James Arthur Band 121 strong plays first concert in December

Wednesday morning a group of about 50 students at James

Arthur Intermediate School gathered on the basketball court outside on the playground. {{more}}

 

They were excitedly setting up their music stands for a band rehersal. It is a perfect day for an outside practice although the wind played havoc with the sheet music.

It is a big year for the James Arthur Band program. This year the band has grown from around 80 last year to 121 – a remarkable growth, according to KJHS Band Director Benjamin Brown. Brown along with Eleanor Macias, also from the KJHS band program, are joined by KHS Directors, Erol Oktay and DiMitri Higginbottam, from the high school to teach and direct the beginning students.

James Arthur band members preparing for concert in December

For Oktay, KHS Director of Bands, it all starts here. The Kennedale

High Band program has grown to be a recognized state power, winning awards year after year. He never knows in the future who be his first chair, sectional leader or next drum major but it is a good chance now that it will come from someone(s) in the beginner band at James Arthur Elementary.

 

learning how to act on stage …

Today, besides practicing the music, Mr. Brown is prepping them for their upcoming concert performance, December 7th. He prompts them on their stage present which includes how they dress and act (before, during and after) at the concert.

He tells them that they should be pumped for this performance and reminds them that their parents will be. They should be proud of what they have accomplished, reminding then that in just 3 short months, they have gone from never playing an instrument to reading music and playing in their first live concert.

The hour class comes to a close quickly as the kids rush to put away their instruments and line-up along the wall to go to their next class. Another group is coming in and Mr. Higginbottam is arriving from the high school to help.

 

will work with them the next 7 years …

The same group of directors will be at KJHS in the afternoon to work with the students there. Ms Macias explains that this is really good for the band program pointing out that the directors will have the chance to work with these kids for the next seven years. The directors know that they will lose kids along the way as some will lose interest and others will move away. And in high school, there will be jobs and other conflicts. But, there will be a core of kids that will move from level to level and continue to develop which is any director?s dream.

Director Oktay, who has been at the helm for 14 years, has seen the result of starting early and developing and nurturing that love of music and craft.

 

concert set for December 7 …

The Winter Concert is set for December 7 beginning at 7 p.m. in the Kennedale Performing Arts Building (PAC) and will showcase the budding talents of the Arthur Beginning Band along with those from Kennedale

Junior High School.