EDUCATION
Jones County band students competed in the District Honor Band at Baldwin High School Feb. 9 and 10, showing off the skills they have learned while being band students in Jones County.
Lori Johnson, band director at Clifton Ridge Middle School, said she was proud of all the Jones County students who tried for District Honor Band in December.
“The District Honor Band is open to any student in our district, and we have 21 counties in our music education district,” she said. “They prepare scales and etudes, then play them for a panel of judges. After that they are asked to sight read a piece they have never seen before.
All of those are scored and highest scores earn a chair in the band, so we are quite honored to have such a large group from Jones County represent us.”
She said it’s important for Jones County students to participate in the District Honor Band, because it’s a way to see how Jones County stacks up to other counties. She said it’s important for the students to see if they are practicing correctly and learning things in band like they should be.
“My favorite thing about District Honor Band is seeing what students can accomplish in two days. We show up Friday morning and they rehearse, then by Saturday afternoon they are putting on a concert,” Johnson said.
The band director said for students to compete in District Honor Band they need to be well versed on the notes and where to put their fingers on their instruments, plus very accomplished rhythm readers and music readers. She said they are all well practiced.
Dalton Russell, Clifton Ridge Middle School District Honor Band winner, said he plans to improve his skills next year by trying for symphonic band instead of being in concert band. He said he feels this will be good scholarships, but he doesn’t plan on pursuing a career in music. He said he has more of an interest in psychology, but he enjoys how music sounds, and how its components come together.
“I didn’t think I’d pass the rehearsal, because I was really nervous,” he said. “The whole process of District Honor Band ended up being pretty fun, but the long hours were exhausting. We got to perform interesting pieces, and I ended up enjoying the concert. I also enjoyed watching others play their instruments.”
Johnson said Jones County students who won will continue to a region band after this, so they have a chance of going on to a state level. She said the Georgia Music Educators Association does a great job of supporting students in music all across the state.
“I’m exceptionally proud of the students who auditioned and made it,” the band director said. “We had five from Clifton Ridge who auditioned, and we had one student who did make it. We would love for that number to keep growing. We see that happening in the future, because I’ve seen a lot of interest from my younger students.”
