Band students at Mason Creek Middle School got started on their musical journey recently with
some special help from members of the Douglas County Tiger Band.
MCMS Band Director Aileen Castaneda said Douglas County High School students attended her school's "Beginning Band Camp" last weekend and helped beginner band students by teaching them how to put together, hold and play their instruments.
All told, close to 80 Mason Creek students worked with 10 volunteers from Douglas County "to help make some music," she said.
Torre Goodson, Director of Bands for DCHS, said it has always been his goal to partner with middle school programs. Working with Mason Creek was a natural fit, he said, especially since Castaneda also serves as an assistant band director at DCHS.
"It's a tremendous blessing to partner with Mason Creek Middle School," Goodson said. "Being able to see my students share music-making with younger students is exciting. Just as much as music can be viewed as an academic discipline, it's also a comprehensive skill and ability that enables our students an additional level of personal expression. Music is the gift that keeps on giving, and it's amazing to see young people participate in that cycle."
He added that another benefit of both schools working together is that it allows them to vertically align the curriculum for the programs.
"Partnerships between middle school and high school instrumental music programs are beneficial to musical and personal growth of all students involved," Goodson said. "It creates a sense of both consistency and community and helps lower attrition rates in band programs between eighth and ninth grades. The DCHS Band program looks forward to continuing this partnership with Mason Creek Middle School as well as our other feeders well into the future."