Disjointed strains of music filled the band room and spilled over into the empty halls at Crystal Lake’s North Middle School until Deb Shofner picked up her conductor’s baton and rapped on the music stand. Immediately, the room quieted and 61 pairs of eyes focused on her.
Shofner then led the young musicians, who gave up part of their summer vacation to band practice, through a difficult piece from the Procession of the Nobles, a ballet by Rimsky-Korsakov.
That’s the piece the North Middle School concert band opened its performance with last week at the American School Band Director’s Association National Convention at the Lisle Hilton.
“It is an honor to be asked to participate in this convention,” said Shofner, who is one of the band directors for School District 47.
Only one other middle school in Illinois was invited. The other convention participants were high school bands, including the Illinois All-State Band which draws the best high-school musicians in the state.
Shofner selected the piece from Rimsky-Korsakov to acquaint her pupils with classical music and for its orchestral arrangement. “It’s a bold, majestic piece that grabs people’s attention,” she said.
Concert band members are chosen through auditions. “These kids really work hard and they enjoy what they’re doing,” Shofner said. “Music has already made a big impact on their young lives.”
Kelly Anderson, who will enter 8th grade this autumn, started to play the French horn while in 5th grade. She finds that playing her instrument provides satisfaction and relaxation. The satisfaction comes from learning not to give up no matter how hard it seems to learn.
“Miss Shofner makes us work hard, but we always have fun doing it,” Anderson said. “The way she works with us really reflects on how we sound.”
Trumpet player Sam Hyatt agreed that Shofner “works us hard, but she makes us sound good in the end.”
Shofner said she has known since she was in junior high school that she wanted to teach music. “When I was a kid I always thought that learning to play instruments and learning music was the greatest,” she said. “Now I truly enjoy working with kids and the experience of bringing the enjoyment of music to them.”
The pupils share the same enthusiasm.
“I play the clarinet,” Louise Henshaw said. “I like the sound of it. It has lots of different keys, and it’s fun to run my fingers over them and hear the different tones. When I first started to play, the sound reminded me of a goose honking. Now it’s smooth. It was a challenge to learn, and it was a challenge to learn to blend in with the rest of the band.”
Zach Fairfield took private lessons before auditioning for the concert band. He enjoyed playing the saxophone alone, but also found it rewarding to blend with other players.
“The band taught me to not only listen to myself, but to listen to others as well,” he said. “It taught me to be part of a group,” he said.
As Shofner tuned into the music, she seemed to tune out the rest of the world. As the band moved deeper into the Procession of the Nobles, Shofner stopped the band to work with individual sections.
“That’s it,” she says after hearing what she wanted. “Everyone now, take a deep breath and let’s begin again.”
