Band-O-Rama showcases Carson's most talented

By Andrew Pridgen

Appeal Staff Writer

In an era of learning marked by "No Child Left Behind" and vocational training at the secondary level moving steadily to Web-based applications, it's refreshing to some Carson parents that their students can still participate in something they remember from school days - band.

Thursday at 7 p.m. the general public is invited to sit next to these proud parents for the annual Band-O-Rama concert at the Carson High gymnasium.

"One of our primary goals is for the students and parents to see where they start and where they end up at the high school level with band," said Will Blankenship, band director at Carson Middle School. "The performance is really a showcase of the strength of the arts in our schools.

"And the students are enthusiastic about what's going on."

Some 140 Carson Middle School students alomg with Eagle Valley Middle School and Carson High students will perform an array of musical numbers - and then combine for the show's finale with a rendition of "Ceremonium" by American composer Robert W. Smith.

"We'll rehearse this for the first time together Thursday morning," Blankenship said. "It's sort of a scary process, but the students really 'get it' - and the performance comes off just great."

Carson student bands have been rehearsing for the concert since January, but the process, Blankenship said, starts in August.

"It's a big deal for the (instructors) as well," he said. "We get together at the beginning of the year and talk about what we're going to do.

"So, we're excited too."

Mindy Breeding, a Carson Middle School parent, whose sixth grade daughter, Katy, plays clarinet, said she is looking forward to Thursday's show and hopes the community can come out and see "what I see every day."

"I didn't get a chance to play band growing up," she said. "Carson schools do such a good job with these programs. You hear so much about schools cutting programs like these and I really think it hurts the students.

"My kids, after joining the band, learned responsibility, time management - they learned discipline - and that's not to mention the actual music they play; it's just great. When voters are asked to pass another (school) bond, these are the kind of programs they should be aware of."

Instructor Blankenship said while other area districts have trimmed back their programs, Carson City's has remained strong since he began teaching here in 1988.

"A couple years ago there was an article in USA Today which featured the nation's top 20 high school students," he said. "Eighteen of them were in the band, the other two played piano - now what does that tell you?"

"I think we're very fortunate here in Carson City to have the interest we have in music - we've lost ground here and there, but we're fortunate to have band in fifth grade. People think we just teach one side of the brain (in band), but, in reality we teach the whole brain - everything we teach enhances the whole student."

If you Go

What: Band-O-Rama

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Carson High School gymnasium

What it is: The middle school and high school band programs combine for a free evening of musical showcase. The public is invited.