During Student Success on Wednesday, April 1, the Truckee High School band performed for some of the Sierra Expeditionary Learning School (SELS) students. This was an educational performance, teaching them what the high school band does and how to be a part of it.
Many people think that they can’t participate in high school band unless they have previously played an instrument, this is a misconception. The students of SELS were told that they could join band and learn how to play an instrument for the first time there.
Many of the older students can help students learn and grow. They might have to practice more but it’s still achievable. “You can learn to be just as strong and good as any of the other musicians in the program,” said the band teacher, Mr. Jesse Steele.
Throughout the performance they played many different Disney themed songs. They played Mulan, Midnight on Main Street, El Camino Real, etc. This really helped captivate the kids because the songs were familiar. The audience was so engaged that a few times they clapped when the music went silent before the song was done.
During the breaks before each song, Steele would go on and describe what the band does outside of music. He explained the trips they have been on like Disneyland and how they have different parties throughout the year. “It’s a community not just a band,” said Steele.
During one of the breaks they showed the kids the different instruments that were being played. They did this by saying the instrument and having the students raise that instrument in the air for the audience to see.
For the last song Steele explained that students don’t just have to play an instrument in band. Sometimes if he has a kid interested he will teach them and let them be the conductor for a song. Evelyne Vachon demonstrated this for the audience.
At the end of the performance, SELS assistant principal Melanie Cook encouraged the students to try band, and helped lead the audience in a final round of applause.
“I was really excited for us to be able to perform for seals today and present music to a lot of students who haven’t got to see it in the past. I hope that some of them were inspired to play music who maybe hadn’t before,” said Steele.
This performance wasn’t just like any other one, its purpose was to inspire kids to take up music who might not have thought about doing it in the past.
