor] I had taught us about these things called slip slows, where we go from one note, slip up, and then slip down, so it sounds more natural, more sleek.”
“It’s just the inspiration to be a better musician, and to continue playing this genre of music after high school. That doesn’t mean they have to be a music teacher or major in music, but there’s a lot of opportunity to keep playing… to really seek out opportunities to continue playing because they like it so much and it means a lot to them,” said Mrs. Atkin.
