Elementary Music Rehearsals
Now Underway
Music rehearsals in the Huntington School District are underway, with 130 fifth grade band members converging on the Huntington High School stage last week for their first such session there.
"Everything went beautifully," said Joan R. Fretz, district director of fine and performing arts. Free shuttle buses were made available to transport the students from the elementary school nearest to their home. Some youngsters took the bus, while others were driven to the high school by their parents.
There is room for 10 rehearsals at Woodhull Intermediate School each week, so one group needed to be selected to rehearse at the high school. The fifth grade band is the largest ensemble, so they were happy to rehearse on the large high school auditorium stage.
Later this fall, fourth grade bands and orchestras from the district's four primary schools will also begin morning rehearsals at the high school. They, too, will be provided with a shuttle bus from their home school.
It was a sight to behold last week as the fifth graders quickly got down to business under the direction of Tara Adams. "There were only a handful of empty seats, so most everyone managed to get there," Ms. Fretz said.
The fifth graders entered the auditorium and watched the Blue Devil marching band practice while the youngsters took their instruments out of their cases. "They seemed to be mesmerized by the high school students and there was an audible, 'wow' when the band finished playing," Ms. Fretz said. "Our high school students helped to set-up the elementary band chairs and stands and music teachers Brian Stellato and Jason Giachetti were of great assistance with equipment."
After attendance was taken, "the rehearsal ran very productively," Ms. Fretz said. "The students seemed excited to be there and behaved very attentively. During the second rehearsal last Friday, the high school students sat in and played along with the fifth graders, helping them count their parts and modeling proper sound and technique. I couldn't decide who looked more excited; the elementary students or our high school students."
Bringing the elementary students into the high school auditorium has required plenty of effort behind the scenes. "It's a lot of work to get the rehearsals set up every day in our busy music wing, but we are really enjoying the benefits of the students working with such great role models," Ms. Fretz said.
The fifth grade rehearsals end promptly at 9:05 a.m. Three buses then transport the students to Woodhull for the start of the regular school day. Each of the band members is assigned to a specific bus. Attendance is taken on the buses to insure no one is left behind.
"We are excited about this experience and look forward to the weeks ahead," Ms. Fretz said. "I think it's working out quite nicely and greatly appreciate everyone's cooperation."