An honor and a privilege

MUSCATINE, Iowa If you're looking to find talented, hard-working teenagers in Muscatine, you don't have to look any farther than the Muscatine High School band room. In addition to regular band rehearsals and performances, 24 students brushed up on their scales and learned new music in preparation for honor band auditions this winter.

"All of the students who do honor bands are always intrinsically driven, work hard, practice, and are helpful to their peers," says MHS Band Director Jeffrey Heid. "They are some of the best students we get to teach!"

Teddy Van Winkle, a sophomore trombone player, explains the appeal of honor bands. "The first time you audition for an honor band...it's just to see if you can make it, to see if you're good enough. But after making SEIBA (Southeast Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band) last year, I'm doing it more for the experience itself, the ability to make music with other good musicians."

Van Winkle started playing trombone in fifth grade because, "trombone was the only one I could make a decent sound on," he said with a laugh. Van Winkle also plays the contrabass for the MHS Orchestra and Jazz Band. "It's my thing," he says of music.

Jim Van Winkle, Teddys dad, said, Teddy was born into a musical family. But the hard work is all him. Ive made the opportunities available, but it has been up to him to develop his talents, and he has done an amazing job.

Gabby Hartman, a 14-year-old sophomore, will be traveling to New York to play with the 2014 High School Honors Performance Series from Feb. 6-10. She was selected from among thousands of students from Canada, the United States, and select international schools. The program includes rehearsals, a performance at Carnegie Hall, sightseeing and a Broadway show.

"It takes a lot of courage to compete or perform in front of an audience," said Karen Hartman, Gabby's mom. "We are proud of all of our children as they have developed the confidence to do this."

Hartman has been playing the bassoon for 3 1/2 years, and practices an hour every day, even on weekends. In warm weather, she sometimes plays outside. "Practicing is one of the best parts of my day," she says, smiling.

Hartman received the high honor of being selected for the All-State band last fall for the second time. She also participates in student council and enjoys singing, reading, writing and running.

Thomas Stackhouse is a senior tuba player who was selected for two honor bands this year. "In fifth grade we were trying out for which instrument we could play, and I was trying a bunch of mouthpieces, and the tuba was the only one I could actually fit my lips into to play," he says.

No Comments - “An honor and a privilege”