Elementary Band Festival a success

Altoona Area School District › | Posted on Dec 23, 2019

Students particpated with a guest instructor in the Trumpet workshop.

For the first time, Altoona Area School District elementary band students participated in a day-long elementary mini-band festival held at the high school on December 19.

Two hundred and seventy-one (271) students in grades 4, 5 and 6 attended. According to elementary music instructor Scott Pappal, the objective of the event was to provide a first-concert experience for over 125 fourth grade students, build a sense of “larger-than-individual-school” among the eight elementary bands, and to introduce the elementary band students to a larger band world that waits after elementary school.

Students participated in workshops during the day with guest instructors. The workshops and instructors included: Flute, Therese Wacker; Clarinet, Janey Schwind; Saxophone, Beth Carpenter; Oboe, Stephanie Caulder; Trumpet, Kevin Eisensmith; Horn, Kelly Myers; Trombone, Jack Sears; Euphonium, Ian Adams; and Percussion, Jason Burkle.

Students were also treated to the traditional holiday lunch served in the AAHS Cafeteria.
The elementary band students joined the AAHS band in a combined performance of Jingle Bells at the evening concert held in the AAHS Auditorium. Overall the experience was a positive one and one the music program hopes to continue.