By Jessica Fontenot
[email protected]
With the excitement that comes with homecoming week, many students also stress about the exams that come with it. For band, chorus, and orchestra students, their exam was on Sept. 21 with the Fall Pops concert, which has taken both teachers and students most of the quarter to prepare for.
“I was a little nervous,” admitted Sophomore Sabrina Syrotchen, who joined chorus this year. Syrotchen is one of the students who gained the experience of performing in a concert, which is a main standard that is taught through Fall Pops. (Although) I (did feel) comfortable because I’ve (sang) in front of people before, just not in a concert … It gives you a bigger feeling of (performing), (because) when you’re in a class it’s quieter and it’s smaller and you don’t really try as hard, but when you’re surrounded by an orchestra … you have to try a little harder and push your voice.”
As the name implies, the concert consisted of both Pop and other well-known music. This included “Circle of Life” from the Lion King, pieces from “The Wizard of Oz,” and “Sunday Morning” by Maroon 5. “When we look at music we look at the (educational) elements that we can pull of it in terms of notes and rhythms,” said Orchestra director Curtis Hiyane. “(I think) if it’s familiar, they’re more likely … to practice it on their own, which is how you encourage (them).”
After the directors chose the songs or pieces in the beginning of the quarter, they began to teach students the music and performance as well as music etiquette. Music etiquette is a skill they will have to keep with them as they continue throughout the rest of the year or onto higher levels of music classes. Students had until the concert to practice and then perfect the music with their ensemble.
Both teachers and students alike have worked hard for the Fall Pops Concert since then. Junior Daniel Bayot was commissioned for the first time with the concert, which is when a conductor asks a composer to write a piece for them, and had to work especially hard because of it. Bayot had to manage his time between schoolwork, practicing his music and holding practices to conduct “Canon Rock” written by Pachabel, with his ensemble. “That had never happened to me before because I have always written my pieces and then presented them to him and ask them if they could play it,” said Bayot. He has been writing music for his orchestra teachers since the 8th grade, and has been in orchestra since the 6th grade. “I kind of just feel like one of the conductors … (when I) step up there,” said Bayot.
The Fall Pops Concert will be held again next year like it has this year and in previous years, welcoming the music department’s new students to teach them skills that will stick with them as they head into musical interests or careers.
