FORT SMITH — Participation in the Trinity Junior High School Band has nearly tripled — from 33 to 95 students — in the past five years.
An amazing 41 percent of the student body plays in the band, an activity that numerous studies have linked to high academic achievement.
In 2009, when the job of band director opened up at Trinity, Zach Edwards jumped at the opportunity. Through his experience playing sax in the Grove (Okla.) High School and University of Arkansas Fayetteville bands while earning his bachelor’s degree in music education, he knew that being a band director was his career path.
“Chandler Doss (former principal) wanted Trinity to catch up with the public schools in band,” Edwards said. “We received some donations from outside groups to purchase new instruments, because new instruments are more fun to play. One of my first goals was to improve the quality of student playing so that they would be prepared for high school band when they graduated.”
During the year the students are expected to form the marching band for the fall, perform in contests and offer a variety of concerts.
Edwards said he wanted to change students’ perception of band.
“We played popular music, movie themes and songs students heard on the radio. We performed concerts at elementary schools to recruit incoming students,” Edwards said.
He gave private clarinet and saxophone lessons and posted lists of other instrumental teachers whom students could study with. He encouraged them to come to band room to practice before and after school and during free periods. As student skills improved, so did their ratings at area competitions.
“Last fall we entered two marching band contests — Southside Regional and the Dale Bumpers Contest in Charleston. We received superior ratings in both — the first time we ever received a 'superior' at regional. Five of our students were named to All-Region Band and four were named to All-Region Jazz Band. We also participate in concert assessments and the solo and ensemble festival,” he said.
The band plays at all five home football games and a few basketball games each year. Next year Edwards and drama club advisor Joann Elsken hope to stage a musical with live accompaniment.
After a busy fall semester, Edwards likes to explore different varieties of music in the spring concert band season — rock, jazz and classical. He has started a band council, composed of eighth- and ninth-grade students, who meet and help make band decisions. The band has parties in class to celebrate successes, and at the end of marching season they hold a party in someone’s home.
The band’s achievements have been bolstered by parent, community and administrative support.
“Trinity has a great administration,” Edwards said. “Both of the principals I’ve worked with (Chandler Doss and Dr. Jim Hattabaugh) supported the band program, and parents are great supporters of their kids and the program. Trinity’s Booster Club supports all our school activities and is very supportive of our band.”
Because both Fort Smith high schools — Southside and Northside — have exceptional bands with many talented students, Edwards wants to provide a challenging program that will allow all his students to move comfortably into their high school band programs.
“We have 20 alumni in public high school bands,” he said. “Nine made all-region and five made all-state.”
Alice Anders, a percussionist in varsity band, said band has helped her musical skills far more than her three years of piano study in elementary school.
“I study dance,” she said, “and band has helped me express my musicality in dance and improved my rhythm and timing. Marching helps us figure out how to fit into a group and work in unison. I like being able to come in to the band room and practice in my free time. A student from UAFS (University of Arkansas Fort Smith) who is studying to be a band teacher comes, works with the band and helps me on drums. Mr. Edwards is lots of fun. He’s easy to understand and a very good teacher.”
