Behind the Scenes at Midstate Band -- (A Familiar MHMS Face)
Submitted by: Sharon Fleming, mother of Ian Pestrak
Have you ever wondered about the mysterious disappearance of Mr. Clark in January of each year? Do you think he is relaxing at a local spa? How about negotiating a new deal with Georgia pecan growers? Actually Mr. Clark is working a gig that he has been a part of for the past 18 years.
For those of you who don’t know, Mr. Clark is the chairperson of the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra’s Junior High Gold band. This 100 plus member band consists of the top junior high school band students from across middle Tennessee. The band is made up of mostly 8th and 9th graders with a sprinkling of 7th graders each year. Students participate in this band through a rigorous audition process that usually takes place on the second weekend in December of each year.
Ok, so what does he actually do?
Mr. Clark works closely with a guest conductor that MTSBOA contracts with to lead the band. This includes distribution of all of the music the band will play. He prepares all of the music folders and ensures that each member has his or her part. Then the mail out begins. This is quite an undertaking which has to be completed in an expeditious manner as the time between when the band is filled by audition and the first practice takes place is very short!
In early January, Mr. Clark heads to Murfreesboro to prepare the band hall at Seigel High School based on the seating preferences of the guest conductor. Once students arrive, the fun begins! Mr. Clark helps resolve a myriad of issues that inevitably arise when dealing with this many students. Instrument repairs, sticky valves, forgotten mutes, percussion equipment tweaked, more copies of the third french horn part, and on and on.
Does he enjoy it? You bet. It is a great time to reconnect with colleagues, get to know visiting conductors, gain exposure to new music titles, and, of course, listen to beautiful music played by the talented students of middle Tennessee.
MHMS Band Students who have attended Midstate
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| Midstate Jazz and Midstate Orchestra students who performed at Blackman High School in January, 2010. Pictured with them is Alan Clark, Director of Instrumental Music at Merrol Hyde Magnet School |