Orchestra members are putting extra work before and after school to get ready for UIL sectionals at the end of February.

“I get to go one on one with my section and director and she gives us constructive feedback. It’s annoying sometimes but it helps us get better,” freshman Nithya Boddu said.

Sectionals are where the same instruments in a section come in individually to touch on the detailed aspects of the music for each section. 

“I feel like sectionals is a good way to make sure we stay on track because even though class time is great, it involves too many people at once, so narrowing it down to a certain group is very helpful,” freshman Kris Jensen said.

Sectionals is a way for students to have one on one time with their teachers.

“Students get individual feedback,” orchestra teacher Maddison Waggerman said. “I can take the time I wouldn’t want in class to actually stop and tune more stuff so it’s going to really help the sections shine and be polished by the end of February.”

The advantages of sectionals go beyond just fine tuning UIL music.

“I think it’s fun that I’m able to get closer to the kids in my orchestra class,” Lainez said. “It is a lot of work having to go every week after school but I really think it is improving my playing. It helps with playing under pressure, in front of others, when there’s more attention solely on you.”

But in the end, sectionals will teach these musicians important musical skills.

“I can touch more on details like vibratro and phrasing and that’s going to carry on even past UIL music,” Waggerman said. “That’s going to help students understand even more musical concepts they will need in the future.”