Photo: The Real West Virginia.
When the band teacher left, ten students decided to manage the band themselves.
This is the story of ten self-motivated students in West Virginia who didn’t want to give up band after the instructor left and no one else applied for the job.
Stephen Baldwin reports at the Real West Virginia, “Last year, the Pocahontas County High School Band had 38 student members and a full-time teacher. But over the summer, their director took another job and the school board had no applicants for the vacant position.
“ ‘It was such a downer,’ remembers Jadyn Lane. ‘But we were given a choice.’
“Principal Joe Riley told them they could sign up for other electives, or find a way to make the band work.
“Most students signed up for other electives, but ten students decided to stay. … ‘It wasn’t an option to quit,’ says Hailey Fitzgerald. ‘I’ve been in the band for seven years. I love it! It’s too important for too many reasons.’ …
“The students nominated Hailey as director, a position she accepted on the condition they would all work together and share responsibilities. They recruited Casey Griffith and Jennifer Nail-Cook to be their official faculty advisors. Casey does the paperwork, and Jennifer helps with the music.
“ ‘They direct themselves,’ says Casey, who teaches math at Pocahontas County High School. ‘Have they told you about their rules?’
“Front and center on the band room whiteboard are a set of rules which they students created themselves. Rule 1–Be ready to play with your instrument within five minutes of arriving at class. Rule 2–Follow the director’s lead. (No complaining about which songs they’d play.) Rule 3–Keep the band room clean. (No sugary drinks which might hurt the instruments.) Rule 4–Take your instruments home on the weekend to practice. Rule 5–Only play your instrument.
“In addition, they made a calendar of their upcoming gigs–football games, Homecoming, and Veterans Day. It included a daily countdown to each event so they’d be prepared.
“Perhaps most importantly, they decided which instruments were necessary to make a band of this size work – clarinet, trumpet, alto, tenor, and drums.
“But they still had one big problem. Most of them were drummers. And they weren’t a drumline. … How could they play those instruments with the people they had?
“ ‘Several members switched instruments and some even learned brand new ones,’ Hailey says. ‘We aren’t even big enough to fill a closet, but we have instruments and uniforms and we are a band.’
“The time came last month for their first public performance. It was a home football game against Richwood. They had no idea what to expect. Would it work? Would the crowd cheer them on? Would they amp up the football team? …
“To their surprise, a group of students made posters for the band and hung them at the entrance to the football field. As they walked to the game, they saw the posters for the first time.
“ ‘We thought some people didn’t even know we still had a band,’ says Jadyn. But their classmates had been paying attention and wanted to make their first game special. ‘This is the most support we’ve ever gotten.’ The Pocahontas County Warriors won the game. …
“Taking on the task of directing themselves has seen challenges and opportunities.
“Kaidence says this version of the band is easier in some ways. ‘We can help each other directly with instrumentation.’
“ ‘It is hard to find music, though,’ Hailey adds. ‘The skill level isn’t the issue; it’s our size and instruments.’ …
“Hailey isn’t holding back as director. She set an aggressive schedule for the band. ‘We’ll do all home football games, a Veteran’s Day event, and ratings.’
“Ratings is an annual event which every band in the state is required to attend. They are graded on their performance.
“ ‘If they didn’t do ratings this year, they’d be put on restrictions next year,’ adds Casey. ‘If you don’t do well at ratings, you get put on an improvement plan.’ …
“Hailey says the school board is still trying to find a band director. She appreciates that they’ve explored every option to find someone. But even if they can’t, she’s not worried. ‘We’ll keep doing it,’ she says.
“ ‘Band is a weird family,’ her twin Miles chimes in, ‘but a family nonetheless.’ ”
More at the Real West Virginia, here. I originally saw the story at the Post, here.
PS. If there is anything funky about the editing here, blame it on the fact that I just tested positive for Covid. Feeling icky.
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