Master Classes to Come to SRMS Band Students

There’s a lot of talk revolving around the Upper Dublin School District’s 2013-14 budget woes … especially when it comes to the arts. But one teacher is doing what he can to enhance his students’ musical experience.

Sandy Run Middle School band and jazz band director Sean Kennedy called in a couple of favors to his friends. Kennedy, a professional musician, reached out to several of his fellow musicians with whom he has played over the years, and invited them to come to the middle school for some master classes.

“We’re calling it ‘Field Trips to the Band Room,’ and it’s in lieu of going to the city, or anywhere else, for a performance,” Kennedy said. “There’s no travel cost and no bus.”

Kennedy said ran the idea through the school’s principal — as it turns out, she was fine with the free program.

In some ways the faux field trips are better than the real deal.

Kennedy said he has scheduled three sessions — one each for the brass, woodwind and percussion students — in which the professional musicians sit with the students and critique the students’ performance. The students will also have the chance to ask the musicians questions.

“The kids will have something prepared — probably a spring performance piece —and they will be evaluated,” Kennedy said. “The critique will probably be similar to what we say to the kids, but it’s always different when it’s coming from someone else, especially a professional.” 

The first musicians to stop by the school will be from the band Hickory Brass on April 3. The school will then welcome saxophonist Charles Salinger on May 1; and members of Elysian Camerata on May 22. 

To see more about the middle school’s concert band, click here.

“It’s really a win-win for the students and the musicians,” Kennedy said. “It helps the performers build their audience while the students are young, it’s good community outreach for them, and who knows … maybe one of the students will reach out to one of the performers down the road.”

As for any proposed budget cuts at the school, Kennedy said it’s all speculative right now. He said no names, rather just departments that could receive cuts have been bandied around.

“We don’t know what’s going to happen, but I hope it all works out for the best,” he said.