President Elect’s Message - continued from page 12
smaller combo version, the CoalTrane Jazztet. It is a struggle to get people at our events in our sports-centric town, but it is never a struggle to get people to participate (except for percussionists, for some reason).
All of these groups were started because a few people in our
community had a vision to integrate more opportunities for the arts. Yeah, I’m in charge of three of those, and sometimes it makes life hectic, but in the end it is worth it. I look at all of the adults I have had the opportunity to get to know and work with because of these groups, and it truly does make music a lifelong skill in Gillette!
Steve Schofield is currently the Director of
Bands at Tunder Basin High School in Gillette. His 24 years of teaching experience include six years at Twin Spruce Junior High as director of bands and Campbell County High School for ten years, where he has led the Marching Band, Concert Band, two Jazz Bands, and Percussion Ensemble to many regional and state awards. Steve also spent five years “away” from music as the Technology Facilitator. Steve plays trumpet in the Big Horn Big Band and the Coaltrane Jazztet, directs the Gillette Community Band, and plays the trumpet in the Powder River Brass Quintet.
President’s Message continued from page 8
but most specifically to the navy diver who wouldn’t be coming home. As we performed this final number, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. An elderly woman sitting in the front row slowly stood, with her hand over her heart, tears streaming down her face. Gradually the audience joined her, standing in respect.
I’d had wonderful musical experiences prior to this, but a “goose- bump” moment due to a great musical performance paled in comparison to this. Our director’s impassioned speech, combined with the emotions of the situation and that song, in that setting, at that moment, resulted in one of the most memorable moments of my entire life. I was filled with gratitude and appreciation for this experience, this situation, and for the blessings I had due to being an American citizen. As we traveled through Europe and performed concerts over the following month, Americans came out of every audience and thanked us for performing that song. I wept every single time.
Fast-forward 30 years. I programmed the Battle Hymn for my Veterans Day concert and decided to share with the audience my experience with this particular song. I am an emotional person by nature, and I found myself unable to even speak and had to just let the music speak for itself. It’s hard to direct a band and read a score through tears.
winter 2019 |
www.wyomea.org
We all have “that song.” Te song that transports us back through time. A song that means so much to us that we are consistently moved to tears every single time we hear it. A song that is truly brought to life not just because of the mechanics of the music, but also the situation with which it is associated. Only music has the power to elicit those emotions time and time again. Te “Battle Hymn” is my song. While the circumstances that led me to have the connection with this piece of music were less than ideal, I’m grateful for the experience.
I pray for my students and work diligently with them every day so that at some point in their musical careers, they connect with and find “their song.”
Lila Kennah is in her 28th year in the classroom where she currently teaches music and science in Hulett. She obtained her Bachelors degree in Music Education from the University of Wyoming in 1990 and a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Black Hills State University in 2004. She has taught K-12 music in Big Horn, Upton, and Hulett. Lila is a member of WMEA, WEA, and ACDA. previously served as the membership chair for the WMEA.
She
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