David Williams, the band and orchestra teacher at MSHS, gives the opportunity for students to direct the other musicians in multiple different environments every year. The seniors who take the opportunity learn another important aspect of music.
Specifically, directing/conducting is leading the ensemble, cueing certain instruments, providing the beat and keeping the players together, which are all important tasks of this job. The position offers a sense of leadership and a chance to try another very important part of music.
Williams believes the jump from performer to director can be seen as a switch in a sport. “If you play one position in soccer and you’re asked to play another position in soccer, there’s technique and there’s things in your toolkit that you may not have. You’re still a good soccer player, but if you’re trying something new, it could come naturally, or you could really struggle,” Williams said.
This year Williams picked the songs that the students will perform for their concerts and from there the seniors decided which ones they would like to lead. Williams uses his class as a safe space to see if music is something that his students would like to learn more about in college. “I have students, if they’re interested in pursuing music or instrumental music in college, pick a song, and then they rehearse the song so they get to go through the whole process of what a teacher would go through to see if they like it,” Williams said.
MSHS senior, Beckett Wendell Evans, is leading “Pure Imagination” from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and is looking forward to completing the environment with his costume. “I’m going to wear my red coat and my top hat when I conduct it so that’s going to be pretty fun, although honestly, I am kind of bummed out that I won’t actually be playing the music,” Wendell Evans said.
Wendell Evans has seen conducting before, but knows it could be different when it’s his turn. “I’ve always considered myself able to conduct because I know the motions of it, where to put your hands and how to cue and whatnot. But it’s a completely different story when you’re in front of actual performers who you have to direct,” Wendell Evans said.
Wendell Evans hasn’t had the opportunity to lead before and this will be the first year he does at a concert. “I’ve never done this before; personally however, in previous years I have conducted a rehearsal or led warm ups before a rehearsal,” Wendell Evans said.
Student leadership is not uncommon in Williams’ class; it often comes to those who are up for the responsibility. “Mr. Williams just goes around and asks students if they want the opportunity to do more in class. He’ll have some students conduct some rehearsals, he’ll put other students in leadership positions for marching band and Symphonic Band also,” Wendell Evans said.
Wendell Evans wants to take the skill of conducting and apply it after high school if the opportunity presents itself. “I never want music to go out of my life. I plan on keeping my oboe and playing it as long as I can. If I join some kind of community ensemble and they give me the opportunity to conduct, that would be awesome,” Wendell Evans said.
Other music classes taught by Mr. Williams are Orchestra, Advanced Orchestra and Jazz Band, which open similar opportunities for students.
MSHS senior Cameron Schwartz takes both Symphonic Band and Jazz Band and has thought about his future and directing. “I don’t know if I would like to direct. I mean, it’s definitely a thought I’ve had before, but I would love to lead a jazz band in the future,” he said. “What I’m doing right now, directing warmups. I would definitely be interested in trying to do that in the future as well. But I wouldn’t say I want to become a big director or anything.”
Schwartz believes that the classes have taught him valuable leadership skills. “Leadership is a big one because once you’re a senior Mr. Williams likes to let you into that leadership position, especially if you’re in Jazz Band as a trumpet player, your kind of role is to be the leader, so it has taught me how,” Schwartz said. Concerts for the Band and Orchestra are on April 29 and the Jazz Band on April 30.
