2008 Woodie Awards
UCF band plays with middle school
Kari Wilberg
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: News
UCF band members reached out to middle school students Wednesday afternoon with a side-by-side rehearsal in the UCF Rehearsal Hall.
The Silver Trail Middle School Band from Pembroke Pines tours Florida for about three days each year, always visiting a different university. When Silver Trail band director Edgar Rubio contacted Michael Garasi, UCF's interim band director, he asked for a short performance.
"He said they wanted to come by for a campus tour and to observe the wind ensemble," Garasi said. "I thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool if, since they were here, to have them bring their instruments and do a side-by-side rehearsal with them?'"
Forty-four members of the Silver Trail Middle School Band rehearsed with about 50 members of the UCF wind ensemble band. Rubio said this was the first time the Silver Trail Middle School band had ever rehearsed with a collegiate band.
For the first half of the rehearsal, band members from both Silver Trail and UCF played pieces from Silver Trail's collection, including "Coast Guards," "He's Gone Away" and "Nathan Hale Trilogy."
Garasi and Rubio took turns directing, with UCF and Silver Trail students playing together and separately.
Rubio said that, when directing the UCF band, he "felt like a kid in a candy store."
During the second half of rehearsal, UCF members played music that will be in their upcoming concert on Sunday.
Garasi encouraged the Silver Trail students to play along.
"If you're feeling it and you want to join us, go right ahead," he said.
Garasi said it is good for the middle school students to hear music played by older musicians. He said it also helps them when they can sit beside the college students and listen to them play while following the notes on the sheet music as they're played.
"I think it really gives them something to strive for," said William Dufresne, a UCF band member.
Rubio said the goal of the state tour and rehearsing with the UCF band is to help the students stay musicians throughout their lives. Rubio said even if the students do not play music as adults, they will at least support it.
"This really puts a link to what they are doing," Rubio said.
David Klein, an eighth-grader in the Silver Trail Middle School Band, said this will give him something to look forward to when he goes to college.
"It gives them an idea of where music can take their education in the future," Lara Smith, a Silver Trail chaperone, said.
Garasi said more than half of the UCF band members are education majors.
"We've never done outreach to the community," Jessica Van Dyke, a music education major and member of the UCF band, said. "It's great for us to teach them."
Van Dyke said she started playing clarinet in sixth grade and loved the group atmosphere. She also said she was excited about the Silver Trail band visiting because they are the age level she wants to focus on when she is a band instructor.
"I'm hoping this will push their love of music to do it in the future," Van Dyke said.?
The Silver Trail Middle School Band from Pembroke Pines tours Florida for about three days each year, always visiting a different university. When Silver Trail band director Edgar Rubio contacted Michael Garasi, UCF's interim band director, he asked for a short performance.
"He said they wanted to come by for a campus tour and to observe the wind ensemble," Garasi said. "I thought, 'Wouldn't it be cool if, since they were here, to have them bring their instruments and do a side-by-side rehearsal with them?'"
Forty-four members of the Silver Trail Middle School Band rehearsed with about 50 members of the UCF wind ensemble band. Rubio said this was the first time the Silver Trail Middle School band had ever rehearsed with a collegiate band.
For the first half of the rehearsal, band members from both Silver Trail and UCF played pieces from Silver Trail's collection, including "Coast Guards," "He's Gone Away" and "Nathan Hale Trilogy."
Garasi and Rubio took turns directing, with UCF and Silver Trail students playing together and separately.
Rubio said that, when directing the UCF band, he "felt like a kid in a candy store."
During the second half of rehearsal, UCF members played music that will be in their upcoming concert on Sunday.
Garasi encouraged the Silver Trail students to play along.
"If you're feeling it and you want to join us, go right ahead," he said.
Garasi said it is good for the middle school students to hear music played by older musicians. He said it also helps them when they can sit beside the college students and listen to them play while following the notes on the sheet music as they're played.
"I think it really gives them something to strive for," said William Dufresne, a UCF band member.
Rubio said the goal of the state tour and rehearsing with the UCF band is to help the students stay musicians throughout their lives. Rubio said even if the students do not play music as adults, they will at least support it.
"This really puts a link to what they are doing," Rubio said.
David Klein, an eighth-grader in the Silver Trail Middle School Band, said this will give him something to look forward to when he goes to college.
"It gives them an idea of where music can take their education in the future," Lara Smith, a Silver Trail chaperone, said.
Garasi said more than half of the UCF band members are education majors.
"We've never done outreach to the community," Jessica Van Dyke, a music education major and member of the UCF band, said. "It's great for us to teach them."
Van Dyke said she started playing clarinet in sixth grade and loved the group atmosphere. She also said she was excited about the Silver Trail band visiting because they are the age level she wants to focus on when she is a band instructor.
"I'm hoping this will push their love of music to do it in the future," Van Dyke said.?