Tim's Class Band in the Press Enterprise |
| Posted by Administrator (benny) on Mar 23 2010 |
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Most every afternoon, the fourth- and fifth-grade students in Tim Bedley's class at Wildomar Elementary School end their day with a 30-minute jam session. Bedley, who plays the drums and minored in music in college, is teaching all 32 of his students how to play an instrument this year. The students began learning to read music shortly after school started last fall, and by October everybody was playing an instrument. Thursday, the students will perform a short concert for family, friends and the school community. The free show begins at 6:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room at the school, 21575 Palomar Road, Wildomar. Bedley came up with the idea for the class band because he struggled to fill time twice a week when a handful of his students would leave his class to participate in the school band program. Now all of his students are in the class band and everyone is occupied learning to play an instrument. "I grew up doing band," Bedley said. "It made such a huge impact on me. I wanted to give that gift to my students." Along with traditional band instruments such as the flute, clarinet and drums, students in Bedley's band play the recorder, keyboard and electric guitar. "I really enjoy it," said Noah Eckard, a fifth-grader who plays electric guitar. Bedley's students are high achievers, many in the Gifted and Talented Education program. He can afford to devote a few minutes of instruction time to the band each day, he said. The students' repertoire includes oldies, like "Surfin' U.S.A." and "Wooly Bully." Students who pass an audition before their classmates also will have a chance to perform short solos or duets at the concert. "We're learning how to work with each other," said Brianna Moran, a fifth-grader who plays drums. Drummers are key, she said, "because if we mess up, we mess everyone up." The students are learning teamwork, gaining confidence and taking risks, Bedley said. "It's critical thinking, too," he said. "I ask them if it sounds good or not." The students provide their own instruments and bring them to and from school each day so they can practice at home each night. Trevor Frost, a fifth-grader, started with the recorder then picked up the trumpet a month ago. He's done so well with the new instrument that he earned first chair in the band. "It was harder to learn to play the recorder," he said. "Once I started on trumpet, it was a lot easier." Reach Michelle L. Klampe at 951-375-3740 or mklampe@PE.com
Last changed: Mar 24 2010 at 3:13 AM
Back