Band VP’s Message Continued
the answer is no. Just wishing and hoping won’t make it happen. In speaking with an All-State and All-Northwest trumpet student, I asked him what made him successful. He said, “I always go into the audition not thinking of it as an audition. I just think of it as going through it again because if you think of it as an audition, you mess up more because of nerves.” So true! If the student has never played through the material correctly, playing through it right the FIRST time is a challenge. But, if they have played through it correctly 26 times, number 27 is no big deal.
This is a long way from a comprehensive list. Many of you are probably already doing some or all of these. If there’s a trick or skill that you use that others could benefit from, we’d love to hear it! Part of being an educator is connecting with others and educating each other so we can better connect with the young musicians in our ensembles. Let’s face the music together… and watch more soccer.
Zach Tolman began his teaching career in Newcastle. He helped grow the band program as well as team-taught band and choir. After Newcastle, he taught middle school choir and music appreciation classes in Casper. During his time at CY Middle school, Zach started an after-school jazz choir. He coached soccer with the Kelly Walsh Trojans, which ended with a 4A Wyoming High School State Soccer championship in 2012. Zach currently teaches band in Riverton. He is Director of Bands at Riverton Middle School and Assistant Director of Bands at Riverton High School. He is on staff with the RHS Wolverine Men’s soccer team, which challenged for the 4A state title in 2016. He has directed honor ensembles and adjudicated around the state, as well as served on the music staff for the Yellowstone Summer Music Camp directing a concert band comprised of high school campers, fellow camp staff, and professional musicians. He was selected as the WMEA Outstanding Young Music Educator in 2017. He maintains an active performance schedule with both local groups and state ensembles.
Orchestra VP’s Message
Face the Music . . . a Musical Expression
Jaylene Willhite WMEA Orchestra VP M
ost people understand the expression, “Facing the Music” to have a negative meaning. It is seen as a way of facing
the consequences of one’s actions. This expression is also used as a theatrical expression. The orchestra used for theatrical performances is usually placed in the front of the stage. When the actors come on stage they are facing the musicians. Many times actors needed to learn to accept their stage fright, thus the term, “Face the Music.”
Performance anxiety is something many of our students struggle with. As their teacher I feel it is part of my responsibility to help these students to “Face the Music.” I used to think that some students were just naturally able to control their performance anxiety, but after researching how to control performance anxiety, I realize just like everything else, students learn they need tools to turn performance anxiety into an asset.
Performance anxiety is triggered by adrenaline. Students need to learn how to use that adrenaline to power their performance. Many times students may be analyzing their performance as they perform. This can cause a type of mental paralysis that negatively
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Students need to practice applying creativity and emotional expression while they practice so that they are more at ease when they perform. They need to visualize performing the music with the sound, feel, and look like to produce the sound they want. Students who learn to use adrenaline and center their focus while performing will truly “Face the Music!”
Jaylene Willhite has been employed by the Laramie County School District #1 for the past 27 years. She is the orchestra director at South High School, Johnson Junior High, Afflerbach Elementary, and Goins Elementary. She is also the founder and artistic director of the Cheyenne Youth Symphony which she has directed for 18 years with the privilege of conducting their performances at the All Northwest Conference in 2002 and 2013. Jaylene has been a member of the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra for the past 30 years. She has also played with the Panhandle Symphony, Rapid City Symphony, and Fort Collins Symphony.
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