New school band seeking instruments, music
Friday, Feb. 24, 2017
Courtesy photo/St. Marguerite School
+ Enlarge
The flute section of the Saint Marguerite School band rehearses.
By Laura Vallejo
Intermountain Catholic
TOOELE — When Kori Kruger started teaching at Saint Marguerite School in Tooele a year ago, she immediately recognized the students’ enthusiasm and need for music.
“I started by teaching general music to pre-K through eight as well as giving private piano, guitar, drum and voice lessons to the students,” said Kruger, adding that she felt that the school was ready to begin a band.
She started with a children’s choir, which now sings once a month at Mass.
“The excitement was there, but I could tell the students were ready for more, so I brought the idea of building a band program to Ms. Needham,” said Kruger.
Lorena Needham, the school principal, agreed that the students had great interested in forming a band, so the second semester schedule was rearranged and work began to obtain instruments.
“We started by posting on social media, asking for used instruments that are no longer being used, and we have received a great response,” said Kruger, adding that they received clarinets, flutes, a saxophone, a trumpet and a couple of percussion instruments. Also, some parents have either rented or purchased other instruments for the children who want to them.
In addition, the school ordered music books, stands, reeds, instrument care materials and other items.
The easy part, Kruger said, was finding interested students.
“Considering over 70 percent of the fifth through eighth graders are now involved in the band program, I would say that the response has been wonderful,” said Kruger, who also teaches religion and physical education.
Among the band students is eighth-grader Taylor Prosser, who began to play the clarinet in Colorado and, when he moved to Tooele, “thought it would be interesting to see what it was like to join an entirely new band where most everyone is without any experience,” he said.
On the other hand, sixth-grader Brandon Bastian joined because he wanted to learn to play the trombone, he said. “I think the band is fun because you get to hear what all the other instruments sound like.”
Like Bastian, fifth-grader Phillip Jordan enjoys band, but it’s not all fun, he said. Learning to play the French horn is “pretty tricky,” he said. “There’s only three keys, so you have to use your mouth to change the notes.”
The hardest part, though, has been “getting used to the spit,” he added. “Sometimes I’m in charge of the spit bucket, and it’s disgusting.”
Although they’ve only been learning for two months, they’ve already seen improvement, said eighth-grader Jasmine Campos, who plays the clarinet. She thought the instrument would be hard to learn, but she’s found it easier than expected, she said.
The band classes have not been incorporated into the school day, “so I have had to ask the students to come to rehearsals three times a week starting at 7:15 a.m.,” but the excitement and energy every morning has been unbelievable, Kruger said. “I also realize that parents are making sacrifices by reworking their morning routines to allow their children to arrive at school an hour earlier than usual, and for that I am incredibly grateful.”
The need now is for music.
“The students are moving through the method books quickly and I hope to have them playing arranged pieces for band by the end of the year, but our funds have been spent. Hopefully we can find support through a couple of fundraisers to help purchase a couple of pieces for beginner band,” Kruger said.
If all goes well, the band could make its first public appearance at the school’s spring concert, which will be in May. They already know how to play Mary Had a Little Lamb, Hot Cross Buns and Go Tell Aunt Rhody.
“Many of the students are also very excited to start playing for Mass, so I will be writing arrangements for that,” said Kruger, who also plans to start a band camp for summer for returning members and incoming fifth-grade students.
The students are learning more than just music. As Prosser said, “Music is an important part of human culture in general, so the more we know about it the more we know about ourselves.”
Marie Mischel contributed to this article.
Stay Connected With Us