It was a normal home basketball game night in the Solon High School gym, but with a twist.
As the sophomore boys cleared the floor and exited for the locker room, the band entered and took their place in the bleachers behind the home bench. However, instead of Desmond Cervantez and his high school pep band, it was Rachel Ihde and her 5th graders providing entertainment as the varsity Lady Spartans and Vikettes from Vinton-Shellsburg went through their pregame warm up activities.
“We started playing short tunes from a big ‘Beginner Band Tunes’ packet to blow off some steam after our December band concert,” said Ihde. “Students had so much fun playing the stand tunes, and we came up with the idea in rehearsal that we could play for a basketball game. I was lucky enough that there was one more home game when I reached out to Casey Hack (Activities Director) that we could quickly prepare for. The goal was to give students a taste of the experiences that they will have in high school band.”
5th grade, Ihde explained, is a typical entry point for students interested in music to join band and begin their musical journey. It also serves as a bridge from elementary school to middle school, she said.
“Students may have anxiety going into 6th grade but if they continue with band, they will at least have one class where they know what to do, who will be there, and they get to do what they love. In 5th grade, fine motor skills and cognitive skills become just developed enough to introduce this new skill, but they’re still young enough that a little practice goes a long way.”
For Ihde, in her first year at Solon (second year in teaching after a year in the Cedar Rapids Community School District), music has been a passion and a way of life.
“I come from a very musical family: my mother is a band director at my former high school (Dallas Center-Grimes)! Last spring, I saw that the band director position at Solon had opened. When I interviewed, I felt such a sense of potential and so much excitement from the kids. As I’ve told the students already, this is literally my ‘dream job’ and I’m so excited to share my love of music and grow the program!”
Some of the best parts of her job, she said, aren’t even related to music.
“I love getting to help 5th graders develop a newfound sense of independence and individuality. For the first time in their lives, they’re not just a 10-year old: they’re a ‘clarinet player.’ I get to see how an introduction to the band world helps students discover a side of themselves they didn’t know was there. They are energetic, talented, and respectful. I only get to rehearse with them two times a week, but it would be awesome to have just a little more time in my schedule to rehearse with this ensemble.”