By
Bob Steenson, bsteenson@charlescitypress.com
Middle school musicians presented their final concerts of the school year last week on Monday, May 5, as the various combination of grades 5, 6, 7 and 8 band members and orchestra members gathered in the Comet Gym to share what they have learned over the year.
Band Director Renee Staudt Boss said one of the great things about being a teacher for a subject such as band is being able to work with the same students over many years to see how they grow and improve.
For the eighth-graders, she said, this year isn’t a culmination because they can go on to continue their band involvement in high school.
“I would like to say on a personal note that it has been an absolute joy to see you, my young people, mature from the fourth graders when I tried you out four years ago at this time, to where you are now,” Staudt Boss said. “So, thank you for being a very fun and active part of our group.”
The fifth and sixth grade bands performed individually, then the seventh and eighth grade bands performed as a group.
Staudt Boss thanked the members of the audience for their support of instrumental music.
“We know it is not always easy, and it is a financial commitment, and we appreciate it,” she said. “We want you to know that you are doing right by your children. You’re giving them a great opportunity.”
There were 184 students listed on the program as members of the band in grades 5-8.
The middle school band concert was held first in the Comet Gym, from 6 p.m. to a little before 7, then the middle school orchestra concert began at 7:30 p.m.
Orchestra Director Chris Paulson said fifth grade students worked hard last summer and made great progress before the school year had even started so that they were ready to work with the sixth graders.
With fewer string orchestra students – a total of 24 across middle school – the grades are often combined to make up larger groups, and some of the lower grades get a chance to try out more sophisticated music.
Paulson said one of the younger students asked, “Are you trying to put us with the older kids?”
“I said, yes! Every time I can get a chance to do that, because every time I sit you next to an older kid, you get better,” Paulson said.
The middle school kids performed as a fifth-sixth grade orchestra for one selection, sixth-graders alone for one piece, three works by the seventh and eighth grade orchestra, including one seventh-eighth piece with the addition of four sixth-graders who had participated in an honors orchestra, then the finale with the musicians from all four grades combined.
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