The sixth graders ended their first week in Band with trying out instruments on the 25th and 26th with the help of Bolles seniors. Band Director Mrs. Maggie Vance and some seniors from the Upper School Band showed the students how to hold different instruments and how to make sounds.

Vance shared her belief that the younger students benefit from this mentoring opportunity. “Having the Upper School students there to help guide the process was a fantastic experience for both me and the new students,” said Mrs. Vance. “I am very eager to have more opportunities for our Bolles students to collaborate on all campuses.”

Instrument Zoo may even create future musical mentors. “I feel like exposing new musicians to relatively experienced ones causes them to strive and practice until they are the experienced musicians coaching the new ones.” said Rajan Khanna, a senior trumpet player.

The sixth graders were given the opportunity to try brass instruments, woodwind instruments, and percussion instruments. “The most popular instruments this year were trumpet and saxophone–no big surprise!” remarked Mrs. Vance.

The sixth graders will be officially choosing their instruments within the week and starting their musical careers in Beginning Band. Sometimes choice of instrument comes from a love of the sound but some band students suggest that instrument choice reveals personality traits too.

Mrs. Vance agreed that learning an instrument may shape character. “After the student had been playing a while I can sometimes see certain traits come out. Honestly, it usually is very random.  We have a wide variety of students that play everything from piccolo to tuba.”

Overall, the Instrument Zoo stands as a rite of passage for band members, beginners and old hand alike. (Full disclosure: I can remember back in the 3rd grade when I found the alto saxophone, or rather it found me.)

Mrs. Vance said, “The value in having students play before they pick is critical! How will the students know what they like if they haven’t had the opportunity to try?”