Written by Ashley Rosenbaum
The Reynolds Recital Hall will be hosting a younger crowd on April 24 at 6 p.m. The Riverview junior high band, along with a few Harding soloists and ensembles, will be featured in an event sponsored by the National Association of Music Educators
This event serves as a fundraiser that will provide funding for private lessons for Riverview band students. Harding musicians are already involved in teaching Riverview students, but this fundraiser will allow more private lessons to be taught.
Sarah Yarnell, President of the Harding Chapter of the National Association of Music Educators, is in charge of the event and said she sees the lessons as a great benefit for students. The fundraiser would also benefit Riverview’s second-year director Trey Reely.
“He’s doing awesome things with the band in Riverview, and it’s especially evident in the beginners,” Yarnell said. “The best thinghe’s done is getting a multitude of music students from Harding to teach lessons during band classes.”
Yarnell said she believes that the lessons help the students grow, but they also help the Harding students as they practice what they may do after they graduate.
“Another great thing about this benefit is that ultimately, it comes back to Harding students,” Yarnell said.
Yarnell was a pre-student teacher at Riverview last semester, where she was required to spend at least 40 hours observing and teaching the students. She said she saw a lot of potential in the students and believes this fundraiser will help give them the supplies they need to do their best.
However, Riverview does not have the resources to have separate classes for beginners on each instrument, so all students come together to play.
“While musically, this makes younger students prepared to play in a group setting, it limits them on their individual instruments,” Yarnell said. “Teachers who specialize in their instrument can help them learn concepts specific to their instrument; playing a trumpet is very different from playing a flute, and it’s hard for Mr. Reely to teach that all in one class.”
As such, Harding students help Reely by helping students learn their individual instruments.
Junior Ashley Calcote said the fundraiser has a special connection with the Harding students who teach lessons there.
“It means a great deal to me because I already teach lessons there and know the kids,” Calcote said. “I have grown to love them … they deserve to keep getting small group time with experienced players so they can love playing too.”
Calcote said she believes the fundraiser will allow them to continue lessons that help them grow musically.
“Even if we do not raise tons of money, it will be a good start for building more relationships in the community with the Riverview band,” she said.
Sophomore Brady Spencer said she sees a need for more money to go toward private lessons and believes this fundraiser could be very beneficial.
“I would have quit my first year of flute playing if my mom hadn’t put me into private lessons,” Spencer said “But paying for private lessons is very expensive, especially when you’re looking at lessons for a whole section. They make a world of difference, though.”
The lack of funds in the program is a prominent issue, and the fundraiser will not solve every problem, but that has not stopped the students and their lesson teachers from making music.
“Despite the inevitable lack of money in the band program, even with the fundraiser, the flute players I work with are improving noticeably,” Spencer said. “That’s when you can really tell that money and fundraisers really aren’t the factor behind the band’s improvement. Just from what I’ve observed helping there this semester, Mr. Reely does an excellent job working with the resources that are available to him at Riverview [and] motivating his players to want to be better even without all the fancy bells and whistles.”
The benefit tickets are free, but the group is asking for donations. A reception will take place following the concert and will include a meet-and-greet.
