Master classes allow band students to master their skills

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Caroline Attmore

Master classes provide band students with professional private lesson teachers every Wednesday. Along with giving students the option to take a break from marching band, it motivates students to improve.

Grant Milleson, Staff Reporter
September 14, 2022

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Every Wednesday band students have the option to take a break from marching band, and instead focus on their individual performances with a professional musician.

“Master classes are coaching opportunities for students to learn from and perform for each other in a safe environment, guided by an expert musician in their field,” assistant director of bands Cecily Yoakam said. “It gives students a chance to learn from each other and receive much more individualized attention being in a group of 200 can’t always provide.”

Master classes can help lessen the stress of students learning their All-Region etudes.

“I think that master classes will be highly beneficial in learning the region etudes,” senior Gabby Stiles said. “Our lesson teacher is amazing and walks us through the more intricate and detailed ways to create music.”

The special session classes are divided by instruments and taught by professional private lesson teachers.

“By being in master class I am able to match my sound to our lesson teacher, helping me learn the music better,”  junior Evan Buckner said. “Being with a teacher that tailors their methods on a specific few pieces of music for only five or six students allows for better advice on how to practice and play the music.”

For Stiles, master classes encourage her to practice by making the learning process less stressful.

“I think having master classes encourages me to practice because it lays a strong foundation for the music we’re learning and where we want it to go,” Stiles said. “Learning how to incorporate the music makes learning a lot more fun and manageable.”

Bucker hopes that master classes will encourage him and his peers to work harder at their music.

“Master classes will help me by motivating me to practice the region music more than I usually would by testing how proficient I am in the etudes compared to my peers,” Buckner said. “This I hope will also push my friends to work harder as well.”