Mack Lyon Students Play To Standing Only Crowd

By ANNIE C. LEAVITT

Moapa Valley Progress

Twenty beginning band trumpets perfectly performed the classic “Jingle Bell” melody during the Mack Lyon Middle School Winter Band Concert on Thursday, December 13.

The Advanced Band students opened the concert with three numbers followed by three pieces performed by the Intermediate Band students. The Jazz Band students performed in small groups throughout the program.

Along with their daily band classes, the Jazz Band students meet four mornings a week to practice from 6:45-7:20 a.m. The difference this added practice makes to the quality of their playing is apparent even to the untrained ear.
“It takes a lot of dedication for these students to be in Jazz Band,” Lyon Band Teacher Alexander J. Burgess told the parents in attendance.

This year, the concert was held in the auditorium rather than in the school’s gymnasium. According to Burgess, this was done in the hopes of better acoustics.

Parents were supposed to file in and out of the hall based on the band they were there to support in order to allow room for everyone. Unfortunately, most parents either stayed because they have students in more than one band group or merely because they were enjoying the concert. This left many people trying to listen to the program from the hallway outside of the auditorium. It is fortunate that middle school band concerts are loud.

Despite the lack of adequate seating for the crowd, each band group played well.

Along with the beginning trumpets, there were several highlights of the night. The Jazz Band’s catchy jazz song, “Phat Kat,” the Advanced Bands “Name Those Carols,” and the Intermediate Band’s “Shenandoah” were just a few.

Parents are always eager to see what skills their students have learned in their classes, and this was a perfect chance. “It’s exciting to see how the kids progress through the middle school band program,” said parent Becky Kelly. “From sixth grade, where most of them have never picked up an instrument, to the Advanced Band who have a couple years under their belt making wonderful music and loving it.”

“The students put so much work into this performance and I think it really showed,” said Band Assistant JoDee Freeman. “They all did an amazing job.”

Burgess said he was pleased with the performance and the work that it represented. “I was impressed with the work the students put in prior to the concert,” he said. “I appreciate the spport that the band receives from parents, teachers and school administration!”