It was a first for a school band program in Fayette County — musicians from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) giving music lessons to students during class.
Through a private donor grant to the Woodruff Arts Center, the Fayette County Public School System has access to instructors, programs, events, workshops and performances in all areas of the fine and performing arts.
McIntosh High School Band Director Barbara Baker immediately seized the opportunity for her students to learn from some of the best musicians in the country. She enrolled the band in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Musicians in Schools Program, which provides a two-and-a-half hour sectional and/or master class for schools.
Christina Smith, Emily Brebach and Michael Myers of the ASO worked with students to hone their skills during band classes on March 16 and 23.
“This was an opportunity to bring in coaches that are at the top of our field,” Baker said. “Our boosters did not have to fundraise in order to pay for this extra instruction. It was a wonderful opportunity for both the students and myself to learn.”
After just one clinic with the Atlanta Symphony musicians, Baker is already seeing improvement in her students’ performance. She notes that the trumpet and flute sections play more in tune, and are quicker to correct their problems. Also, the oboe section has gained confidence, and overall the students are having more fun playing their instruments.
“Emily came into our lesson prepared with a lot of information,” oboist Alexandra Dumas said. “She talked to us about tuning and timbre, and she would stop to point out individual mistakes. The techniques I learned have really improved my playing.”
Trumpet player Hyungyu Lee and flute player Nicole Young said they were impressed with the instructors, and enjoyed the opportunity to learn from professionals.
“The experience was definitely great since you are working with a musician who can instruct you on things such as breathing, mouth buzzing, and holding your tone,” Lee said.
“Ms. Smith helped the flute section as a whole become more in tune with each other, and taught us how to better control and clear our tones,” Young said. “She also helped us control our breathing better to where we could use our air more effectively and efficiently.”
While breathing, tuning and holding tone are part of the regular band instruction that Baker provides for students, she said having an outside trainer deliver the information often causes students to see concepts in a different light.
“When you have an outside person work with them, they may hear the same thing, but in a different way,” Baker said. “It connects to them sometimes in a way that their everyday teacher cannot. Also, when it is an Atlanta Symphony musician, who is considered to be one of the top in the country, and many times in the world, it has a lasting impression and brings positive change,” she added.
The students were not the only ones learning from the professionals. Baker also picked up pointers and ideas that she can share with students such as new breathing exercises and tuning tips.
Baker hopes to arrange more workshops with musicians from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
