Willow Glen Resident

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Photograph by Vicki Thompson

Sounds Fine: Ida Price Middle School students in the Cambrian School District came home with bragging rights, after the band and choir swept the national competition in Southern California. The students (from left) Ben Levitt, Merial Buikema and Jack Everly are part of the winning band.

Ida Price band beats out the best

Middle school sweeps national music awards

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

Proud to be a band geek.

The hallways at Ida Price Middle School buzz with excitement about summer plans with school winding down. But for a group of students, proudly dubbed "band geeks," there is only one thing to talk about--their success at a national competition.

The middle school symphonic band, percussion ensemble and choir recently came back from a trip to Southern California, where the students put on quite a performance.

The middle school swept the awards, winning first place in the women's choir competition, first place in the men's choir competition, first place in the mixed-choir competition and first place in the symphonic band competition. The most impressive win for the school was garnered by the Ida Price symphonic band, which won "best overall" middle school band in all divisions. It scored 95 out of 100 possible points.

"The kids were fabulous," says co-music director Barbara West. "They did better than they ever have."

West, along with co-music director Catherine Lorigan, worked with the students for more than a year before the group attended the annual Festival Disney on May 13. The music festival is open to all middle, junior and senior high school concert bands, jazz ensembles, marching (parade) bands, orchestras, choral ensembles, show choirs and auxiliary units throughout the country.

There are 65 Ida Price students in the symphonic band and 35 students in the choir ensemble, 13 of whom are boys, Lorigan says.

"Most of the students are also cross-curricular," West says. "Many do both choir and the symphonic ensemble."

Lorigan says being part of one of these musical ensembles takes a lot of work and dedication.

"We test them, we challenge them but most are self-motivated," Lorigan says. "This is what they chose to be good at."

Music is another way students learn about themselves and learn self-discipline, she adds.

"Performing arts are not just a requirement; they're a way of life," Lorigan says. "This is what the students do and what they feel comfortable doing. Sometimes, these classes are why they come to school."

For the boys, being part of the choir requires a high level of comfort.

"It takes a lot for a teenage boy to stand up and say they want to get up and sing," Lorigan says. "But the better they get at it, the more public they are about it. It almost reaches cool status."

Willow Glen resident Patrick May says the cool factor is definitely there.

The seventh-grader became part of the advanced choir midway through the year by accident.

"I was just going to be the teacher's assistant, but she asked me to try singing," Patrick says. "I never knew I could actually sing." Patrick was a bit shocked because he hadn't sung since preschool.

"Our teachers are really cool," Patrick says. "They know what it's like to be a kid. They make band and choir fun for us. They do everything in a way that doesn't make kids feel left out and are always there for us if we need help."

Like his other extracurricular activities, which include the school color guard, track and field and recreational soccer, Patrick takes choir in stride.

"I enjoy just having that class," he says. "At school, we practice about three hours a week and an hour a week outside of school."

Overall, Patrick says competitions don't make him nervous.

"When I get up and sing, I feel totally fine," Patrick says. "But at a competition like Disneyland, it was a bit nerve racking because you are representing your school."

Traveling to the competitions also has a perk, he says. "It's really worth it."

Patrick has already signed up for choir next year and joined the men's ensemble, which just formed at the school.

For Campbell resident Jordi Hibner, being part of the band is more than just an extracurricular class.

The eighth-grader is part of the symphonic band and plays the trumpet. This was her second year participating in Festival Disney.

"When I was in sixth grade, I got very nervous before competitions," Jordi says. "But as I have gotten older, I get more excited. I knew we sounded really good and felt confident about it."

This is her fourth year performing.

"In fifth grade, I had heard about band and my neighbor said it was great," Jordi says.

She tried flute, clarinet, trombone and trumpet but it was the last that she fell in love with.

"I like the trumpet, the feel of it and the hold," Jordi says. "It was very cool to me and Mrs. West thought I did really well with it and helped me along."

She says being part of a band is cool.

"I think it's a great thing to have a talent and not be ashamed of showing it to people," she says.

Many of Jordi's friends are also in the school band.

"It's easy to make a lot of new friends in band," she says. "Band affects your life. It's a career. I want to continue in high school."

It has also created a special bond between her and her teachers.

"They are my favorite teachers and in a way, some of my best friends," Jordi says. "I like playing music, especially classical music. They have inspired me to listen to more of it."

This year, she joined the percussion ensemble in addition to the band.

"When you first start, it takes awhile to get used to playing," Jordi says. "Each little step throughout the year helps you get better. You start with simple songs and then by the end of the year, you are doing high school songs, really hard songs."

Jordi, along with her bandmates, practices two hours a week, the required amount set by their teachers. She usually tries to break that up into 30 minutes a day, four days a week.

"It depends on how much homework I have during the week," Jordi says. "I try to even it out."

But all this hard work has paid off. Lorigan named her section leader and band president this year.

"I'm really proud of it," Jordi says. "I'm her right-hand aide. First chair means you are the best player."

As for being section leader, she is in charge of the trumpet section. If there are any meetings on the weekends, she brings back the information to her section. She also keeps track of the music, makes sure her section is focused and helps other members learn the music. If there is something the section is having problems with, it is her responsibility to figure out what the problem is and help fix it.

Jordi and Patrick are part of the school's musical success because the department makes the experience fun and relaxed, Lorigan says.

"If kids don't feel free, if they do not feel like they are in a comfortable and safe environment, they won't be able to learn," she says. "You get success by making mistakes. I tell my students to make it loud and proud."

The students are also committed.

"When you say 'band geek,' it's not a bad thing anymore," Lorigan says. "It has turned into a source of pride. You can't insult a first place prize."